Ivy (1947 film)
Ivy is a 1947 American crime film noir directed by Sam Wood and written by Charles Bennett, based on The Story of Ivy, the novel written by Marie Adelaide Belloc Lowndes. The drama features Joan Fontaine, Patric Knowles, Herbert Marshall and Richard Ney.[1] The film was entered into the 1947 Cannes Film Festival.[2]
| Ivy | |
|---|---|
 Magazine advertisement | |
| Directed by | Sam Wood |
| Produced by | W. Cameron Menzies |
| Written by | Story: Marie Belloc Lowndes |
| Screenplay by | Charles Bennett |
| Based on | The Story of Ivy by Marie Belloc Lowndes |
| Starring | Joan Fontaine Patric Knowles Herbert Marshall Richard Ney |
| Music by | Daniele Amfitheatrof |
| Cinematography | Russell Metty |
| Edited by | Ralph Dawson |
Production company | Sam Wood Productions Inter-Wood Productions |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 99 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The song, "Ivy", written to promote the film by Hoagy Carmichael, has become a jazz standard.
Plot
In Edwardian England, Ivy Lexton (Joan Fontaine) is a woman with a taste for the finer things in life. Despairing of her husband Jervis's (Richard Ney), poor prospects, Ivy sees an opportunity in wealthy Miles Rushworth (Herbert Marshall), and is determined to have him, despite being married and having the additional obstacle of her affair with the infatuated Dr. Roger Gretorex (Patric Knowles).
However, Miles shows no interest because she is married. In response, Ivy tries unsuccessfully to persuade her husband to divorce her, then plans to poison him and pin the blame on Roger, clearing the way for a relationship with Miles. Inspector Orpington (Cedric Hardwicke) is called in to investigate Jervis' mysterious death.
Cast
- Joan Fontaine as Ivy Lexton
- Patric Knowles as Roger Gretorex
- Herbert Marshall as Miles Rushworth
- Richard Ney as Jervis Lexton
- Cedric Hardwicke as Inspector Orpington
- Lucile Watson as Mrs. Gretorex
- Sara Allgood as Martha Huntley
- Henry Stephenson as Judge
- Rosalind Ivan as Emily
- Lillian Fontaine as Lady Flora
- Molly Lamont as Bella Crail
- Una O'Connor as Mrs. Thrawn
- Isobel Elsom as Miss Chattle
- Alan Napier as Sir Jonathan Wright
- Paul Cavanagh as Doctor Berwick
- Lumsden Hare as Doctor Lanchester
- Norma Varden as Joan Rodney
- Mary Forbes as Lady Crail
Critical reception
The staff of Variety magazine said of the film, "William Cameron Menzies' production has an off-the-beaten path design that helps generate the melodramatic mood desired. Sets are small and players and settings are lensed from close range. Cast performances are good, but reflect directorial obviousness."[3]
References
- Ivy on IMDb.
- "Festival de Cannes: Ivy". festival-cannes.com. Retrieved 2009-01-04.
- Variety. Film review, June 26, 1947. Last accessed: December 1, 2009.