My Cousin Rachel (1952)

 

 

A young man plots revenge against the woman he believes murdered his cousin, but his plans are shaken when he comes face to face with the enigmatic beauty.

Superior adaptation of a Daphne Du Maurier,novel has, similar to Rebecca, a mystery about an enigmatic  woman and good Gothic settings and atmosphere as well as a competent cast, although the the ending is somewhat confusing.
 

Halliwell*: "Well-wrought but dramatically unsatisfactory Victorian melodrama from a bestseller; plenty of suspicion but no solution makes Rachel a dull girl."

Maltin***: "Successful filmization of Daphne du Maurier mystery..." 

 

 

Jamaica Inn (1939)

 

 

In Cornwall in 1819, a young woman discovers that she's living near a gang of criminals who arrange shipwrecks for profit. 

 

Lively and entertaining adventure movie, a bit unusual for Hitchcock, but well directed; of course, Laughton and O'Hara are a joy to watch.

Halliwell*: "Stagey, stilted adventure story which never loses its studio feel or takes fire as a Hitchcock picture. The cast keeps it interesting."

Maltin**: "Stodgy Victorian costumer...O'Hara is lovely, but plodding Hitchcock film is disappointing."