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6.9/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.9/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Possessed remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Alright, let’s talk about Possessed. If you’re a fan of old Hollywood, specifically the wild west of pre-Code films, then absolutely, give this a watch.
It's got Joan Crawford and Clark Gable in their early, potent glory. You’ll probably dig it if you like your melodrama with a side of scandalous choices and snappy dialogue.
But if anything before, say, 1980 just feels too slow or dusty, you can safely skip this one. It's not trying to convert anyone.
Crawford plays Marian Martin, a girl stuck in a noisy factory town. You can practically *feel* the grime and the relentless clanking of machinery in those opening scenes.
Her eyes though, they just scream “get me out of here.” She’s got this ambition, a real hunger for something more, and it’s painted all over her face.
The way she looks at the fancy lady getting off the train… that’s a whole story right there, isn’t it?
Then comes Mark Whitney, played by Clark Gable. He’s smooth, charming, a big-shot lawyer.
He spots Marian, and it’s clear what he’s after. Not marriage, no, but a comfortable, glittering life as his mistress.
It's all very polite, very *understood* for the time, but the implications are loud and clear.
The transition from factory drab to New York glamour is pretty stark. Suddenly, Marian is draped in these incredible gowns.
Crawford truly shines in them. There's a particular white dress with feathers,