Beyond the Forest (1949)

Rosa Moline is bored with life in a small town. She loves Chicago industrialist Neil Latimer who has a hunting lodge nearby. Rosa squeezes her husband's patients to pay their bills so she ... See full summary »

Director:

King Vidor

Writers:

Lenore J. Coffee, Stuart Engstrand (novel)

Stars:

Bette Davis, Joseph Cotten, David Brian

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Bette Davis	...	Rosa Moline
Joseph Cotten	...	Doctor Louis Moline
David Brian	...	Neil Latimer
Ruth Roman	...	Carol Lawson
Minor Watson	...	Moose Lawson
Dona Drake	...	Jenny
Regis Toomey	...	Sorren
Sarah Selby	...	Mildred Sorren

Storyline

Rosa Moline is bored with life in a small town. She loves Chicago industrialist Neil Latimer who has a hunting lodge nearby. Rosa squeezes her husband's patients to pay their bills so she can visit Chicago; her husband's patience is also tried: he tells her to go and never come back. Once there, Neil tells her he doesn't want her. Back home and pregnant, Neil shows up and now wants her. The caretaker at Neil's lodge threatens to reveal her pregnancy...

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Plot Keywords:

pregnancy | small town | murder | boredom | death of main character | 

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Taglines:

Nobody's as good as Bette when she's bad!

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Genres:

Film-Noir | Drama | Thriller

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 October 1949 (USA)

Also Known As:

Rosa Moline

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In some parts of the US the scene in which Rosa induces a miscarriage by jumping from an embankment were cut.

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Goofs

Prior to visiting lawyer's office, Rosa wipes off all her make-up, then is seen wearing bright lipstick during a close-up in waiting room, which immediately disappears for rest of scene.

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Quotes

Rosa Moline: Life in Loyalton is like sitting in the funeral parlor and waiting for the funeral to begin. No, it's like lying in a coffin and waiting for them to carry you out.

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Crazy Credits

The film begins after the opening credits with this warning title: This is the story of evil. Evil is headstrong - is puffed up. For our souls sake, it is salutory for us to view it in all it's ugly nakedness once in a while. Thus may we know how those who deliver themselves over to it end up like the scorpion, in a mad frenzy stinging themselves to eternal death.

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Connections

Referenced in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)

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Soundtracks

"Chicago"
(uncredited)
Music by Fred Fisher (1922)
Heard throughout as part of the background score

User Reviews

More than camp

While there ARE overdone and exaggerated moments in this film, it is also a near masterpiece! Bette Davis plays Rosa Moline, a small town strumpet who wants more than her hick doctor hubby can provide.

Bette's explosive performance is among the best of her career(and that's saying something!). Her character has to be among the most evil in motion picture history. What is remarkable is that Bette compels us to care about and, even root for this greedy and self centered woman. That is part of what makes Bette Davis the most versatile and most accomplished actress in motion picture history.

A particularly wonderful scene takes place later in the film. Rosa gives her husband a surprising bit of news at a picnic. Watch the sadness and mixed emotions that emanate from her eyes. What an amazing and bittersweet scene.

The problem with the film is that there are scenes that don't fully detail what happens to Rosa near the end of the film. Also, there were changes imposed on the film by the production code that weakened its narrative logic.

Despite a few flaws, this is a fabulous film. The highs and lows of Rosa Moline are compelling and complex. Like the sinister character Bette Davis portrays, the film is far deeper than it seems. Those who think of it only as camp should take a closer look.