Possessed (1947): Cast, Box Office & Plot
Possessed is a 1947 romantic thriller directed by Curtis Bernhardt, starring Joan Crawford as Louise Howell, Van Heflin and Raymond Massey. It runs 1 hour 48 minutes and earned $171 worldwide.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 48m (108 min)
- Director
- Curtis Bernhardt
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Warner Bros. Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Possessed About?
The premise of Possessed without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A striking performance by Joan Crawford opposite Van Heflin drives this dramatic tale. After being discovered wandering the streets of Los Angeles in a catatonic state, a woman is taken to a doctor who patiently draws out the tangled, haunting events that led her to that desperate condition.
Possessed Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- obsessive love
- persecution complex
- reference to robert schumann
- psychiatric ward
- washington d.c.
- schizophrenia
- psychiatrist
- obsession
- pianist
- female protagonist
- stepmother stepdaughter relationship
- hallucination
+38 more Show fewer
- los angeles california
- paranoia
- guilt
- suicide
- mental illness
- amnesia
- title spoken by character
- father slaps his daughter
- love
- reference to bugs bunny
- falling down stairs
- motorboat
- streetcar
- cafe
- marriage proposal
- woman slaps a man
- father son relationship
- father daughter relationship
- stethoscope
- heartbreak
- shot to death
- piano concert
- suicide by drowning
- invalid woman
- jealous woman
- love affair
- home care nurse
- women's college
- self centered man
- fiance fiancee relationship
- marriage
- reference to criminal trial
- subjective camera
- mirror
- looking at oneself in a mirror
- nurse
- flashback
- flash forward
Possessed Cast & Characters
Joan Crawford leads the cast as Louise Howell, with Van Heflin as David Sutton and Raymond Massey as Dean Graham. Directed by Curtis Bernhardt; 19 actors are credited in all.
- Director Curtis Bernhardt
-
Joan Crawford as Louise Howell -
Van Heflin as David Sutton - Raymond Massey as Dean Graham
- Peter Miles as Wynn Graham
Also Starring in Possessed
· 15 more- Geraldine Brooks Carol Graham
- Erskine Sanford Dr. Sherman - Graham's physician at inquest
- Douglas Kennedy District Attorney at inquest
- Moroni Olsen Dr. Ames - Mrs. Smith's psychiatrist
- John Ridgely Chief investigator of drowning
- Monte Blue Norris - lake house caretaker
- Rory Mallinson Coroner's assistant
- Stanley Ridges Dr. Willard
- Griff Barnett Coroner
- Clifton Young Intern
- Isabel Withers Nurse Rosen
- Don McGuire Dr. Craig - Dr. Willard's asst.
- Lisa Golm Elsie - Graham's maid in DC
- Jane Harker First College Girl (uncredited)
- Jakob Gimpel Walter Sveldon - pianist
More from Curtis Bernhardt
More films directed by Curtis Bernhardt: Kisses for My President, Damon and Pythias, Gaby and Interrupted Melody.
Possessed Plot Summary
What happens in Possessed from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 5-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Louise Howell, [Joan Crawford], wanders through Los Angeles, barely speaking and repeatedly muttering the name “David” as if searching for a trace of someone from her tangled past. Her condition lands her in a hospital’s psychiatric ward where she is examined by a doctor and, in scattered, fragmentary bursts, she recalls a life she can’t fully trust. One memory centers on her lover [Van Heflin], the man who played Schumann for her, and a moment when she tells him, “I want to have a monopoly on you.”
Full summary
The whole story of Possessed, scene by scene
Possessed Box Office
Possessed grossed $171 worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$171
- International
- $171
Possessed Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Possessed.
How Well Do You Know Possessed?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the name of the nurse protagonist played by Joan Crawford?
Cars in Possessed
11 cars on screen, including the 1934 International Harvester C-Series and the 1938 Cadillac Fleetwood 75.
-
1934 International Harvester C-Series Important role -
1938 Cadillac Fleetwood 75 Minor role -
1936 Chevrolet Master De Luxe Minor role -
1946 Ford Super De Luxe Minor role
Possessed Also Known As
16 alternative titles, including “うしなわれたこころ” and “La Possédée”.
- Also known as
-
- うしなわれたこころ
- La Possédée
- Anime in delirio
- Hemmungslose Liebe
- Amor que mata
- Çılgın
- Posedlá
- Megszállott
- 作茧自缚
- Paz Para Luíza
- Одержимая
- 作繭自縛
+4 more Show fewer
- Poseída
- 포제스트
- 失われた心
- Besatt
Seen Possessed?
Movies Like Possessed
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including A Woman Possessed, Possession and Possession.
Possessed FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office and post-credit scenes of Possessed, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Possessed?
Possessed runs 1 hour 48 minutes (108 minutes).
When was Possessed released?
Possessed was released on May 29, 1947.
Who directed Possessed?
Possessed was directed by Curtis Bernhardt.
More films by Curtis Bernhardt Who is in the cast of Possessed?
Possessed stars Joan Crawford as Louise Howell, Van Heflin as David Sutton and Raymond Massey as Dean Graham, among 19 credited actors.
How much did Possessed make at the box office?
Possessed grossed $171 worldwide.
Does Possessed have a post-credit scene?
No. Possessed has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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