Moving to Portland, Oregon and finding work in food service is easy for Paul and Ramona. A struggling musician without bandmates, Paul becomes introverted and moody. Ramona's friend from college introduces her to a new social circle and she goes out while Paul stays home. When Ramona confronts turning thirty, it's time to grow beyond old routines and her relationship with Paul comes to a head. Paul and Ramona, a young couple in need of a change, move to Portland, Oregon from their hometown of Boise. Upon arriving, they sublet an apartment and begin to familiarize themselves with the city. While finding work is easy (Ramona begins waitressing, while Paul gets a job at a coffee shop), change is difficult. Their life in this new city seems to be on repeat. When their car breaks down and a tandem bicycle becomes their primary means of transportation, Ramona refuses to ride. A struggling musician, Paul, spends most of his time at home, steadily becoming introverted and moody, while Ramona, at the insistence of a co-worker, is thrust into a new social circle, where she begins an affair with a co-worker. Ramona and Paul’s relationship implodes after she confesses and in the ensuing conflict, she impulsively leaves to stay with a friend. Paul, desperate to work through the pain of the split, befriends a quirky barista named Ali. This friendship gives him a chance to begin to heal and inspires him to focus on expression through his music.
Deep in the Northern California woods, in the heart of the notorious Emerald Triangle, lies a remote cabin. The residents struggle to fight off the repeated attacks and abductions by mysterious creatures that have plagued them for years. When a local pot farmer is caught up with a wayward group of campers the situation quickly escalates into total carnage.
Novelist Joseph Shearing specialized in using real cases which took place in Victorian England, altering them for fictional purposes. MOSS ROSE in 1947 was the first film to be made from his novels, then in 1948 two of his works were adapted for the screen, this film and THE MARK OF CAIN. The movie stars Todd as a recently widowed missionary returning to her home in England from Jamaica. During the voyage, she meets Milland, a charming though dangerous rascal who is wanted by police in connection with some unsavory dealings. Milland contracts malaria while onboard the ship and Todd nurses him back to health. In London, Todd settles into her home, taking in boarders to make ends meet. Milland arrives, moves in, and proclaims his love for her. Todd is thrilled, but it seems rather obvious that Milland is only toying with her. Milland finds some letters written to her by her friend, Fitzgerald, in which Fitzgerald reveals some of her sexual indiscretions. Since Fitzgerald is now married to the wealthy Huntley, Milland believes he can use the letters to blackmail Fitzgerald. Todd's love for Milland is so great that she goes along with the plan. Huntley, however, learns of the scheme and also uncovers details of Milland's shady past. Fearing for her lover's safety, Todd poisons Huntley, then remains silent when Fitzgerald is arrested for the murder. Milland has by now genuinely fallen in love with Todd and the two make plans to leave England. Before they can depart, one of Milland's former lovers shows up and Todd, in a jealous rage, kills Milland, then turns herself into the police.
This is an intriguing film, although a little on the talky side. The performances are excellent throughout, with Milland shining as the cad, the type of role in which he excelled. Though he spent most of his time making films in the US, he occasionally returned to his native England for a production and this was his first British film since FRENCH WITHOUT TEARS in 1939. Director Allen was also an Englishman who chose to work in the US, this being his first directorial effort in his homeland. This was the fourth and last time Milland and Allen would work together, their pairing having begun in 1944 with the wonderfully eerie THE UNINVITED.