NovelistJosephShearingspecializedinusingrealcaseswhichtookplaceinVictorianEngland,alteringthemforfictionalpurposes.MOSSROSEin1947wasthefirstfilmtobemadefromhisnovels,thenin1948twoofhisworkswereadaptedforthescreen,thisfilmandTHEMARKOFCAIN.ThemoviestarsToddasarecentlywidowedmissionaryreturningtoherhomeinEnglandfromJamaica.Duringthevoyage,shemeetsMilland,acharmingthoughdangerousrascalwhoiswantedbypoliceinconnectionwithsomeunsavorydealings.MillandcontractsmalariawhileonboardtheshipandToddnurseshimbacktohealth.InLondon,Toddsettlesintoherhome,takinginboarderstomakeendsmeet.Millandarrives,movesin,andproclaimshisloveforher.Toddisthrilled,butitseemsratherobviousthatMillandisonlytoyingwithher.Millandfindssomeletterswrittentoherbyherfriend,Fitzgerald,inwhichFitzgeraldrevealssomeofhersexualindiscretions.SinceFitzgeraldisnowmarriedtothewealthyHuntley,MillandbelieveshecanusetheletterstoblackmailFitzgerald.Todd'sloveforMillandissogreatthatshegoesalongwiththeplan.Huntley,however,learnsoftheschemeandalsouncoversdetailsofMilland'sshadypast.Fearingforherlover'ssafety,ToddpoisonsHuntley,thenremainssilentwhenFitzgeraldisarrestedforthemurder.MillandhasbynowgenuinelyfalleninlovewithToddandthetwomakeplanstoleaveEngland.Beforetheycandepart,oneofMilland'sformerloversshowsupandTodd,inajealousrage,killsMilland,thenturnsherselfintothepolice. Thisisanintriguingfilm,althoughalittleonthetalkyside.Theperformancesareexcellentthroughout,withMillandshiningasthecad,thetypeofroleinwhichheexcelled.ThoughhespentmostofhistimemakingfilmsintheUS,heoccasionallyreturnedtohisnativeEnglandforaproductionandthiswashisfirstBritishfilmsinceFRENCHWITHOUTTEARSin1939.DirectorAllenwasalsoanEnglishmanwhochosetoworkintheUS,thisbeinghisfirstdirectorialeffortinhishomeland.ThiswasthefourthandlasttimeMillandandAllenwouldworktogether,theirpairinghavingbegunin1944withthewonderfullyeerieTHEUNINVITED.
雷·利奥塔,斯科特·伊斯特伍德,泰瑞斯·吉布森,迪伦·阿诺德,欧勒格·塔克塔罗夫,安东尼·莫利纳利,奥利·普费弗,迈克尔·比斯利,托辛·莫罗洪福拉