This Was a Woman 1948    star_border 6.2
The woman here is Sylvia Russell: power mad with set goals. In order to achieve those goals she is sadistically devoted to her son and daughter, able to possess and direct them. She subtly ruins her daughter's marriage by corrupting a servant girl and, then, uses her to compromise her son-in-law; slowly breaks her bumbling, unambitious husband's confidence...

The Toll of Mammon 1914
Dr. John Wright a poor but promising young physician is influenced by his selfish wife, who was raised in luxury, to sell his breakthrough serum to a group of shady businessmen. That decision eventually begats tragedy and ruin for them all. Ultimately though there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon.