Leave Her To Heaven (1945)

A self centered jealous beauty (Gene Tierney in an Oscar nominated performance) demands everything revolve around her and when it doesn’t, she resorts to whatever means necessary including murder and suicide. Based on the novel by Ben Ames Williams and directed by John M. Stahl (the 1934 IMITATION OF LIFE). This juicy three strip Technicolor melodrama is often referred to as a color film noir  but it's really not noir at all. Tierney has never been put to better use and her restrained underplaying in a part that many actresses would have ridden right over the top is impeccable. Leon Shamroy’s rich Oscar winning color cinematography is near legendary and the dark Alfred Newman score is among is his very, very best. The fine cast also includes Cornel Wilde as the object of Tierney‘s passions, Jeanne Crain as her sister, Vincent Price, Darryl Hickman as Wilde’s ill fated kid brother, Chill Wills, Ray Collins and Mary Philips.