Watch Ivy For Free

When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

Joan Fontaine has 2 men on the go when she decides to pursue a third – wealthy Herbert Marshall (Rushworth) who doesn't have either looks or age on his side. However, his bank account is most attractive. So, Joan has a problem because she is married to uninspiring Richard Ney (Jervis) and he completely loves her. No divorce on the horizon, there, I'm afraid. She also has a lover – doctor Patric Knowles (Roger). This is convenient because doctors have access to poisons. Do you get the idea? This is a costume drama with a murder plot that Police Inspector Cedric Hardwicke (Orpington) is determined to solve. Fontaine is very good in the lead role and can carry the film on her facial expressions alone. There is a spooky fortune teller Una O'Connor (Matilda) who appears at the beginning of the film to give Fontaine a reading whilst accompanied by a piano playing little man to provide some atmosphere. It's an interesting set-up. Pity it doesn't happen today like that.We have clandestine meetings, a grandfather clock that stops ticking, an expensive purse with a secret compartment and lots of glamour not to mention an abrupt ending that works quite well.

Joan Fontaine is in the title role of Ivy, a completely amoral social climber who when we meet her is juggling three different guys, husband Richard Ney, former lover Patric Knowles who can't get her out of his system, and her next interest the very rich Herbert Marshall. This girl Ivy, she really gets around.When Marshall tells her he's not having any sex with another man's wife Fontaine sees her duty clear. She not only concocts an elaborate poisoning scheme for Ney, but Knowles the dope is still so in love with her that as a doctor he's also a natural suspect. He goes to trial and shields her. Knowles doesn't know about Marshall.Ivy is a wonderful and moody Edwardian melodrama where the tension is so thick you could cut it with a knife. The cinematography is A+ in this film.A key role is the methodical Scotland Yard Inspector Cedric Hardwicke who never bought Knowles as the guilty party. Hardwicke is almost Monk like in pursuit of the truth and justice.The last 10 minutes or so contain some of Joan Fontaine's best work on the big screen as she realized the jig is up. All by herself with little or no dialog what a portrait of a woman trapped by her own deceit.Ivy should be seen for that ending and for Cedric Hardwicke.

Ivy (1947) is an excellent "gaslight noir" film, with elements of Hitchcock and Victorian Gothic. Joan Fontaine is superb as the beautiful villainess Ivy. The film is visually stunning, with a suspenseful storyline. This rare gem deserves more recognition. Ivy is a beautiful blonde woman with a soft voice and elegant manners. She wears gorgeous Edwardian fashions, and extravagant hats with veils. However, beneath the alluring exterior is a cold hearted woman who is obsessed with having beautiful things, such as gowns, jewelry and opulent apartments. She is ruthless in her pursuit of beautiful items, to the point of murder. Ivy spent all her husband's money, and her lover is a doctor who cares for the poor. Neither man can give Ivy the beautiful things she craves.When Ivy meets the much older multimillionaire Miles Rushworth, she plots to scheme her way into his heart.There is a dramatic scene on Rushworth's yacht where Ivy tries to seduce him. Ivy appears in the doorway, looking gorgeous in a low-cut evening gown. Rushworth is tempted, but tells her that he does not become involved with married women.When Ivy's husband refuses to divorce her, she resorts to poisoning him, and then frames her lover for the murder. Suspense builds as the police try to determine who murdered Ivy's husband.Ivy hides her poison in a black purse with a strange clasp in the shape of a woman's face. The female face clasp is symbolic, as poison was a woman's weapon in the Victorian and Edwardian eras, because it was secretive and nonconfrontational. This is a "gaslight noir" film, set in Edwardian England, but with 1940s noir light and shadow, including the iconic noir slatted shadows. The movie has some Hitchcockian elements, such as a cool blonde, a man wrongfully accused, mirrors, and a build up of suspense.Victorian Gothic elements include the spooky clairvoyant woman, and her assistant who plays an eerie tune on the piano. The eerie music recurs throughout the film, and adds to the atmosphere. Legendary art director and producer William Cameron Menzies gave the film stunning visuals and atmosphere. The sets are lavish. Ivy's costumes are gorgeous confections of lace, chiffon and glitter. This film has a suspenseful storyline, excellent performances, lavish sets and costumes, great atmosphere, dramatic noir lighting, and a beautiful villainess. Hopefully a DVD will be released soon.

Joan Fontaine stars as the villain in this Victorian era film. She convincingly plays the married woman who has a lover on the side and also sets her sights on a wealthy man, Miles Rushworth who is played by Herbert Marshall. Mr. Marshall is quite good as Miles. Miss Fontaine acted her part to perfection--she was at the same time cunning, calculating, innocent looking, frightened and charming. It takes an actress with extraordinary talent to pull that off. Joan Fontaine looked absolutely gorgeous in the elegant costumes by Travis Banton. Also in the film is Joan's mother, Lillian Fontaine as Lady Flora. I highly recommend this film.