''The Loves of Edgar Allan Poe'' is a 1942 drama film directed by

Harry Lachman Harry B. Lachman (June 29, 1886 – March 19, 1975) was an American artist, set designer, and film director. He was born in La Salle, Illinois on June 29, 1886. Lachman was educated at the University of Michigan before becoming a magazine and bo ...

, starring Linda Darnell and Shepperd Strudwick. The film is a cinematic biography of

Edgar Allan Poe Edgar Allan Poe (; Edgar Poe; January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic. Poe is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales of mystery and the macabre. He is wide ...

that examines his romantic relationships with

Sarah Elmira Royster Sarah Elmira Royster Shelton (1810 – February 11, 1888) was an adolescent sweetheart of Edgar Allan Poe who became engaged to him shortly before his death in 1849. Their early relationship, begun when she was 15, ended due to the interfer ...

and

Virginia Clemm Virginia Eliza Poe (née Clemm; August 15, 1822 – January 30, 1847) was the wife of American writer Edgar Allan Poe. The couple were first cousins and publicly married when Virginia Clemm was 13 and Poe was 27. Biographers disagree as to the na ...

Plot

The story focuses on

's romances with, first, Elmira Royster, and, finally, his wife, Virginia Clemm. The story begins in 1811 as Edgar Poe is adopted by John and Frances Allan of Richmond, Virginia after the death of his mother, an actress. Mrs. Frances Allan is devoted to the orphan while Mr. John Allan develops an animosity towards him. Poe's first love was Elmira Royster, whom he had known since childhood. She married another while Poe was at the University of Virginia, where he amassed gambling debts. In one scene, he is shown meeting with the founder of the university,

Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson (April 13, 1743 – July 4, 1826) was an American statesman, diplomat, lawyer, architect, philosopher, and Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father who served as the third president of the United States from 18 ...

, although there is no evidence that they ever met. Poe was never able to forget Elmira. She remained in his thoughts and desires. This passion for her was reflected in his poems. He was disowned by his foster father who opposed his goal to pursue a literary career. Allan disparaged his admiration for

Lord Byron George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron (22 January 1788 – 19 April 1824), known simply as Lord Byron, was an English romantic poet and Peerage of the United Kingdom, peer. He was one of the leading figures of the Romantic movement, and h ...

. Poe joined the Army and through Allan obtained an appointment to West Point. A military career was not suited for him, so he skipped classes and did not attend functions at the academy, which led to his dismissal. Poe sought solace in Baltimore with Muddy Clemm and her daughter Virginia Clemm. They took him in and provided him with a home and domestic stability. Poe married Virginia Clemm. After the marriage, Poe did his greatest creative work, becoming the editor and writer for the ''

Southern Literary Messenger The ''Southern Literary Messenger'' was a periodical published in Richmond, Virginia, from August 1834 to June 1864, and from 1939 to 1945. Each issue carried a subtitle of "Devoted to Every Department of Literature and the Fine Arts" or some vari ...

'' and '' Graham's Magazine''. Poe stirred controversy by advocating for copyright laws that would protect the intellectual property of authors. In this he was supported by

Charles Dickens Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian e ...

, whom he met in 1842 in Philadelphia when Dickens toured the United States. The mutual admiration both authors had for each other was evident. Dickens tells Poe that he is the greatest writer in America. Poe is subsequently dismissed as editor because of his advocacy of international copyright laws. Poe, Virginia, and Muddy move to New York City where they live in a cottage in Fordham. Virginia contracts a disease. She is ill. They live in poverty. Poe tells them that he has written his greatest work, "The Raven", which he believes he can sell for $25. Elmira Royster visits Virginia and offers to provide financial help for her and her husband. Virginia declines the offer of assistance. Poe offers the poem to

Rufus Griswold Rufus Wilmot Griswold (February 13, 1815 – August 27, 1857) was an American anthologist, editor, poet, and critic. Born in Vermont, Griswold left home when he was 15 years old. He worked as a journalist, editor, and critic in Philadelphia, New Y ...

who turns it down. He has Poe read the poem to his staff of printers. They dislike the poem as well, with the exception of one youth who deems it "wonderful". The film relies on irony because the poem became one of the most famous and successful in American literature. Poe returns to Virginia and tells her that he has sold the poem. Virginia dies from her illness. Poe is shown reading lines from "Annabelle Lee" for her. In the final scenes, Poe is dragged through the streets of Baltimore after which he is taken to a hospital. He lingers for three days. He professes his love for Virginia. The film ends with him reading "A Dream Within a Dream" before he dies. The film presents a sympathetic and positive outline of Poe's life and career.

Critical reception

The film was reviewed in ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'' where it was judged to be an oversimplified and whitewashed portrayal of the complex and controversial life and career of Edgar Allan Poe.T.S., “The Loves of Edgar Allan Poe (1942) THE SCREEN; ‘The Loves of Edgar Allan Poe,’ With John Shepperd, Linda Darnell and Virginia Gilmore, Opens at the Little Carnegie.” NYTimes.com. New York Times, 21 Sept. 1942. Web. Retrieved September 21, 2019.

Cast

* Linda Darnell as

* Shepperd Strudwick as

Virginia Gilmore Virginia Gilmore (born Sherman Virginia Poole, July 26, 1919 – March 28, 1986) was an American film, stage, and television actress. Early years Virginia Gilmore was born on July 26, 1919, in El Monte, California. Her father was a retired o ...

as Elmira Royster * Jane Darwell as Mrs. Mariah Clemm * Mary Howard as Frances Allan * Frank Conroy as John Allan * Harry Morgan as Ebenezer Burling * Walter Kingsford as T.W. White * Morris Ankrum as Mr. Graham * Skippy Wanders as Poe, age 3 * Freddie Mercer as Poe, age 12 * Erville Alderson as Burke the Schoolmaster * Peggy McIntyre as Elmira, age 10 *

William Bakewell William Bakewell (May 2, 1908 – April 15, 1993) was an American actor who achieved his greatest fame as one of the leading juvenile performers of the late 1920s and early 1930s. Early years Bakewell was a native of Los Angeles, where he at ...

as Hugh Pleasant * Frank Melton as Turner Dixon * Morton Lowry as

* Gilbert Emery as

Edwin Stanley Edwin Stanley (November 22, 1880 – December 25, 1944), was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 230 films between 1916 and 1946. He was born in Chicago, Illinois and died in Hollywood, California. On Broadway, Stanley appear ...

as Dr. Moran * Francis Ford as Tavern Keeper * Harry Denny as Kennedy * Hardie Albright as Shelton * Arthur Shields as Griswald (uncredited)

References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Loves of Edgar Allan Poe Films set in 1811 American historical drama films American black-and-white films Works about Edgar Allan Poe Cultural depictions of Edgar Allan Poe Cultural depictions of Thomas Jefferson Cultural depictions of Charles Dickens Films based on poems 20th Century Fox films 1940s historical drama films 1940s English-language films 1940s American films