Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Writers: Sidney Gilliat (screen play), Joan Harrison (screen play) Daphne du Maurier (by)
Stars: Maureen O’Hara, Robert Newton, Charles Laughton
Release Date: October 13, 1939
In Cornwall in 1819, a young woman discovers that she’s living near a gang of criminals who arrange shipwrecks for profit.
Jamaica Inn is another Daphne Du Maurier novel that was directed by Hitchcock; And, like Rebecca this was a film I didn’t know Hitch had directed.
Considering I have not read the book, I found the storyline very original and well acted too. I loved Charles Laughton as Sir Humphrey Pengallan. He was the perfect villain/double agent because I disliked him to no other but was still willing to give him a second chance (and don’t ask me why).
My only complaint about this classic was the quality of the film, mostly with the sound. The octave went up and down like a merry-go-round. Although this could have something to do with the fact that it was on Instant Netflix. Despite this small complaint, Jamaica Inn was a very enjoyable film.
As a huge Hitchcock fan, I can't tell you how many times I've harped and complained about the poor quality of this film. Many of his pre-American films tend to be reproduced at very low quality but in my experience none are worse than this one.
It's not too late to read the book! 🙂 Hitchcock took so many liberties with the stories that he based his films on that watching the movie almost never ruins the book.
Good to know, like My Cousin Rachel, I'd love to read Jamaica Inn one day.
I have actually read the book a long time ago but don't remember anything about it. I would love to see the movie. Thanks for sharing!