Flora Robson was always magnificent on screen, especially since she never repeated herself but always created new characters by her formidable art of acting, always with an integrity exploding within the character. This role was unique in her repertoire, she made Queen Elizabeth, she made a widow of Malta, she made the nun Philippa, she made the dowager empress Tzu Hsi, never beautiful but always prominent and striking. You will be surprised by her acting here, the ideal vicar's sister, taking tender care of everyone, protecting victims of persecution, while her double character fools everyone. She never gives herself away until at the crucial moment when Ann Todd's betrothed comes home from Australia, and it becomes clear that she will leave the vicarage. But only her face betrays her, no matter how stiff the poker face is. Reginald Tate is the reverend brother, who will face the most difficult crisis of his life, when truth breaks into his vicarage with devastating ruthlessness. The novel was written by Richard Llewellyn, and there you find all the terrible shattering psychology of the film. The best scene is in the beginning, when David phones his sweetheart all the way from Australia, and all the village gathers around the sensation of his coming home to marry Ann Todd. It's one of her earliest great roles, the same accounts for Robert Newton going on the rampage already here, and Wilfrid Hyde-White as the inimitable postman. No matter how shocking the cruelty of the story, it's a very enjoyable film for its excellent acting, its wonderful rendering of English village life and all the wonderful characters.
Review of Poison Pen
