BEDELIA

UK, 1946, 83 minutes, Black and white.
Margaret Lockwood, Ian Hunter, Barry K. Barnes, Anne Crawford, Beatrice Varley, Louise Hampton, Jill Esmond.
Directed by Lance Comfort.

In 1945 Margaret Lockwood had had a screen success with her portrayal of the evil highway woman in The Wicked Lady. Here she has an opportunity to portray an attractive but psychotic woman who has murdered several husbands – and would, in later decades, be called a serial killer. The film opens with a voice-over commentary on her portrait and how evil she is.

The initial setting is Monte Carlo in 1938, attractive for British tourists. Bedelia has married Charlie, a businessman (Ian Hunter) and he is absolutely devoted to his new wife. The audience also sees an artist (Barry K. Barnes) who seems to be an artist but the audience suspects and soon realises is actually a detective pursuing Bedelia. She is unwilling to have her photo taken or portrait painted but she reluctantly agrees.

The couple return to the home in Yorkshire, he an industrialist relying on his assistant played by Anne Crawford. All seems to be going well except that the detective turns up, has painted a picture and signed it with the alleged husband’s name, and is further investigating Bedelia’s murders.

The film becomes more melodramatic towards the end as Bedelia wants to escape from the house, her husband is reluctant because of business, does not believe the detective with his revelations but ultimately is convinced. Bedelia kills herself – and the audience once more looks at her portrait.

Direction is by Lance Comfort directed a number of minor British films.

1. A post-war British drama, touches of the thriller?

2. The Monte Carlo settings, hotels, shops, atmosphere? The contrast with Yorkshire, the village, the mansion? The seasons, the snow? The Christmas celebration? The musical score?

3. The title, the initial portrait, Chaney, his voice-over and indicating to the audience Bedelia as evil? Margaret Lockwood, her screen presence, the portrayal of evil characters?

4. The novelist, adapting her novel, transferring from US 1913 to Europe in 1938?

5. Audience curiosity about Bedelia? As a person, as an attractive woman, her marriage to Charlie? His romantic attentions to her? The encounter with Chaney? Her wariness of photographs, not wanting to be painted, reluctantly agreeing and posing? The story of her dead artist husband and no paintings existing?

6. Charlie, businessman, age, attracted to Bedelia, marrying her, his lavish attentions, life in Monte Carlo? Friendship with Chaney? Wanting Bedelia’s portrait painted?

7. The return to Yorkshire, the setting up of house, Ellen and her welcome, Mary and the servants? The way of life, Bedelia as the lady of the house? Growing number of friends, the Christmas celebration, the many visitors, society, the gifts, the gossip?

8. Chaney, the audience seeing him at the jeweller’s shop, Bedelia and the valuing of the ring? His paintings? Audiences suspicions of him? The fact that he was a detective, pursuing Bedelia? His painting the picture, signing it with her alleged husband’s name, the Christmas gift, her reaction?

9. Charlie, his illness, Chaney and his suspicions, the role of the doctor? Chaney hiring the nurse, Ellen seeing him talking with her, his pretending he did not know her?

10. The nurse, strict regime, looking after Charlie? Bedelia and her wanting to take over? Firing the nurse? Letting Mary go home? Charlie and his medication, her sinister behaviour?

11. Bedelia and her appeal to go away, Charlie and the practical applications of his work, Bedelia going out in the car, the crash, her return?

12. The role of Ellen, devoted to Charlie, the place with his work, going to the station concerning the imports, seeing Chaney and the nurse?

13. Chaney, the news of the Scottish captain? The flashbacks about the Scots situation, the death of the husband? The story about Maureen and her red hair?

14. Bedelia, imploring Charlie, his learning about the ring and not believing Chaney, discovering the ring in Bedelia’s purse, putting it beside her bed, the revelation?

15. The gun on the table, Bedelia looking in the mirror, killing herself? And the audience looking at the portrait again?

16. The story of a murderess – and in later times, a serial killer?