NovelistJosephShearingspecializedinusingrealcaseswhichtookplaceinVictorianEngland,alteringthemforfictionalpurposes.MOSSROSEin1947wasthefirstfilmtobemadefromhisnovels,thenin1948twoofhisworkswereadaptedforthescreen,thisfilmandTHEMARKOFCAIN.ThemoviestarsToddasarecentlywidowedmissionaryreturningtoherhomeinEnglandfromJamaica.Duringthevoyage,shemeetsMilland,acharmingthoughdangerousrascalwhoiswantedbypoliceinconnectionwithsomeunsavorydealings.MillandcontractsmalariawhileonboardtheshipandToddnurseshimbacktohealth.InLondon,Toddsettlesintoherhome,takinginboarderstomakeendsmeet.Millandarrives,movesin,andproclaimshisloveforher.Toddisthrilled,butitseemsratherobviousthatMillandisonlytoyingwithher.Millandfindssomeletterswrittentoherbyherfriend,Fitzgerald,inwhichFitzgeraldrevealssomeofhersexualindiscretions.SinceFitzgeraldisnowmarriedtothewealthyHuntley,MillandbelieveshecanusetheletterstoblackmailFitzgerald.ToddsformerloversshowsupandTodd,inajealousrage,killsMilland,thenturnsherselfintothepolice.Thisisanintriguingfilm,althoughalittleonthetalkyside.Theperformancesareexcellentthroughout,withMillandshiningasthecad,thetypeofroleinwhichheexcelled.ThoughhespentmostofhistimemakingfilmsintheUS,heoccasionallyreturnedtohisnativeEnglandforaproductionandthiswashisfirstBritishfilmsinceFRENCHWITHOUTTEARSin1939.DirectorAllenwasalsoanEnglishmanwhochosetoworkintheUS,thisbeinghisfirstdirectorialeffortinhishomeland.ThiswasthefourthandlasttimeMillandandAllenwouldworktogether,theirpairinghavingbegunin1944withthewonderfullyeerieTHEUNINVITED.
