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{{Short description|1948 film by John Sturges}}
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{{About|a film|the astrological constellation|Aries (constellation)}}
{{Infobox film
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'''''The Sign of the Ram''''' is a 1948 American [[film noir]] directed by [[John Sturges]] and screenplay by [[Charles Bennett (screenwriter)|Charles Bennett]], based on a novel written by Margaret Ferguson. The drama features [[Susan Peters]], [[Alexander Knox]] and [[Phyllis Thaxter]].<ref name=AFI>{{AFI film|id=25721|title=The Sign of the Ram}}.</ref> It also featured [[Ron Randell]].<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Filmink|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/unsung-aussie-actors-ron-randell-top-twenty/|title=Unsung Aussie Actors – Ron Randell: A Top Twenty|date=August 10, 2019}}</ref> The film's title alludes to people born under the astrological sign [[Aries (astrology)|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 [[May Whitty|Dame May Whitty]].
==Plot==
Sherida Binyon
Christine and Clara both raise Leah's suspicions that Mallory and Sherida are attracted to each other, even though that is not true.
==Cast==
{{cast listing|
* [[Susan Peters]] as Leah St. Aubyn
* [[Alexander Knox]] as Mallory St. Aubyn
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* Ross Ford as Logan St. Aubyn
* [[Diana Douglas]] as Catherine Woolton
* [[Gerald Hamer]] as
* [[Doris Lloyd]] as Mrs. Woolton
* [[Paul Scardon]] as
* Margaret Tracy
* Gerald Rogers as
}}
==Production==
The film is based on a 1945 novel by Margaret Ferguson, which ''[[The New York Times]]'' said it was "a book to chill the cockles of your heart."<ref>{{cite news|title=Recent Spring Novels: Among the Recent Spring Novels|work=New York Times|date=
Actor [[Charles Bickford]] read the novel and told Peters about it. "Leah is a completely domineering woman", said Peters. "But I know what makes her that way. It is a fear of being alone."<ref name="los"/>
Peters took the project to her agent, Frank Orsatti, who got director [[Irving Cummings]], who wanted to move into producing, involved in the project. Cummings and his son [[Irving Cummings Jr.]], and the [[Victor Orsatti#Hollywood agent and producer|Orsatti Agency]] set up an independent company, Signet to make the film. Signet signed a deal with [[Columbia Pictures|Columbia]], which provided cast and crew, production facilities and distribution. Peters received 33% of the profits.<ref name="new">{{cite news|title=HOLLYWOOD DIGEST: Priest-Historian Advises on Joan of Arc -- Susan Peters Returns|
With Cummings as producer, the project was announced in April 1947<ref>{{cite news|title=Looking at Hollywood|author=Hopper, Hedda|work=Chicago Daily Tribune|date=Apr 3, 1947|page=35}}</ref> and [[John Sturges]] was announced as director in June.<ref>{{cite news|title=DRAMA AND FILM: Wanda Hendrix Gains Stellar 'Big Girl' Role|
[[Seymour Friedman]] shot background footage in Cornwall, England.<ref>{{cite news|title=
==Reception==
Film critic [[Bosley Crowther]], in ''[[The New York Times]]'', was harsh. According to Crowther: "Plainly the story is claptrap. And the direction of John Sturges is such that the illogic and the pomposity are only magnified. By showing Miss Peters, in her wheelchair, as though she were an alabaster doll, with just about as much personality, he has completely denatured her role. And by directing Phyllis Thaxter, Peggy Ann Garner, Allene Roberts and Alexander Knox to hit such a slowness of tempo and such a sombreness of tone that the whole thing drifts into monotony, he has only emphasized the static qualities. If it weren't for the noisy interjection of thunder-drums and pounding surf from time to time, this would be an effective soporofic. And it might have been kinder to let it be."<ref>
Film critic [[Hal Erickson (author)|Hal Erickson]] wrote for [[AllMovie]]: "Far more tasteful than it sounds, ''Sign of the Ram'' was a worthwhile valedictory vehicle for Susan Peters, who died a few years after the film's release."<ref>
The film was not a box office success.
==Susan Peters's later career==
In February 1948, Irving Cummings announced that Signet's next movie would be a romantic comedy, ''Paris Rhapsody'', based on a script by Charles Bennett. It would be made in Paris the next winter.<ref>{{cite news|title=
However the film was never made and ''The Sign of the Ram'' would be Peters's last feature. She separated from her husband [[Richard Quine]] in March 1948 and made a TV series, ''[[Miss Susan]]'' (1951), and toured in two stage plays, ''[[The Glass Menagerie]]'' and ''[[The Barretts of Wimpole Street]]''. She committed suicide in 1952.<ref>{{cite news|title=SUSAN PETERS DIESi 'LOST LL TO LIVE
==References==
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[[Category:1940s English-language films]]
[[Category:1940s American films]]
[[Category:Films about disability in the United Kingdom]]
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