MY COUSIN RACHEL
US, 1952, 98 minutes, Black and white.
Olivia de Havilland, Richard Burton, Audrey Dalton, Ronald Squire, John Sutton.
Directed by Henry Koster.
My Cousin Rachel is based on the novel by Daphne du Maurier. Du Maurier made a great impression with the adaptation of her novel, Rebecca, by Alfred Hitchcock in 1940. He had also adapted her novel, Jamaica Inn. Du Maurier was also famous for providing the short story which became Hitchcock’s The Birds.
This film has the Cornish atmosphere of Rebecca and Jamaica Inn. Richard Burton is a young man who suspects that his cousin was murdered by his new wife, played by an older Olivia de Havilland. The film shows the clash between the young man and the mature woman. It is an interesting psychological study of each character as well as of their interactions – with the touch of the sinister in its atmosphere.
A miniseries of the novel was made in 1983 with Geraldine Chaplin as Rachel and Christopher Gard as Philip Ashley.
This film was directed by Henry Koster who had begun his career in the United States in the late 1930s with a lot of light-hearted films including some Deanna Durbin films. He made a number of social comedies including The Bishop’s Wife. He also had the distinction of making the first Cinemascope film, The Robe. During the 1960s he made a lot of popular entertainments and a series of films with James Stewart, Mr Hobbs Takes a Vacation, Take Her She’s Mine, Dear Brigitte.
1. A typical Daphne Du Maurier entertainment, romantic, melodramatic, of interest especially to female audiences, the 'women's picture' of the past? How? Was it an enjoyable film for all audiences?
2. Comment on the 19th Century atmosphere of the film: attitudes, decor, customs, manners, more restrained ways of thinking and self expression?
3. Did the film offer insight into human nature? Into persons influenced by 19th Century styles? As contrasting with our own styles? How interesting is it to look at persons in a 19th Century context?
4. Philip Ashley: what kind of person was he, Richard Burton's performance and personality? As a 19th century English gentleman? As the hero? What motivated his devotion to Ambrose? His preoccupation with Ambrose?
5. Philip as an Englishman from Cornwall: as influenced by the Cornish atmosphere and landscapes and remoteness? As isolated?
6. Philip's sanity? his view of people, his suspicions, allowing his affections to influence his judgment? Did the audience look at people and situations from Philip's point of view?
7. Rachel, the fact that she does not appear for some time? How suspicious was the audience of her? Why? Did they have any evidence? What kind of person did she seem in herself? As artificial and contrived, as almost too sweet and considerate? d this add to the suspicion? Why?
8. How did Philip see her? How did she allay his suspicions? Why did Philip become fascinated with Rachel? The effect of his illness, his love, his will? His understanding of reality contrasting with hers?
9. The kindness of Rachel during his illness? Audience reaction to this? The contrast with Louise and her family? Louise as a proper fiancee for Philip, the English ordinariness compared with the half English, half Italian Rachel? The attitude of Louise and her family to Rachel?
10. Why was Philip again so suspicious and jealous on his recovery? How obsessed was he with Rachel?
11. The sequence of her death? its impact on the audience, revealing the extent of Philip's obsession?
The shock to realise that Rachel was in good faith? How did this affect audience attitudes towards her death?
12. What future would Philip have as being haunted by Rachel and his killing of her and his false suspicions?
13. How effective was the film in portraying obsessions, suspicions, the fascination or evil, the fascination of good and its effects on a person's life?
