FRENCHMAN'S CREEK
US, 1944, 110 minutes, Colour.
Joan Fontaine, Arturo de Cordova, Basil Rathbone, Cecil Kellaway, Nigel Bruce.
Directed by Mitchel Leisen.
Frenchman's Creek was made towards the end of World War II, a lavish comic romp set in 17th century England. The costumes and decor of the Restoration are quite lavish in the technicolour photography.
The film is based on a Cornish story by Daphne du Maurier. Arturo de Cordova was not a big star. However, Joan Fontaine, soon after her Oscar win, was a big star and she is well-supported by Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce (having some time off from the Sherlock Holmes films) and Cecil Kellaway.
The film is a story with a touch of the Wicked Lady, of The Pirate and the bored aristocrat who falls in love with the pirate and is tempted to go away with him after going on one of his raids.
The film is very light in tone - a piece of period frivolity.
1. Entertaining comic romp? Period melodrama?
2. The colour photography, the Cornish settings (in Hollywood)? The costumes and decor for the period? The colour photography? The musical score based on Clair de Lune of Debussy?
3. The title, the focus, Cornwall and the pirates, aristocracy? between France and England? Clashes?
4. Joan Fontaine as Donna: Elegant, glamorous? The mother with her children? Her aristocratic and drunken husband? The attentions of Rockingham? At home, at the club? Her anger, packing and going away, going to Cornwall? The encounter with William and friendliness? The locals and the aristocracy, the fear of the pirates? Her curiosity about the pirates, her being kidnapped? The pirate (chief and her attraction? The romance with him, the lyrical outings? Helped by William. The decision to go on a raid, being disguised as the cabin boy? The dangers of the raid, her going to the aristocrats? The danger and exhilaration Her husband and the nobles coming, her pretence of being sick? Keeping house? Her relationship with her children? The banquet, the threat of the pirates, her infatuation, Rockingham's discovery and his escape? The fight with Rockingham and his death? Her going to the prison, the visit to the pirate chief, the pretence about Dr William? Her watching, his escape? Her decision to stay with her family?
5. The pirate chief, French background, aristocrat, the ship, the crew, the raids? The flashy style, infatuated with Donna? The romance? The action? His defiance of the aristocrats, the capture, imprisonment, the drawings? His escape? Parting from Donna?
6. The aristocrats and their lifestyle, the English Restoration? Affluence, gambling, relationships? The husband and his drinking, encouraging the relationship with Rockingham? Angry at the pirates? His change of heart at the end?
Lord Godolphin and his pomposity? The neighbours and their attitudes towards the pirates, the ships being raided?
7. Rockingham and Basil Rathbone style, the rake, his attachment to Donna, friendship with her husband? The clash between the two? His coming to the dinner, his observing the relationship with the pirate chief, taunting Donna, the fight, his death?
8. William, the servant, genial, helping Donna, at the service of the pirate chief, impersonating Dr William?
9. The characters in this kind of romantic melodrama? As background to the main story? Popular entertainment?
