Possessed (1947)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Curtis Bernhardt

Writers:

Silvia Richards (screenplay) and
Ranald MacDougall (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

26 July 1947 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Film-Noir | Thriller

Plot:

A dazed woman walks the streets of Los Angeles looking for a man named David. After collapsing in a diner...

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Obsession | Psychiatric Ward | Los Angeles | Hospital

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Joan Crawford	...	Louise Howell
Van Heflin	...	David Sutton
Raymond Massey	...	Dean Graham
Geraldine Brooks	...	Carol Graham
Stanley Ridges	...	Dr. Willard
John Ridgely	...	Chief investigator of drowning
Moroni Olsen	...	Dr. Ames - Mrs. Smith's psychiatrist
Erskine Sanford	...	Dr. Sherman - Graham's physician at inquest
Peter Miles	...	Wynn Graham (as Gerald Perreau)
Jakob Gimpel	...	Walter Sveldon - pianist (as Jacob Gimpel)
Isabel Withers	...	Nurse Rosen
Lisa Golm	...	Elsie - Graham's maid in DC
Douglas Kennedy	...	District Attorney at inquest
Monte Blue	...	Norris - lake house caretaker
Don McGuire	...	Dr. Craig - Dr. Willard's asst.

Also Known As:

The Secret (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

UK:A (original rating) (1947) | UK:PG (video rating) (1994) | Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved (PCA #11828, Adult Audience)

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

Bette Davis was originally offered the role of Louise, but turned it down to go on maternity leave.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the opening sequence, while Louise is wandering the streets of Los Angeles, her shoes change from pumps to sling-backs and back again.

Quotes:

David Sutton: Tommy, you may take a short rest and then start mixing me another!

Movie Connections:

Featured in Possessed: The Quintessential Film Noir (2005) (V)

Soundtrack:

Kaiserwalzer (Emperor Waltz), Op. 437

Scary Woman Indeed!

Joan Crawford was born to play this role. She's a scary woman. You can't fake those looks. With five marriages herself (even tho that wasn't the case in 1947, it was in her future) she knew this subject matter very well. I don't know what it is about Crawford, but she's scary. She seems so unbalanced as a person that this role was PERFECT for her.

I watched this film on cable (Turner movies) only to see who Raymond Massey was. As a Seinfeld fan, there's an episode where Kramer's physique is compared to Raymond Massey.he's got a `Raymond Massey like physique.'

I was drawn into the mood of the movie and Crawford's seriously co-dependent personality. Her portrayal of a possessed woman in love was dead on. Many times these type of women look so perfect on the outside, working in a `servant' type position, so quiet on the outside with a wicked inner life brewing. Crawford nailed this personality.again, too perfectly.

I'm amazed at the depth of characters older movies have and the rather intense subject matter. I'm always amazed at how little life really has changed.wipe out technology and people are basically people.jealousy, anger, envy, strife.the Bible is true, all have fallen short, in 100AD, 1947, or 2004.