Leave Her to Heaven (1945)

[Akijama]

coming in march

https://www.criterion.com/films/2960...-her-to-heaven

Novelist Richard Harland (Cornel Wilde) seems to have found the perfect woman in Ellen (Gene Tierney), a beautiful socialite who initiates a whirlwind romance and steers him into marriage before he can think twice. Yet the glassy surface of Ellen’s devotion soon reveals monstrous depths, as Richard comes to realize that his wife is shockingly possessive and may be capable of destroying anyone who comes between them. A singular Hollywood masterpiece that draws freely from the women’s picture and film noir alike, Leave Her to Heaven boasts elegant direction by melodrama specialist John M. Stahl, blazing Technicolor cinematography by Leon Shamroy, and a chilling performance by Tierney, whose Ellen is a femme fatale unlike any other: a woman whose love is as pure as it is poisonous.


Leave Her to Heaven was restored by Twentieth Century Fox and the Academy Film Archive, with support from The Film Foundation.

SPECIAL FEATURES
New 2K digital restoration by Twentieth Century Fox, the Academy Film Archive, and The Film Foundation, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray
New interview with critic Imogen Sara Smith
Trailer
PLUS: An essay by novelist Megan Abbott
New cover illustration by Flore Maquin

[drownsoda]

Great news. This is Gene Tierney's best performance IMO.

[klauswhereareyou]

Great news for anyone that doesn't want to shell out 200 bucks for an OOP Blu-ray.

[GeoffOliver]

YES! One of my last TT titles that I need a reissue for (the others being The Driver and The Fury). I was SO CLOSE to pulling the trigger on the DVD, but I’m glad I didn’t. I guess Criterion also has this in the UK since nobody there was able to license it apparently. Gorgeous cover too. This should’ve gone to Criterion from the beginning.

[professorwho]

Sucks there's no extras (outside of an interview), but as a TT alternative, I'll probably get it.

[Flapperdame16]

Finally

[bsend]

This is fantastic news! Can't wait for this one! Hopefully I can grab this on the next flash sale.

[Gunsnroses092789]

Amazing news!

[Catastrophe]

Add to cart.

I had the opportunity to get TT's release but I kept sleeping on it and then finally it went OOP.

[dig311dug]

if i didn't have the TT release I'd be all over this... my second favorite film noir after double indemnity.

If there's a drastic PQ difference I may consider it.

[Dailyan]

Excellent news. I'll be curious what the new master will look like. The screens, at first glance, they have up on Criterion's site appear to be from the TT release. I'm surprised they didn't port over the commentary or Movietone extras...well, maybe not too surprised since Schickel kind of shits on the film at spots and for Hickman I think Kauffman said it best in the site review

He is not kind to Gene Tierney, let's just leave it at that.

Originally Posted by klauswhereareyou

Great news for anyone that doesn't want to shell out 200 bucks for an OOP Blu-ray.

I was lucky to snag mine for about $45 a year ago.

[MJD64]

Shame Criterion couldn't port over the vintage Fox Movietone News short or the commentary track with critic Richard Schickel and actor Darryl Hickman (who I've read is pretty forthcoming in dishing some dirt about the shoot) that were on both the Fox DVD and the TT Blu.

Still, will be a pleasure to finally own this in all its Technicolor lusciousness...and that stone-cold fox Gene Tierney makes for one helluva wonderfully wicked femme fatale.

[lilboyblu]

Bought the TT disc when it was still available, but will gladly sell it off if the Criterion is an improvement.

[thebalconyfool]

Thrilled about this! I have the FOX DVD, but I'll be so happy to finally have it on blu as I missed out on the TT release.

[Padawan9188]

Reading the newsletter, I rolled my eyes at Prince of Tides and gasped out loud when I saw Leave Her to Heaven.


YAYYYYYYYY

[dwk]

Originally Posted by GeoffOliver

YES! One of my last TT titles that I need a reissue for (the others being The Driver and The Fury). I was SO CLOSE to pulling the trigger on the DVD, but I’m glad I didn’t. I guess Criterion also has this in the UK since nobody there was able to license it apparently. Gorgeous cover too. This should’ve gone to Criterion from the beginning.

It is a Fox title, so I doubt it. But maybe someone over there got it before the gates were locked.

[Dailyan]

Originally Posted by dwk

But maybe someone over there got it before the gates were locked.

Even before the merger, a few of the UK labels had tried to get it for years but it was off-limits.

[kieslow]

Do we know if it's a new transfer though? The TT was already from a Film Foundation restoration effort…

[SeanJoyce]

Incredible

[snipemonkey]

Originally Posted by klauswhereareyou

Great news for anyone that doesn't want to shell out 200 bucks for an OOP Blu-ray.

Oh, crap! I need to hurry up and unload mine! I had no idea it was going for that kind of cash.