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Femme fatale or obsessive-compulsive disorder victim?

posted 9 years ago by Erniesam
5 replies | jump to latest

I know there are lots of opinions out there concerning the classification of this movie. Some say "definately a noir" others "an undeniable melodrama." I just can't make up my mind, I guess I see elements of both in it.

Most film noirs have a female protagonist which is after money, glamour, fame or whatever. The main thing is: she is after something and uses men to get it. In this case it is the man himself that she wants. I think this is a main difference between Ellen and many other femme fatales. Ellen isn't after materialistic things, she just needs a little, exclusive attention. To be honest I felt rather sorry for her that is...until she committed suicide and framed her sister and husband. Now that I find just a tat despicable. But I loved this ending. It realy makes Ellen into one of the most conniving and evil female protagonists in movie history. You have to be realy sick to pull that off. Than again I thought the movie made it quite clear that Ellen was indeed mentally ill and suffers from an obsessive-compulsive disorder. I guess most femme fatales in film noir have a screw or bolt loose and can be diagnosed with one disorder or another, but I find that most are more obvious and clearly have a hunger for power and money. It is hard to feel sorry for Phyllis Dietrichson or Kathy because we see them ostensibly act rational and calculating. With Ellen I got the impression she acted upon the spur of the moment, whatever seemed convenient to her. The outcome of her actions are in the same league as other femme fatales, but somehow more in line with her psychological needs. Still, she is very unpredictable and ...well, a cold blooded killer.

As for Cornel Wilde; I actually liked him in this one. He realy is a quiontessential noir fall guy. Although he doesn't suspect any danger unlike Walter and Jeff, he does get lured in by the femme fatale. It's only gradually that he finds out that all is not well with Ellen. His foolishness and naivete are perfectly in line with the noir style.

All in all I was pretty much blown away by this movie. I think Laura is still Tierney's best movie, I believe this might be a better performance.

[–] TotheWatersandtheWild 9 years ago

It really is an amazing performance.
I don't see her as having OCD. More like a totally twisted manipulator.
A true blue psychopath. A backstory would reveal what or why, more, perhaps. But she's more unique as a femme fatale. She doesn't want fame, money, the typical murdering motives. She wants him all to herself. How long before she tires of him?

It's almost as if the writer didn't have a by-the-book definition of a specific mental illness, which makes her more unique. She's hard to crack. Emotional and frazzled one minute, cold beyond comprehension the next.
I'm still haunted by the scene in the boat, where she just watches... and the cool way she delivers lines. And going against such a basic maternal instinct, with the incident involving the stairs... and ultimately doing something so irreversible. Some of her actions are so spontaneous, but some are so calculated. She's a complicated femme fatale.

~
All of us get lost in the darkness
Dreamers learn to steer by the stars

[–] Funky12345 9 years ago

Than again I thought the movie made it quite clear that Ellen was indeed mentally ill and suffers from an obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Do you even know what OCD is? Have you even read up on the subject before making such a stupid statement? Obviously not. You are incorrect. I much more agree with TotheWaters who seems to be correct in his/her analysis of Ellen Berent. Ellen seems to be much more on the sociopath scale when it comes to her diagnosis.

It is a chilling performance by Gene Tierney and this role brought out her talent.

"I put on underwear for this?"

[–] RobbieCalifornia 8 years ago

My own uneducated diagnosis is she was a pathologically jealous murdering sociopath. She really did want that man all to herself. Great performance by Gene Tierney.

Some places refer to this film as a Technicolor film noir, which seems like sort of an oxymoron to me.

The color was beautiful but I can't help imagining this story in black and white.

[–] Bree_33 8 years ago

But she's more unique as a femme fatale. She doesn't want fame, money, the typical murdering motives. She wants him all to herself. How long before she tires of him?

A femme fatale with an extreme electra complex. In his book "Somewhere in the Night", Nicholas Christopher wrote: "In this film the femme fatale plays a role of a icily crazed manipulator sexually and emotionally obsessed with her father before and after his death. Her character is easily delineated by a summary of her activities.
Then is the sexual rivalry, jealousy, and possessiveness that erupt between two sisters over the same man....

A complex femme fatale, indeed.

☁☀☁

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» nec spe,nec metu •´¯`» The Amazing Gene Tierney: https://i.imgur.com/rU4RCLn.gif

[–] MarieofRomania 7 years ago

Borderline Personality Disorder. That's my diagnosis.