Ivy (1947 film)


Ivy is a 1947 American crime film noir directed by Sam Wood and written by Charles Bennett, based on The Story of Ivy, the novel written by Marie Adelaide Belloc Lowndes. The drama features Joan Fontaine, Patric Knowles, Herbert Marshall and Richard Ney. The film was entered into the 1947 Cannes Film Festival.
The song, "Ivy", written to promote the film by Hoagy Carmichael, has become a jazz standard.

Plot

In Edwardian England, Ivy Lexton is a woman with a taste for the finer things in life. Despairing of her husband Jervis's, poor prospects, Ivy sees an opportunity in wealthy Miles Rushworth, and is determined to have him, despite being married and having the additional obstacle of her affair with the infatuated Dr. Roger Gretorex.
However, Miles shows no interest because she is married. In response, Ivy tries unsuccessfully to persuade her husband to divorce her, then plans to poison him and pin the blame on Roger, clearing the way for a relationship with Miles. Inspector Orpington is called in to investigate Jervis' mysterious death.

Cast

The staff of Variety magazine said of the film, "William Cameron Menzies' production has an off-the-beaten path design that helps generate the melodramatic mood desired. Sets are small and players and settings are lensed from close range. Cast performances are good, but reflect directorial obviousness."