The Late Edwina Black

"The Late Edwina Black" is a most unusual murder mystery because instead of focusing on the accused, it focuses on three people and you see how they react to the possibility that the others are killers. Because of this, it's a great look at human nature at all its worst!

The story begins with Mrs. Black being found dead. Following her funeral, a police inspector shows up...indicating that there might have been foul play and he was having the body exhumed. It turns out that the lady's body was full of arsenic....and the remaining 80% of the film consists of the members of the household reacting to this.

The acting is very good in this one and the story quite good. My only quibble is the ending...I really think leaving it more vague would have been much more interesting following the inspector's revelation. Still, well worth seeing and fascinating throughout.

Geraldine Fitzgerald gives another of her usual fine, understated performances as Elizabeth Grahame, a maid, who may or may not be a murderess. This is, however, a very unusual thriller which starts with the death of Edwina Black. Everyone is suitably shocked but when an autopsy is requested it proves that she was poisoned. It seems that Mrs. Black was a hard and bullying mistress and the villagers think life will be much easier at the house now she is dead. Mr. Black (David Farrar) and Elizabeth have fallen in love but there are some red herrings that pop up - a travel book to Italy that Elizabeth had ordered a month before Edwina's death is innocently explained. She is convinced a black cloud hangs over the house and as time goes on begins to be eaten up with suspicion and jealousy and is slowly consumed by Edwina's personality.

Jean Cadell is excellent as the aloof housekeeper. You never realise, until the end of the film, "who done it" - as everyone seems to be acting so innocent!! Geraldine Fitzgerald was quite a rebel - she was often suspended because of films she refused to do. She returned to England for a time in the late 40s. She starred as an alcoholic murderess in "So Evil, So Young" and "The Late Edwina Black" before she returned to the States.

"The Late Edwina Black" from 1951 stars Geraldine Fitzgerald, a favorite of mine, and David Farrar.

The story takes place in Victorian England. Gregory, Edwina Black's husband, is a schoolteacher. Edwina herself seems to be an invalid and independently wealthy. Her companion from childhood is Ellen (Jean Cadell).

The other person helping with Mrs. Black is Elizabeth. Elizabeth happens to be in love with Gregory, and he with her, and Ellen knows it.

One day Mrs. Black is found dead, and while at first it seems like a heart attack, it appears she was poisoned. A police inspector (Roland Culver) comes around as soon as it is learned how Mrs. Black died. His questions annoy Gregory and upset Edwina.

Before you know it, the two of them are suspecting one another. Elizabeth believes Edwina's spirit is still present and trying to destroy both of them.

Good movie, good mystery, with fine acting. It really does keep you wondering. The atmosphere is terrific, mostly inside a big, dark, gloomy house, which is perfect for the plot.

David Farrar was quite handsome but, like Dirk Bogarde before him, just wasn't cut out for Hollywood. While Bogarde's career in Europe continued and expanded after Hollywood, Farrar could not regain his momentum. He finally retired. Recommended.

Suspicion falls on widower David Farrar and his pert young mistress (Geraldine Fitzgerald) when his sickly, shrewish wife dies of arsenic poisoning. Veteran director Maurice Elvey creates a nicely ominous atmosphere as the ghostly influence of the dead woman seems to pit the lovers against one another, but the middle act, in which Farrar and Fitzgerald grow increasingly suspicious of the other's possible motive for murder, tends to drag. Roland Culver as a dogged, no-nonsense Scotland Yard detective livens things up considerably.

The Obsessed is a nice example of English noir and of the murder mysteries they do so well and with such style. It's a wonderful case study on how suspicious minds can mess with your head.

Schoolmaster David Farrar's wife who's a rich sickly soul is given arsenic poisoning and that brings Scotland Yard in with Inspector Roland Culver. Farrar has been carrying on for some time with Geraldine Fitzgerald who is the wife's companion.

The bulk of the film is spent with Farrar and Fitzgerald each thinking the other did it and trying to keep their relationship intact. Housekeeper Jean Cadell, a nasty old soul is sure it was one of both.

A whole lot of emotions come into play with the scenes of the two leads often at the same time, hope, fear, anger, suspicion all fueled by the wife's poisoning.

As is usual the wise Scotland Yard inspector with some forensic help sorts it all out.

Great acting especially from the two leads.