From the Daphne DuMaurier novel... a 27 year old Joan Fontaine is Dona St. Columb...and for the first 20 minutes, we're not quite sure what is going on. Lady Columb bumps into a pirate, and the flirtation begins. you might notice actors basil rathbone and nigel bruce, who just happened to have played sherlock holmes and doctor watson so many times. and of course, Cecil Kellaway was in so many large films: Postman Always Rings Twice, Guess Who's coming to Dinner, and of course, some Twilight Zones. here, he is William, Dona's butler, who anticipates Dona's needs and wants, and encourages her romance with Aubrey, the pirate. The sound is fine, but most of the film is quite washed out too bright. William is quite playful and impish, but they seem to dress him in clothes which are all WAY too big and too silly. with an even sillier wig. there's a sense of whimsy and comedy all throughout. no-one takes anything too seriously. Dona goes off on an adventure with Aubrey on his ship, but we know there will be recriminations down the line..... this one is just okay. goes on for two hours. silliness. didn't need to be almost two hours... could have done all that in 80 or 90 minutes. Directed by Mitchell Leisen, who seemed to also be quite talented in architecture and costume design. this thing won an oscar ?? really?
Review of Frenchman's Creek
