My Cousin Rachel

2/1/2019

Rachel, my torment. My blessed, blessed torment. My Cousin Rachel is directed by Henry Koster and adapted to screenplay by Nunnally Johnson from the novel of the same name written by Daphne du Maurier. It stars Richard Burton, Olivia de Havilland and Audrey Dalton. Music is by Franz Waxman and cinematography by Joseph LaShelle. In short order the plot finds Burton as Philip Ashley, a sombre English gentleman who is disturbed by news that his much admired foster father has been poisoned to death by Rachel Sangalletti (Havilland). When some time later Rachael turns up at the ancestral Ashley cliff top mansion, Philip finds himself torn between proving his hatred is warranted towards her, or from falling deeply in love with her. A splendid slice of brooding Gothicana, Koster's (skill

9/9/2022

Two great actors, a wonderful dark and Gothic setting and a strong storyline that mingles mystery, mistrust and avarice - that's what Henry Koster and Nunnally Johnson have created for us here - and it's just that little bit better than the norm. It centres on a search for revenge from Oscar nominated Richard Burton's "Philip" - a rather fickle young man who is convinced that his wealthy cousin "Ambrose" (John Sutton) was killed by his recently arrived and ostensibly scheming younger wife "Rachel" (Olivia de Havilland). Before long though, he too is captivated by the young woman and becomes her next husband - but is she all that she seems? Daphne du Maurier always could conjure up a great story, and here is no different - there is a psychology to the plot - nothing is as it seems. Just whe