喜剧元素融入自然，通过巧妙的对白和情境反差制造笑点，让人在紧张之余得以放松。NovelistJosephShearingspecializedinusingrealcaseswhichtookplaceinVictorianEngland,alteringthemforfictionalpurposes.MOSSROSEin1947wasthefirstfilmtobemadefromhisnovels,thenin1948twoofhisworkswereadaptedforthescreen,thisfilmandTHEMARKOFCAIN.ThemoviestarsToddasarecentlywidowedmissionaryreturningtoherhomeinEnglandfromJamaica.Duringthevoyage,shemeetsMilland,acharmingthoughdangerousrascalwhoiswantedbypoliceinconnectionwithsomeunsavorydealings.MillandcontractsmalariawhileonboardtheshipandToddnurseshimbacktohealth.InLondon,Toddsettlesintoherhome,takinginboarderstomakeendsmeet.Millandarrives,movesin,andproclaimshisloveforher.Toddisthrilled,butitseemsratherobviousthatMillandisonlytoyingwithher.Millandfindssomeletterswrittentoherbyherfriend,Fitzgerald,inwhichFitzgeraldrevealssomeofhersexualindiscretions.SinceFitzgeraldisnowmarriedtothewealthyHuntley,MillandbelieveshecanusetheletterstoblackmailFitzgerald.Todd'sloveforMillandissogreatthatshegoesalongwiththeplan.Huntley,however,learnsoftheschemeandalsouncoversdetailsofMilland'sshadypast.Fearingforherlover'ssafety,ToddpoisonsHuntley,thenremainssilentwhenFitzgeraldisarrestedforthemurder.MillandhasbynowgenuinelyfalleninlovewithToddandthetwomakeplanstoleaveEngland.Beforetheycandepart,oneofMilland'sformerloversshowsupandTodd,inajealousrage,killsMilland,thenturnsherselfintothepolice. Thisisanintriguingfilm,althoughalittleonthetalkyside.Theperformancesareexcellentthroughout,withMillandshiningasthecad,thetypeofroleinwhichheexcelled.ThoughhespentmostofhistimemakingfilmsintheUS,heoccasionallyreturnedtohisnativeEnglandforaproductionandthiswashisfirstBritishfilmsinceFRENCHWITHOUTTEARSin1939.DirectorAllenwasalsoanEnglishmanwhochosetoworkintheUS,thisbeinghisfirstdirectorialeffortinhishomeland.ThiswasthefourthandlasttimeMillandandAllenwouldworktogether,theirpairinghavingbegunin1944withthewonderfullyeerieTHEUNINVITED.