主演:雷·米兰德,安·托德,杰拉丁·菲茨杰拉德
导演:刘易斯·艾伦
简介:NovelistJosephShearingspecializedinusingrealcaseswhichtookplaceinVictorianEngland,alteringthemforfictionalpurposes.MOSSROSEin1947wasthefirstfilmtobemadefromhisnovels,thenin1948twoofhisworkswereadaptedforthescreen,thisfilmandTHEMARKOFCAIN.ThemoviestarsToddasarecentlywidowedmissionaryreturningtoherhomeinEnglandfromJamaica.Duringthevoyage,shemeetsMilland,acharmingthoughdangerousrascalwhoiswantedbypoliceinconnectionwithsomeunsavorydealings.MillandcontractsmalariawhileonboardtheshipandToddnurseshimbacktohealth.InLondon,Toddsettlesintoherhome,takinginboarderstomakeendsmeet.Millandarrives,movesin,andproclaimshisloveforher.Toddisthrilled,butitseemsratherobviousthatMillandisonlytoyingwithher.Millandfindssomeletterswrittentoherbyherfriend,Fitzgerald,inwhichFitzgeraldrevealssomeofhersexualindiscretions.SinceFitzgeraldisnowmarriedtothewealthyHuntley,MillandbelieveshecanusetheletterstoblackmailFitzgerald.Todd'sloveforMillandissogreatthatshegoesalongwiththeplan.Huntley,however,learnsoftheschemeandalsouncoversdetailsofMilland'sshadypast.Fearingforherlover'ssafety,ToddpoisonsHuntley,thenremainssilentwhenFitzgeraldisarrestedforthemurder.MillandhasbynowgenuinelyfalleninlovewithToddandthetwomakeplanstoleaveEngland.Beforetheycandepart,oneofMilland'sformerloversshowsupandTodd,inajealousrage,killsMilland,thenturnsherselfintothepolice. Thisisanintriguingfilm,althoughalittleonthetalkyside.Theperformancesareexcellentthroughout,withMillandshiningasthecad,thetypeofroleinwhichheexcelled.ThoughhespentmostofhistimemakingfilmsintheUS,heoccasionallyreturnedtohisnativeEnglandforaproductionandthiswashisfirstBritishfilmsinceFRENCHWITHOUTTEARSin1939.DirectorAllenwasalsoanEnglishmanwhochosetoworkintheUS,thisbeinghisfirstdirectorialeffortinhishomeland.ThiswasthefourthandlasttimeMillandandAllenwouldworktogether,theirpairinghavingbegunin1944withthewonderfullyeerieTHEUNINVITED.