Olivia de Havilland and Richard Burton’s period drama comes to Blu-ray
Daphne du Maurier’s writings have informed a number of Hollywood’s most cherished features, most notably her adaptations by Alfred Hitchcock, Jamaica Inn, Rebecca, and The Birds. Outside of this British collaboration, her works are less well known, but by no means less worthy of attention. One such feature is My Cousin Rachel, now given a new treatment by purveyors of niche Blu-ray fare Twilight Time.
Synopsis:
Based on the best-selling novel by Daphne du Maurier (author of the peerless Rebecca), My Cousin Rachel (1952) weaves an eerie tale of Gothic romance, set against the backdrop of the wild, rock-ribbed Cornish coast. Richard Burton, in his first American film role, stars as an anguished young Englishman named Philip, torn between dark suspicion of and uncontrollable passion for his guardian’s widow, the alluring and mysterious Rachel (Olivia de Havilland). With atmospheric direction by Henry Koster (The Robe) and a darkly romantic score by Franz Waxman (Sunset Boulevard), My Cousin Rachel is a seductive entry in the annals of cinematic ambiguity.
It’s a sorry state of affairs that there will be swathes of film watchers that only know My Cousin Rachel from its chilly and lackluster remake. If that’s the case for you, then Twilight Time has done you a fine service with this restoration and re-release of the original classic from 1952. It’s one of those period pieces, a mildly melodramatic piece with elements of a whirlwind romance. In this case, it’s given further intrigue with something of a murder mystery angle. A young man, mourning the death of the man who raised him, is drawn to his widow, whom he suspects may have been involved in his untimely demise. Further complicating the burgeoning relationship between them is that he stands to inherit his guardian’s fortune in just under a year’s time; could this black widow be about to strike again, or are his fears unfounded?
It’s this ambiguity that fuels the movie and is perhaps the smartest and most alluring aspect of the film. Philip is faced with letters from his guardian, likely written in a delirious state but still laying some suspicion at his impending demise with his wife, a woman who already has two dead husbands. The whole film circles this doubt, this witch-hunt that consumes them both. There is a luster on the surface, and beneath something festers, giving a brooding, suspenseful air matched by lush production design and opulent costume work that garnered Dorothy Jeakins an Oscar nomination. It’s dramatic and melancholic, a sad tale of doubt and distrust eating away at a honorable core, and the possibility of love lost under tragic circumstances, one that nestles comfortably alongside Rebecca, Wuthering Heights, and perhaps inspired more modern efforts such as the criminally underrated Crimson Peak.
Richard Burton plays the lead, a man consumed by his suspicions, bringing grandeur and old school theatrics to his performance. A man whose nobility is tested as he is torn between duty and his yearnings. Olivia de Havilland is mesmerizing as Rachel, channeling grace with a hint of steel. It’s a tempered performance, perfect and precise for the purpose of her role within the tale. My Cousin Rachel blends melodrama with a calibrated look at a tortured psyche to craft an enthralling slice of storytelling.
The Package
The release presents a 1080p HD transfer of the film with excellent detail and contrast, deep blacks, natural grain, and little sign of any damage from the source, or artifacts from the transfer. Very nicely done. Special features include:
- Isolated Music Track
- My Cousin Rachel Vintage Radio Show: A radio play adaptation of the book.
- Liner Booklet: Featuring stills as well as an (as ever well-constructed and enjoyable) essay on the movie by film historian Julie Kirgo.
- Original Theatrical Trailer
The Bottom Line
My Cousin Rachel is a fine Gothic drama, a haunting tale that blends thriller elements with romance while smartly exploring perception, and how our inherent bias can twist it. A genuine classic and a welcome release from Twilight Time.
My Cousin Rachel is available via Twilight Time now, in a limited edition of 3000 units.
