Blanche Fury (1948)

Wonderful character development!

I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.

Boring

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

BLANCHE FURY is an engaging little 'gothic romance' type film, shot in luxurious colour and based on a novel by the long-forgotten author Marjorie Bowen, who wrote a number of fine ghost stories during her career. This one has Valerie Hobson marrying into a wealthy family, only to discover cruelty and a secret conspiracy in the mix. A youthful Stewart Granger plays the bastard son of an aristocratic line who is determined to retrieve what he sees as his birthright; Michael Gough also appears as a dastardly character in his career debut. This slow-moving production juggles drama, tragedy, thrills and romance rather successfully, building to an unpredictable and somewhat nihilistic climax that all makes good moral sense. There's at least one shocking twist and some good menace from the gypsy characters to keep the pace going.

This is a hidden gem. It resembled Gone with the Wind, in its production values, with Valerie Hobsons performance a stand out revelation. She was a beautiful and superbly talented actress and I am ashamed to say that I had never seen any of her other performances. She was top notch. Granger was at the top of his delivery too, always putting his best foot forward to inspire the female fans. This is an example of an intelligently made film with charm, wonderful colour and production values and a good strong story line. It satisfies but does not stupefy. The acting is perfect in this melodrama genre piece. Great work and a great watch. Enjoy !

Valerie Hobson and Stewart Granger star in "Blanche Fury," a 1948 British film directed by Marc Allegret and featuring Michael Gough and Walter Fitzgerald.Hobson plays Blanche Fullerton, who is invited by her cousin (Fitzgerald) to work as a governess on his estate for the small child, Lavinia, who is heir to his estate. Since the house initially belonged to the Fury family, the heirs now call themselves Fury and suggest that Blanche do the same. The man who runs the stables, Philip Thorn, is the illegitimate son of the original owner and is trying to prove that the estate, Clare, is his.Blanche marries her cousin Laurence (Gough), though she is attracted to Philip, and they soon consummate their love. Then Philip finds out that though he believed his mother and the original owner were married somewhere in Europe, his attorney tells him there is no record. Philip, obsessed with Clare, doesn't want to take no for an answer.Really good Gothic story, based on a novel written about an actual case from the 1800s that comprises many elements in the film. Valerie Hobson is cool and lovely as Blanche, wearing some of the most sumptuous costumes ever. Granger looks like the hunk that he was in this era - and if you saw his physique in Cesar and Cleopatra, you know of which I speak - to die for. And there's Blanche, married to Michael Gough, a prolific and wonderful stage actor who nevertheless was no leading man.There are some good twists in this story, and I really got into the characters. The estate that was used for the exteriors of Clare, in Norwich, England is incredible. Really an enjoyable and entertaining film with a marvelous cast.

Ah, BLANCE FURY...it weaves me under it's spell with every fresh viewing. While it probably is just a load of "tosh", it sucks me right in, with it's period setting, gorgeous colour, Gypsies, murder, passion and betrayal. Sounds like a Gainsborough film, doesn't it? Surprisingly, it ain't. Blanche is much more muted in tone than the Gainsborough bodice-rippers (see the fun THE WICKED LADY), and that's probably why the film didn't set the box office alight for Cineguild as was expected. Yet it's an odd, haunting little film- the photography is absolutely beautiful and Hobson and Granger give excellent performances.The film begins with three startling shots of horses galloping towards Clare Hall, the setting for much of the film. A young woman (Hobson) is on her sickbed, delirious and being tended by a doctor and a servant. The film is told in flashback, with the viewer being transported into Hobson's thoughts with some clever photography. We learn of the life of Blanche Fury- poor governess (shades of JANE EYRE)who goes to live with her rich cousin (Michael Gough) and her uncle (Walter Fitzgerald), owners of Clare Hall. She is immediately drawn to the Heathcliff-like stable-boy, the brooding Phillip Thorn (Stewart Granger).It turns out Thorn is actually (yet it is not legally binding) the true heir to the Fury estate, for he is the illegitimate son of the previous owner's affair with an Italian woman (this gives Thorn an air of exoticism, much like the Gypsies). He is kept on the estate by Fitzgerald and Gough, yet treated no better than a dog. We learn that Thorn is obsessed with his lineage, and his life's ambition (and obsession) is to claim back Clare Hall. Hobson soon becomes the bride of Gough even though she doesn't love him. And then, on her wedding night, after Gypsies set Clare Hall's barns alight, she goes to the stables to find Granger. Still clothed in her wedding gown, they passionately kiss. And that's when the romantic passions ignite...To give away too much advance knowledge of the plot is to spoil the fun. It's what I would call a minor British Gothic masterpiece, dark, tense and quite atmospheric. BLANCHE FURY was reportedly Hobson's favourite of all her film roles, and Granger does some wonderful work too. Finally given a chance to play an anti-hero/villain (he was always cast as the romantic hero to Mason's devious villain in the Gainsboroigh costume films), his arrogantly attractive style suits the character. The guy could act, and he proves it here- in a powerful courtroom sequence towards the end of the picture Hobson and Granger share a long look, and their acting is more potent and poignant than words.