The Movie That Managed to Haunt Anthony Hopkins To This Day: “That Really Scared Me”

Anthony Hopkins recently opened up about a film from his childhood that left a lasting mark on him. Even though the movie was rated PG, the dark, murder-filled noir was terrifying for a 10-year-old Hopkins when it came out in 1947.

Speaking in an interview with Lawrence Grobel, Hopkins said, “It was this weird dark movie with Victor Mature and Peggy Cummins about these girls who were killed because they were in love with this woman’s son.”

“This one scene when Peggy Cummins comes downstairs looking for her sister-in-law and she goes into this large room and there’s this fire burning grate and you see this dead woman, eyes open and all…that really scared me.”

The film he’s referring to is Moss Rose, a 1947 American film noir mystery directed by Gregory Ratoff. The movie stars Peggy Cummins, Victor Mature, and Ethel Barrymore, and is based on the 1934 novel of the same name by Marjorie Bowen, which was inspired by a real Victorian murder case.

Moss Rose is set in Victorian London and follows a music hall chorus girl named Belle Adair, also known as Rose Lynton. She blackmails a gentleman, Michael Drego, after seeing him leave the home where another dancer, Daisy Arrow, was found murdered.

Instead of taking money, she demands to be invited to his stately home to experience the life of a lady. Rose develops relationships with Drego’s mother, Lady Margaret Drego, and his fiancée Audrey Ashton, but her life becomes complicated when Inspector Clinner, played by Vincent Price, investigates the murders.

Another murder eventually happens under similar circumstances, adding to the suspense.

The cast also includes Margo Woode as Daisy Arrow, George Zucco as the butler Craxton, Patricia Medina as Audrey Ashton, Rhys Williams as Deputy Inspector Evans, and a number of other supporting actors including uncredited roles.

Despite the suspenseful story, the film was a commercial failure. Darryl F. Zanuck, a producer at the time, called it “a catastrophe, for which I blame myself. Our picture was not as good as the original script and the casting was atrocious. The property lost $1,300,000 net.”

However, critics responded more positively. Bosley Crowther of The New York Times praised it, saying, “For Moss Rose, the first of several promised Shearing films, which hit the Roxy yesterday, is a suave and absorbing mystery thriller, neatly plotted and deliciously played … “

“Thanks to a splendid performance by Peggy Cummins in the role of the girl, there is something to watch when she is acting besides the consequence of the makeup artist’s work. Her job as the Cockney chorus girl has spirit, humor and brass—and a surprisingly tender quality which nicely rounds the role.”

Variety magazine also gave the film a favorable review, noting, “Moss Rose is good whodunit. Given a lift by solid trouping and direction, melodrama is run off against background of early-day England that provides effective setting for theme of destructive mother love … “

“Gregory Ratoff’s direction develops considerable flavor to the period melodramatics. He gets meticulous performances from players in keeping with mood of piece.”

Even though Moss Rose did not succeed at the box office, it left a lifelong impression on Hopkins. The dark, eerie scenes stayed with him, shaping his early experiences with cinema and leaving a lasting mark on one of Hollywood’s most legendary actors.

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