By Love Possessed
By Love Possessed

By Love Possessed

1961Movie115 minEnglish

An unhappily married woman engages in an affair with her husband's law partner.

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Insights

IMDb6.6/10
Director: John SturgesGenres: Drama, Romance

Plot Summary

In the New England town of Cornerstone, lawyer Mark Driscoll is deeply entrenched in his family's business and social standing. He finds himself torn between his unhappy marriage to his wife, who suffers from a debilitating illness, and his growing attraction to the young and beautiful Juliet. As Mark navigates these complex relationships and the secrets of his community, he must confront the consequences of his desires and the moral compromises he makes.

Critical Reception

By Love Possessed received a mixed reception upon its release. While some critics acknowledged the film's ambitious attempt to explore complex themes of love, sin, and social hypocrisy, others found its melodramatic plot and pacing to be overwrought and dated. The performances, particularly Lana Turner's, were noted, but the film ultimately failed to resonate strongly with either critics or audiences.

What Reviewers Say

  • The film attempts a serious drama but is hampered by a melodramatic script.
  • Lana Turner delivers a committed performance as the tormented wife.
  • The pacing and storyline are considered by many to be overly theatrical and dated.

Google audience: Information regarding Google user reviews for "By Love Possessed" is not readily available or widely documented.

Fun Fact

The film is based on the best-selling 1957 novel of the same name by James Gould Cozzens, which was a critical and commercial success, winning the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1958.

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