The Round Top Area Historical Society Breakfast Club Announces Second Film
The “Breakfast Club” at the Round Top Area Historical Society (RTAHS) announces its second film of the 2025-2026 season, “Leave Her to Heaven” for Saturday, Sept. 20. This stylish, 1946 psychological thriller starring Gene Tierney, Cornel Wilde, Jeanne Crain, Vincent Price and Chill Wills will be shown in the Jaehne Pavilion on the RTAHS campus located at 397 E. Mill Street behind the U. S. Post Office. The film will start at 10 a.m. and end at noon. Coffee, juice and water will be served.
Join us earlier for breakfast at 9 a.m. for quiche, fresh fruit and yogurt. All is free but please register in advance for breakfast by texting your initials and the number of people attending to (979) 702-0525. Breakfast, however, is limited to the first sixteen callers.
“Leave Her to Heaven” stars the beautiful Gene Tierney as Ellen Berent and the handsome writer Richard Harland, played by Cornel Wilde. Ellen is a demonically obsessive daughter of privilege with her own monstrous notion of love. She adored her father and managed through her own jealous manipulations to drive her parents apart.
Ellen meets Richard in the club car of the train bound for New Mexico and Rancho Jacinto. Ellen is mesmerized by Richard’s appearance, who bears a close resemblance to her father as a young man. Mr. Berent died the year before, and the family including her mother, the dignified Mrs. Berent, and her adopted sister, the equally beautiful Ruth Berent, played by actress Jeanne Crain, are journeying west for an extended stay at the Robie’s mountain retreat. The visit will pay tribute to the recently deceased Mr. Berent. Richard is an invited guest at Rancho Jacinto as well.
Ellen plans to give her father a final farewell in New Mexico by spreading his ashes over a favorite spot located high in the mountains on an upper plateau. Richard on horseback was able to witness Ellen’s dramatic tribute from afar. She appropriately rode a palomino stallion back and forth until there was nothing left and then threw the empty ash container as an ending gesture over a cliff and to the rocks far below.
Ellen quickly becomes obsessed with Richard and abandons her fiancé, the ambitious district attorney and vindictive Russell Quinton, played by Vincent Price. In the New Mexico setting of Rancho Jacinto with its spacious hacienda (an architectural gem) and its patios, arbors and massive pool, Richard becomes intrigued by Ellen’s intensity, and the couple get caught up in the frenzy of the moment and rush into marriage.
However, Richard realizes once the honeymoon is over that Ellen is not only psychotically jealous but also mentally unstable and capable of eliminating anyone who demands Richard’s attention including but not limited to Richard’s younger, polio ridden brother Danny and his devoted servant, Leick Thome, played by Chill Wills, who is the caretaker for Richard’s “Back of the Moon” lake property located on the east coast in the State of Maine. Killing is on the table for these and others who unfortunately come between Ellen and her obsessive behavior.
“Leave Her to Heaven” was nominated for four Academy Awards and won Best for Cinematography in beautiful living technicolor. Gene Tierney was nominated for best actress. Two other nominations received were for Best Sound Recording and Best Art Direction. Veteran Director John M. Stahl was highly commended.