So Evil My Love

This one is a sleeper. It catches you by surprise. You think they're going one way but then they switch course and by the time you think you've figured it out they've switched again. Everything about is is first rate. The acting, dialog, scenery, direction, I mean everything. What's more surprising is that it takes place during Victorian England yet deals with subjects the gentle folk of that age preferred to keep under wraps. Despite the period costumes and scenery there's something very modern about the story. The two standouts here are both headliners, especially Ray Milland. His character starts out much like the one he played in "Dial M for Murder" but here he is more multi-dimensional, perhaps more human, not so narcissistic. And you can't help but like him, despite his shortcomings and machinations. Ann Todd too was very sympathetic despite her weakness for the charming Milland character. She exhibited an endearing vulnerability coupled with dogged determination. In the end I guess it had to end the way it did. But I fervently hoped for some other conclusion, one where the lovers pursued their dreams without wrecking the lives of others. That's how close I felt to them.

So Evil My Love (AKA: For Her to See/The Obsessed) is directed by Lewis Allen and adapted to screenplay by Ronald Millar & Leonard Spigelgass from the novel written by Joseph Shearing (AKA: Marjorie Bowen). It stars Ray Milland, Ann Todd, Geraldine Fitzgerald and Leo Carroll. Music is scored by William Alwyn & Victor Young and cinematography by Max Green.

"This is a true story...one of the strangest chapters in the annals of crime. Its characters lived more than fifty years ago...the leading figures in a passionate game of love and murder. It began on a sailing vessel homeward bound from the West Indies for Liverpool...."

Lewis Allen's movie falls into that category of films tagged as Gaslight Noir – Period Noir. Marjorie Bowen's literary works were always ripe for such noirish period pickings, given that many of them feature dark doings, bad people, idiotic people and just plain misery, and this filmic adaptation is no different in that respect; gloriously so for the film noir faithful.

While not in the same league as the two Gaslight movies, So Evil My Love pulses throughout with tainted blood. The period flavours are lovely, the lead cast members at home in their settings, yet you will have to search far and wide for someone you can respect. Heading up the cast is Milland, who around this time was thoroughly enjoying himself playing troubled or bad boy roles, and here, as he drags all around him through the mud, he's having a grand old time of it.

Unfortunately the long running time proves a bit much for director Allen, who sinks into deep melodrama for a good portion of the mid- section, and this is where it comes close to being dull, but the final third is worth waiting for as the septic and the stupid trot along to their respective fate. It's also disappointing that Green's photography doesn't always enhance the turbulent atmosphere, so for better work from him seek out Hatter's Castle (1942) and the mightily great Night and the City (1950).

Lots to like here for period and Gothic noir fans though. 7/10

"So Evil My Love" is a 1948 British film starring Ann Todd and Ray Milland. Todd plays Olivia, a widow returning from missionary work, who re-opens her house and takes in lodgers. Milland is Mark Bellis, a man she has met previously, who claims to be homeless and asks for a room. Though it isn't quite proper, she agrees. Olivia doesn't know that he's an art thief and has a girlfriend. She falls in love with him, and Mark seduces her into a life of crime and betrayal by having her take advantage of her wealthy, frail friend Susan (Geraldine Fitzgerald). Olivia and Mark steal from Susan's husband (Raymond Huntley). And that's not all.

Pretty good film, though it was a bit of a stretch for me to believe missionary Olivia going over to the dark side so quickly. All of the actors give good, solid performances, with Huntley and Fitzgerald standouts. Milland could play a con artist well, and Todd is enigmatic as Olivia, a woman with deep emotions beneath the surface. Leo G. Carroll plays a detective who preys on Olivia's conscience.

The movie is very dark and atmospheric. Some of the best scenes are in the last fifteen minutes. Recommended.

It's not too often that likable RAY MILLAND played a downright villain or rogue, but he uses his roguish charm quite as well here as he would eventually in Hitchcock's DIAL M FOR MURDER. He plays a hard on his luck artist who lures ANN TODD into a romance, while she's unaware that she's a mere pawn in his game to steal money from her friend's husband. GERALDINE FITZGERALD is the woman friend and she, as usual, shines in support.

But it's really a film carried by Milland and Todd and they play against each other very well. The only weakness is that it's difficult to see why a woman as intelligent as Todd would fall so easily for the scheming Milland and then agree to do some dirty work on her friend's husband.

It's a Victorian crime of passion that takes its time in setting up the characters and the situations, but once the plot gets under way the viewer becomes involved in the story, thanks to some good direction, script and photography which gives a realistic feel to the gritty story with a downbeat ending.

Atmospheric and well worth watching for the little nuances along the way.

'So Evil My Love' has the sort of story that has always appealed to me and on paper it sounded really interesting, it also looked good and had heard a lot of good things about it which picqued my interest further. Having Ray Milland, Ann Todd and Geraldine Fitzgerald in a film on their own promises a lot. Having them together in the same film had me sold even further. So yeah, there was a lot that 'So Evil My Love' had going for it.

While not quite perfect, 'So Evil My Love' is delightful for anybody that loves the genre and stories with a similar theme. It is an extremely well done film, that works excellently as both a suspense film and psychological study. Those that like either Milland, Todd or Fitzgerald, and even better all three, should not find themselves disappointed with all three being in roles worthy of their talent as well as somewhat stretching them. It would be a very easy yes if asked my opinion on whether the film is worth watching or not.

The not so good things will be mentioned first. They are vastly outweighed by the many great things and they are minor too, well relatively. The central relationship does develop a little too quickly, with Milland's character being too easily fallen for, and part of me felt that his true colours could have been revealed a little latter.

Do think that the film could have gotten going quicker, a little too much set up.

Milland though gives a great performance in a role that suits him very well, he manages to be very charming but also sinister. Todd is perhaps even better, her vulnerability was touching and her steel was worthy of a lot of admiration. Fitzgerald brings out her character's neuroses very effectively without overplaying and is actually quite sympathetic. Raymond Huntley is almost as chilling as Milland.

Furthermore, 'So Evil My Love' is gorgeously filmed, which matched the story's grit very well and never felt artificial, complete with a handsome and evocative period production design. The direction is seldom less than assured and gets better as the film progresses, while the music is haunting and seldom excessively scored. The script is intelligent and tightly structured while the story works very well psychologically, the characters are interesting and the right ones are worth investing in. The character relationships generally have the right amount of tension and insight. As well as the right amount of suspense, culminating in an ending that still gives the chills.

In summary, very well done. 8/10