Lady Possessed * (1952, James Mason, June Havoc, Stephen Dunne, Fay Compton, Pamela Kellino, Steven Geray) – Classic Movie Review 11,980

Married stars James Mason and Pamela Mason [Pamela Kellino] co-produced the films I Met a Murderer and Lady Possessed, both of which were directed by Pamela’s first husband Roy Kellino and both of which flopped and lost money.

Director William Spier and Roy Kellino’s 1952 American film noir mystery film Lady Possessed is based on the novel by Del Palma by Pamela Kellino, and stars James Mason, June Havoc, Stephen Dunne, Fay Compton, Pamela Kellino, Steven Geray.

Lady Possessed is a gloomy, low-key psychological thriller about disturbed Jean Wilson (June Havoc), who is obsessed with the idea that she is possessed by the mind of Del Palma (James Mason)’s late wife.

James Mason co-writes, produces, stars and sings (!) as Del Palma, the piano-playing owner of a country house that Havoc’s husband (Stephen Dunne) hires for recuperation.

A flop between Mason’s hits Five Fingers and The Prisoner of Zenda, it is an over-stretched, misconceived piece with flat playing doesn’t hit any high notes. It lost the Masons much of their investment in it.

Also in the cast are Odette Myrtil, Diana Graves, Eileen Erskine, John Monaghan, Vivian Bonnell [Enid Mosier], Judy Osborne, Constance Cavendish, Alma Lawton, Tonya Dolly, Hazel Franklyn, and Anna Grevier.

The sets are designed by Frank Arrigo.

Pamela’s novel Del Palma was originally published as A Lady Possessed in Britain in 1943.

James Mason was educated at Marlborough College, and earned a first in Architecture at Peterhouse, Cambridge.

The cast are James Mason as Jimmy Del Palma, June Havoc as Jean Wilson, Stephen Dunne as Tom Wilson, Fay Compton as Mme. Brune, Pamela Mason [Pamela Kellino] as Sybil, Steven Geray as Dr. Stepanek, Diana Graves as Medium, Odette Myrtil as Mrs. Burrows, Eileen Erskine as Violet, John Monaghan as Dave, Vivian Bonnell [Enid Mosier] as Calypso Singer, Judy Osborne as Secretary, Constance Cavendish, Alma Lawton, Tonya Dolly, Hazel Franklyn, and Anna Grevier.

© Derek Winnert 2022 Classic Movie Review 11,980

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