The Sign of the Ram

The Sign of the Ram is a 1948 American film noir directed by John Sturges and screenplay by Charles Bennett, based on a novel written by Margaret Ferguson. The drama features Susan Peters, Alexander Knox and Phyllis Thaxter. It also featured Ron Randell. The film's title alludes to people born under the astrological sign Aries (the Ram), who are supposedly strong-willed and desire to be admired, as explained in the dialogue. The film marked Susan Peters's return to the screen after a three-year absence following an accident that permanently paralyzed her. It was her final film before her death in 1952. It was also the next to last film for Dame May Whitty. Plot Sherida Binyon (Phyllis Thaxter) is driven by Mallory St. Aubyn (Alexander Knox) to Bastions, his family estate on the western coast of England, where she is to serve as a secretary to Mallory's wife Leah (Susan Peters). Leah is a poet, confined to a wheelchair due to an accident when she rescued her step-children (by Mallory's first wife) from drowning. Mallory and the three children—Jane (Allene Roberts), Logan (Ross Ford), and Christine (Peggy Ann Garner)--all seem devoted to Leah, perhaps out of guilt. Leah, however, manipulates the family's affections through her own condition while also flirting with her doctor (Ron Randell), Besides the doctor, the family is frequently visited by a gossipy neighbor, Clara Brastock (Dame May Whitty). Christine and Clara both raise Leah's suspicions that Mallory and Sherida are attracted to each other, even though that is not true. Leah's grip on the family further weakens when the doctor reveals that he intends to propose to Jane, which Leah tries to prevent. Logan, a law student, also resumes a romance with Catherine Woolton (Diana Douglas), a neighboring young woman. Leah also tries to subvert that relationship by claiming that Catherine, an adoptee, came from a family afflicted by mental illness and cannot dare to pass it on to any children the couple might have. When a distraught Catherine attempts suicide but is stopped by Logan and after Christine, her mind twisted by Leah, tries to poison Sherida, Leah is left alone in the home. In one final act of control, she is able to make her way to the cliff above the ocean and throws herself off.