Fox Movie Channel

Coordinating Lipstick and Murder

You know how it goes: meet a girl with great cheekbones, fall in love among the stunning scenery of New Mexico, get married, and watch as people around you start to die. Encounter the title Leave Her to Heaven without seeing the movie, and it has such an angelic ring - it sounds like a movie about a lady with a heart of gold destined for a better place. Looking at Gene Tierney's porcelain doll visage could confirm that idea, but therein lies the trap. Because quite in contrast to something heavenly, this is a movie about a chick - Ellen Berent, played by Tierney - who's anything but good. (By the way, get ready for spoilers, cause I am about to blow up some wicked plot points.)

I remember in the early 90s when Single White Female and Indecent Proposal came out, it kind of felt like crazy murderous chicks were a fresh film idea. But Leave Her to Heaven had about a fifty year head start on the concept. Ellen Berent is so pretty and so devoted to Cornel Wilde's character Richard, that some early red flags are missed, like her saying crazy stuff about him looking like her father, or the fact that she could probably kill someone with her cheekbones alone. The more Ellen feels other people impinge on her relationship with Richard, the more crazy murderous she gets. There is one scene where Ellen willfully watches someone dear to her husband die, in a manner so coldblooded and disturbing that I wonder how it got by the censors at the time - I mean, this movie is from 1945. Later Ellen thinks she can repair things with husband Richard by having a baby, but then loses interest in the idea, upon coming to the conclusion that the pregnancy itself is a threat to their relationship. Ellen then dolls up in what I will call her special baby killing lipstick and special baby killing heels and takes some measures to alter her family way.

After that, when things have shockingly not improved with her hubby, she gets truly creative with her next murderous impulse. This time, she chooses to eliminate someone you will not expect, and to craftily frame her cousin for the death, because she jealously suspects said cousin and her hubby of having an affair. Her cousin, played by Jeanne Crain, also has remarkable cheekbones, and though she is less crazy or evil, she's the one now facing a murder trial. (I have discovered that many of these older dramas feature courtroom showdowns, often wherein people have to admit secret love tearfully on the stand. You can look for such a moment in this film. And, while you're at it, check out Vincent Price playing a lawyer.)

I know I have already given away some big plot points, but I am going to try to avoid spoiling the end. Let's just say, I think we're supposed to think this movie has a happy ending, for a few of the characters at least. But I actually wind up thinking that maybe twisted Ellen was right about a thing or two. Not about all the murdering, of course, but if you watch it, you might see what I mean. And whether or not you come to the same conclusion, you'll be treated to a surprisingly creepy Technicolor treat.