The Woman in White is a mystery novel written in epistolary form by English novelist Wilkie Collins [1824-1889]. It was first serialized in 1859-1860 in Charles Dickens' magazine All the Year Round (England) and in Harper's Magazine (America) and then published in book form in 1860. It was adapted for the movie by American writer Stephen Morehouse Avery.
The woman in white is a character by the name of Ann Catherick (Eleanor Parker). She is introduced in the opening scenes of the movie when Walter Hartright (Gig Young), an American artist newly arrived in the English village of Limmeridge, encounters her along the moonlit road when he is forced to walk from the train station to his destination, Limmeridge House, where he has taken a position as a drawing instructor. Ann is wearing a long white dress and a white cloak, and she explains that she always wears white because Mrs Fairlie used to dress her in white clothes and, in her eyes, Mrs Fairlie was the most wonderful person in the world. When a carriage is heard coming down the road, however, Ann disappears. Walter learns from a man in the carriage that Ann has just escaped from an asylum.
The fact that Ann Catherick and Laura Fairlie (Eleanor Parker) are played by the same actress might have something to do with it. :) Ann is some sort of cousin to Laura. When Ann was orphaned at age eight, she was sent by Frederick Fairlie to live with his brother Richard, Richard's wife Amelia, and their seven-year old daughter Laura for three years before Ann was sent to the English school in Firenze, Italy.
Ann claims that she knows too much about Count Alessandro Fosco (Sydney Greenstreet) and his purpose for arranging a marriage between Laura and Sir Percival Glyde (John Emery). She charges that Fosco and Percival have forced Laura's uncle, Frederick Fairlie (John Abbott), an invalid who cannot tolerate noise of any kind and never leaves his room, to approve of this marriage because they're after the fortune she is to inherit. Ann claims that she escaped from the asylum in order to warn Laura, but she is too afraid to face Fosco and Percival herself. When Walter carries this information to Fosco, Laura, and Percival, Fosco explains that, when he was traveling in Italy about three years ago, he was asked by Frederick Fairlie to check on Ann. He found her in such a declined mental state that he brought her back to England and asked Fosco to arrange for her to be placed in The Cedars Asylum in Newbury, just a few miles away. Both Fosco and Percival deny that there is any truth behind Ann's accusations. After all, she's insane, isn't she? Consequently, no one believes Ann's story, and the marriage goes on as planned.
After honeymooning on the continent for six months in places like Paris, Vienna, and Rome, Laura (now Lady Glyde) returns to Limmeridge House to set up housekeeping. Her cousin Marion Holcomb (Alexis Smith) immediately notices that Laura has become cold and distant. She has taken up smoking cigarettes like Parisienne women, and all of the long-time servants have been dismissed and replaced. Marion fears that Laura has become "lost" to her. However, Laura visits Marion in the privacy of her bedroom and confides that all these changes have been forced upon her by Percival, who cares only for money and would do anything to get it. She also reveals that their marriage settlement provides for the entire Fairlie fortune to go to Percival in the event of her death. Needless to say, Laura is scared out of her wits.
When Percival showed up at Limmeridge House to claim Laura's hand, Walter left because he was falling in love with Laura and couldn't bear to see them together. Marion reports that she saw some of Walter's paintings in an article in the London Tattler. Apparently, he moved to Italy. One of his paintings was of a sad-faced lady who looked very much like Laura. The painting was titled The Woman in White.
During one of the times she appeared to Walter, Ann tells him that she is resourceful, has money, and is able to care for herself. Where she goes during the months that Laura and Percival are away on the continent is not revealed. Later, we learn that she's being sheltered in the basement of Limmeridge House and provided for by Fosco's wife (Agnes Moorehead). However, Countess Fosco's intentions aren't altruistic; she's doing it under orders from Fosco, and the payoff is a diamond and emerald necklace. When Ann sneaks into Laura's bedroom to again warn her, Fosco confronts her, Ann swoons and dies. Apparently, she's been poisoned or drugged in the food that the Countess has been bringing to her. Since they've also drugged Laura, she has no idea what is happening and is beginning to act like a lunatic herself.
Fosco never quite gets down to saying what he means after going on about Marion's loveliness, spirit, courage, dash, resolution, and adventurousness (she climbed out of her bedroom window in order to listen to what Fosco, Percival, and Frederick were saying in another room), but Marion's reply, "But you're married," pretty much says it all.
Unknown to anyone, Fosco and Percival switch Ann for Laura, sending Ann (really Laura) back to The Cedars Asylum and claiming that Laura (really Ann) has died. Walter, just returned to England, attends the funeral. As a man once in love with Laura and a portrait artist familiar with studying facial details, Walter instantly sees that the dead Laura is really Ann, and he relays that information to Marion. Although Percival and Fosco have attempted to mesmerize Laura into believing that she is Ann and that the Countess Fosco is her real mother, Laura has regained her senses and learned that she is pregnant with Percival's child. Marion and Walter take rooms in Newbury, planning to somehow get Laura out of the asylum. No fool, Laura has already planned her escape by changing the key to her room with another key. When the custodian goes to lock the doors of the patients' rooms that night, he finds that he has the wrong key for Laura's door. When he goes back to get the right one, Laura slips out of her room and out the front door. Percival, who has been watching the Cedars, grabs Laura. She screams. Walter, who has also been watching the Cedars, jumps in to save Laura. He punches Percival out and then takes Laura to Marion only to find that Marion has gone back to Limmeridge to talk with Fosco.
While Walter and Laura hie to Limmeridge, Marion offers to go away with Fosco if he will arrange to get Laura out of the asylum. He agrees and proceeds to tell Marion the true history about the Fairlies and how he got involved with them. It seems that Richard and Frederick Fairlie had a sister who was rather promiscuous. When it was learned that she was pregnant, they sent her off to Italy to have the baby and told everyone that she had died there. A few years ago, Percival learned about the sister. He and Fosco made friends with Frederick, realizing that the Fairlie family would pay beaucoup bucks to keep the scandal silent. It turns out that the promiscuous sister was none other than the Countess Fosco and that Ann really was her daughter, making Ann a first cousin to Laura. Fosco goes on to croon about Marion (her loveliness, spirit, and all), and he offers her the diamond and emerald necklace that was meant for his wife, who he doesn't know is actually listening at the door. In her jealousy, the Countess stabs Fosco in the back just as Walter and Laura arrive. The Countess gets her necklace, Walter gets the girl, and Fosco gets his just reward.
While Walter and Laura hie to Limmeridge, Marion offers to go away with Fosco if he will arrange to get Laura out of the asylum. He agrees and proceeds to tell Marion the true history about the Fairlies and how he got involved with them. It seems that Richard and Frederick Fairlie had a sister who was rather promiscuous. When it was learned that she was pregnant, they sent her off to Italy to have the baby and told everyone that she had died there. A few years ago, Percival learned about the sister. He and Fosco made friends with Frederick, realizing that the Fairlie family would pay beaucoup bucks to keep the scandal silent. It turns out that the promiscuous sister was none other than the Countess Fosco and that Ann really was her daughter, making Ann a first cousin to Laura. Fosco goes on to croon about Marion (her loveliness, spirit, and all), and he offers her the diamond and emerald necklace that was meant for his wife, who he doesn't know is actually listening at the door. In her jealousy, the Countess stabs Fosco in the back just as Walter and Laura arrive. The Countess gets her necklace, Walter gets the girl, and Fosco gets his just reward.
Collins' book is long, over 600 pages, and the story is very complex. The 1948 film, although necessarily simplified, actually follows the main lines of the story fairly closely. The ending of the film, however, is considerably more upbeat than the ending of the book.
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- How long is The Woman in White?1 hour and 49 minutes
- When was The Woman in White released?May 15, 1948
- What is the IMDb rating of The Woman in White?6.6 out of 10
- Who stars in The Woman in White?
- Who wrote The Woman in White?
- Who directed The Woman in White?
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- Who are the characters in The Woman in White?Marian Halcombe, Anne Catherick, Laura Fairlie, Walter Hartright, Countess Fosco, Frederick Fairlie, Sir Percival Glyde, Louis, and Mrs. Vesey
- What is the plot of The Woman in White?A ghostly woman warns a beautiful Victorian heiress about a count, and a strange spell haunts a mansion and its inhabitants in an adaptation of Wilkie Collins' novel.
- What is The Woman in White rated?Approved
- What genre is The Woman in White?Drama, Mystery, Romance, and Thriller
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