At another movie website we have been discussing both of these noir-set-in-England films. I highly recommend both. As noted, both have fine cast. At first glance I wondered if Victor Mature would fit in such a setting (vs a gritty American city setting in the noirs he is known for), but he does very well here. Note that Cummins was filming Forever Amber for Fox but was removed from the project and replaced by Linda Darnell.Nellie LaRoy wrote: ↑November 27th, 2023, 2:15 pm I found this to be a throughly enjoyable double feature of crime/noir films set in England, both of which happened to be released in 1947; caught them on Criterion Channel just before they leave at the end of November - if you haven't seen them or want to revisit them, make sure you do that before Nov. 30th!
Ivy is a 1947 Universal film directed by Sam Wood and starring Joan Fontaine, Patric Knowles, Herbert Marshall and Richard Ney, taking place in Edwardian England. Moss Rose is a 1947 Fox noir directed by Gregory Ratoff and starring Peggy Cummins, Victor Mature, Vincent Price and Ethel Barrymore; this one set in Victorian London.
Cummins, of course, would go on to become one of the most legendary femmes fatale of all time with 1950's Gun Crazy. This is a great opportunity to check out another very solid of her noir performances.
Without spoiling anything for those who haven't seen them, one of these movies is about a very naughty lady and one of them is about a very proper one who is trying to find a better life - and willing to do almost anything to get there. I think to reveal more would be bad form!
From Wiki:
"The reason given later was that it was felt Cummins was very good as the young Amber – she had been extensively tested for these scenes – but looked too young to play Amber as she grew up. In the words of The New York Times "they found that Miss Cummins as grown up seductress looked more like Fluffy wearing her mother's old clothes and smearing on mom's lipstick when she wasn't looking".
The good thing is Fox gave her the part in Moss Rose and she shines.
As for Ivy: The role was somewhat of a transition for Fontaine from previous portrayals. E.g. the type of young woman we see in The Women, Rebecca, Suspision, Jane Eyre etc.