Film Review
Dragonwyck is a film that
will appeal to any fan of gothic melodrama. Whilst it may lack
the dramatic and emotional impact of other more memorable examples of
the genre (such as adaptations of
Jane
Eyre and
Rebecca), it
makes up for this in other areas. Arthur C. Miller's sombre
expressionist cinematography conveys a mood of sustained menace and
oppression which builds to a memorable climax, complementing the set
design that perfectly evokes the atmosphere of the classic gothic novel.
Vincent Price is hardly the most original casting choice for the part
of the creepy chatelain - he seems to have spent his entire career playing Mr
Sinister on shadowy gothic sets - but his performance is faultless,
exuding pathos and demonic evil in equal measure. He works well opposite
his co-star Gene Tierney, who portrays the strong-willed but vulnerable
heroine with charm and conviction. The two actors had previously
appeared together in Otto Preminger's film noir classic
Laura
(1944).
Dragonwyck was originally to
have been directed by Ernst Lubitsch, but he fell ill and asked his
friend and collaborator Joseph L. Mankiewicz to take his place.
Mankiewicz had by this stage earned a solid reputation in Hollywood as
a producer and screenwriter and, after his successful directorial debut
with
Dragonwyck, he went on
to make a name for himself as one of Hollywood's most acclaimed film
directors, winning an Oscar in the Best Director category for
All About Eve (1950).
© James Travers 2008
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.
Next Joseph L. Mankiewicz film:
The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947)
Film Synopsis
In 1844, Connecticut farm girl Miranda Wells goes against the wishes of
her puritanical father by accepting an invitation to live in the house
of her aristocratic cousin Nicholas Van Ryn. Dragonwyck Manor is
an imposing gothic mansion, home to the Van Ryns for two centuries, a
place that is haunted by dark secrets and memories of a tragic
past. When Nicholas's wife dies suddenly, Miranda eagerly accepts
her host's proposal of marriage. It is a decision she soon lives
to regret...
© James Travers
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.