My Cousin Rachel

If Gothic romance is your thing, you won't find a more absorbing and intriguing tale than this adaptation of Daphne DuMaurier's best-selling novel, MY COUSIN RACHEL. Not only is the atmosphere completely realized, but the elegant performances make the story even more compelling to watch as it unfolds a tale of possible murder and cunning deceit. The film was nominated for four Academy Awards for best costumes, B&W cinematography, art decoration and Burton's supporting role performance (which is actually a leading role).

RICHARD BURTON cuts a fine figure as the romantic hero of the piece--brooding, intense and passionate, reminding one of Heathcliff in the Bronte novel, "Wuthering Heights." He's an angry and impressionable youth who intends to accuse his cousin of murder based on his suspicious nature, but instead falls wildly in love with her the instant they meet.

OLIVIA DE HAVILLAND matches Burton scene by scene, her charming manners and poise as a woman of the world understandably provoking his interest. At first, he assumes she wants to claim her inheritance when she visits Cornwall. But soon he is able to see her in a different light and when he falls in love with her, he decides to leave his entire inheritance to her on his 25th birthday. It is then that the story becomes even more compelling when the ambiguous nature of Rachel comes at long last to the surface.

Franz Waxman has written a very dramatic and powerful background score that adds dimension to the Gothic tale that begins when a boy and his guardian walk across the moors and come to a gibbet where a man is hanging. "Always remember, Philip, death is the price for murder." And that's how the film's brief prologue begins.

It's richly scored, well directed by Henry Koster and features two outstanding performances from Olivia de Havilland and Richard Burton. Equally fine are John Sutton as Rachel's ill-fated husband, Audrey Dalton, Ronald Squire and George Dolenz.

Despite the ambiguous ending, it's an absorbing tale that is satisfying in its execution. The newly restored DVD includes an isolated "music score only" for those fascinated by Franz Waxman's wonderful background score.

The 1952 film version of Daphne du Maurier's wonderful novel, My Cousin Rachel, is everything a Gothic mystery fan could want and more. Olivia de Havilland and 23-year-old Richard Burton (in his American film début) star in this moody tale of a rich young man in 1840s Cornwall and his relationship with his foster father's enigmatic widow. When his beloved father figure dies mysteriously on his honeymoon in Italy, Philip Ashley (Burton) inherits his entire estate--and the aforementioned widow (de Havilland). He is expected to "do the right thing" and provide for the penniless beauty, so he gallantly invites her to his home. What follows are passion, sexual obsession, greed, cat-and-mouse mind games...and possibly murder.

This Twilight Time DVD is a welcome addition to my film library--I've placed it on the shelf right next to Hitchcock's Rebecca. I don't know why the folks at 20th Century Fox don't give RACHEL a DVD release, but until they do, this is the one to have. There are a lot of bootleg versions out there, and they're really bad (stolen from TV broadcasts, etc.). Get this one, and enjoy one of the best non-Hitchcock suspense films around. Highly recommended.

I HAVE NEVER ENJOYED A MOVIE MORE THEN THIS ONE BURTON AND DE HAVILLAND ARE AT THEIR BEST. THEY DON'T MAKE MOVIES LIKE THIS ANY MORE.SUPERB ACTING,AND A STORY LINE THAT CONTAINS ALL.A THRILLER.WITH ROMANCE,LOVE,HATE,INTRIGUE , AND ENHANCES YOUR SENSES AS TO THE MULTIPLE COMPLEX MAKE-UP OF ALL HUMANS.YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS THIS MOVIE IF YOU GET THE CHANCE IT MAY NEVER COME AGAIN. I WOULD GIVE IT A TEN IF POSSIBLE