(1948) This Was A Woman
PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER
Adapted from the play by Joan Morgan that showcases the Russell family of Sylvia Russell (Sonia Dresdel) her husband, Arthur Russell (Walter Fitzgerald; their adult son, Terry Russell (Emrys Jones) who is close to be a certified doctor and the adult daughter, Fenella Russell (Barbara White) who is already in love with Terry's best friend, Dr. Valentine Christie (Julian Dallas) who happens to be a biochemist. One day the family housekeeper, Mrs. Holmes (Marjorie Rhodes) decides she needs to take some time off to visit relatives and that she is leaving her 22 year old daughter, Effie (Celia Lipton) to take her place. And one of the first anti social examples the mother, Sylvia does is take their beloved family dog, Ace to a veterinary clinic and pay it to put it to sleep. And then as soon as the daughter, Fen announces her engagement to Terry's best friend, Valentine, Sylvia then tries to fill her head with paranoid thoughts. At the same time offer him to live with them after their marriage at the same time. And because the new housekeeper, Effie is single, Sylvia would then try to manipulate both Valentine and her together just so the daughter would have so much distrust with her new husband who does not give him any affection.
I was able to watch it straight through as the rest of the family had been tolerant of the mother's unethical and strange practices. And while I was watching it I could not forget about another movie that consists to have a somewhat similar scenario called "The Little Foxes" directed by William Wyler with the difference is that the time periods are different. Also, the mother Sylvia is a little more ruthless with the hero, Terry refusing to fall for his mother's lies, excuses and manipulation.
