BLANCHE FURY

 

BLANCHE FURY is a 1948 British Victorian melodrama starring Valerie Hobson and Stewart Granger. 

Set around 1860, the story concerns Blanche Fuller (Valerie Hobson), a young woman working as a servant. Blanche's parents are deceased, and she's on her own, trying to support herself. Her headstrong ways, however, constantly get her into trouble with her employers. Blanche receives a letter from a rich uncle who she's never really known, inviting her to become a governess to her cousin's young daughter. Blanche takes up the position, and moves into the large, imposing Fury estate. She's determined to use her situation to better herself, and she marries her cousin, Laurence (Michael Gough), even though she doesn't love him. Blanche's affections are for the estate's overseer, Philip Thorn (Stewart Granger). Philip happens to be an illegitimate member of the Fury family, and he has a major chip on his shoulder, because he believes the estate should belong to him. Philip takes drastic steps to make this possible, with some help from Blanche. The duo's plans to live the rest of their lives together in comfort are ruined by Philip's determination to have everything his own way, and Blanche's realization that she's not as conniving as her lover after all. 

BLANCHE FURY is a well-mounted production, with impressive costumes and sets, and sumptuous Technicolor. Guy Green is credited with the interior photography, while Geoffrey Unsworth gets the nod for the exteriors (which he presents in a striking and impressionistic manner). Oswald Morris, who would later become a renowned cinematographer himself, worked as a camera operator on this picture. 

The vibrant color does much to enhance Valerie Hobson's beauty, but in this film there's a coldness to her looks. Blanche is a woman who has spent her young life working for others who she thinks are beneath her, and as soon as she gets to the Fury estate she plans to take advantage of things. Her ambitions are shared by Philip, the dark, brooding bad boy who wants revenge on his relatives who look down on him. The result is that this is a film with no likable major characters. One can understand why Blanche and Philip act the way they do, but one doesn't root for them to get away with their schemes--especially when one realizes that because this is a movie made in 1948, they're not going to get away with it. 

One reason for BLANCHE FURY being notable is that it is the film debut of Michael Gough. Gough's character here is a weak aristocrat who has a sense of entitlement and likes to tell people what to do, but he's not man enough to live up to his status. This type of role is one that Gough would play throughout his entire distinguished career. Hammer Film fans will also notice George Woodbridge as a hired hand on the estate. 

Speaking of Hammer Films...this movie has a lot of elements in common with that production company. One could easily imagine Hazel Court in the role of Blanche, and Christopher Lee as Philip. The actual film was directed by Marc Allegret, and it was produced by Anthony Havelock-Allen (who was married to Valerie Hobson at the time). 

A dark soap opera, BLANCHE FURY has plenty of style, and plenty of passion from the two main leads. It doesn't have much warmth to it, however (the ending is particularly depressing).