My Cousin Rachel **** (1952, Olivia de Havilland, Richard Burton, Audrey Dalton, Ronald Squire, George Dolenz, John Sutton) – Classic Movie Review 2368

Director Henry Koster’s romantic 1952 mystery melodrama comes from the novel by Daphne du Maurier, the author of Jamaica Inn, Rebecca and The Birds, all filmed by Alfred Hitchcock. It would have made perfect material for a Hitchcock movie. It scored the 28-year-old upcoming actor Richard Burton his first (of seven) Oscar nominations – for Best Supporting Actor, even though he is in almost every scene.

Olivia de Havilland stars as Rachel Ashley and the question is, first, has Rachel killed her rich Cornish husband Ambrose (John Sutton) in Italy to inherit his wealth? And, second, is she now trying to murder his cousin and friend Philip (Burton)?

When the alluring widow Rachel comes home, Philip, despite all his suspicions, falls in love with her. Does Rachel just need Philip dead to get at the estate Ambrose left to him instead of to her?

The stars give chilly and effective performances that help to make this a thoroughly enjoyable, if slightly hokey, version of Daphne du Maurier’s Gothic mystery romance, set in Victorian England, but made in the 1950s at 20th Century Fox studios in Hollywood.

The story remains frustratingly unresolved at the climax, but the journey up to that point is most diverting, helped by producer Nunnally Johnson’s well-crafted screenplay, cinematographer Joseph LaShelle’s black and white images, and another of Franz Waxman’s top scores.

It was Du Maurier herself who recommended the young Burton to Fox. It was reported that the stars, both strong personalities, didn’t see eye to eye. But, if so, it does not show on film, with the two of them sharing strong chemistry.

Also in the cast are Audrey Dalton, Ronald Squire, George Dolenz, John Sutton, Tudor Owen, J M Kerrigan, Margaret Brewster, Alma Lawton, Kathleen Mason, Earl Robie, Lumsden Hare, Trevor Ward, Victor Wood, Bruce Payne and James Fairfax.

Greta Garbo was courted for the lead, but she refused to make a comeback, seeking to be alone since her Forties retirement after Two-Faced Woman in 1941.

It more or less broke even, taking just over its $1.2 million budget at the box office.

It is remade as My Cousin Rachel in 2017 with Rachel Weisz, Sam Claflin and Holliday Grainger.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2368

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