Fri 14 Nov 2025
MOSS ROSE. 20th Century Fox, 1947. Peggy Cummins, Victor Mature, Ethel Barrymore, Vincent Price, Margo Woode, George Zucco, Patricia Medina, Rhys Williams. Based on the novel by Joseph Shearing (correction made in Comment #6). Director: Gregory Ratoff.
A Victorian era murder mystery, in which a chorus girl first plays detective and then attempts a surprising sort of blackmail. The main clue in the death of her friend is a rose, found in a Bible at the scene of the crime.
Peggy Cummins’ character is naive, audacious and charming, all at the same time. I found myself rooting for her, and I didn’t know why. As a mystery the story could have used some extra finesse, however. The finger of suspicion jumps a bit too quickly here.
November 15th, 2025 at 3:42 am
It’s a handsome production too.
November 15th, 2025 at 11:07 am
Yes. From looking at the cast, a few minutes watching the video above, and what I remember of the movie, it’s a far better production than the bulk of the others now called film noir from the same era.
November 15th, 2025 at 9:26 pm
I thought, going in, that Mature was incorrectly cast as an upper-class Brit but he was a strong enough actor to pull it off. Thumbs up.
November 16th, 2025 at 12:14 am
The only surprise, the word Toronto. I am there, or here, but these other underdeveloped nut cases are not.
November 16th, 2025 at 7:17 am
I keep meaning to watch this. Perhaps this impetus will impel my impulse.
November 16th, 2025 at 1:30 pm
Although Shearing (Gabrielle M. V. Long) did write a novel entitled THE CRIME OF LAURA SAURELLE (originally just LAURA SAURELLE), this movie is based on her novel MOSS ROSE, Heinemann, 1934 / Smith & Haas, 1935. From the book I have verified that Belle Adair is the main character in MOSS ROSE.
November 16th, 2025 at 1:36 pm
Thanks for the clarification, Bill. I’ll make the correction right away. One can depend on IMDb only so much!