Dragonwyck (1946)

Director:

Joseph L. Mankiewicz

Writers:

Anya Seton (by)
Joseph L. Mankiewicz (written for the screen by)

Release Date:

10 April 1946 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller | Mystery | Romance

Tagline:

DANGEROUSLY She dared to LOVE! (original ad - all caps)

Plot:

A simple Connecticuit farm girl is recruited by a distant relative, an aristocratic patroon, to be governess to his young daughter in his Hudson Valley mansion.

Plot Keywords:

Farmer | Farm | Mansion | Companion | Governess

Cast

Gene Tierney	...	Miranda Wells
Walter Huston	...	Ephraim Wells
Vincent Price	...	Nicholas Van Ryn
Glenn Langan	...	Dr. Jeff Turner
Anne Revere	...	Abigail Wells
Spring Byington	...	Magda
Connie Marshall	...	Katrine Van Ryn
Harry Morgan	...	Klaus Bleecker (as Henry Morgan)
Vivienne Osborne	...	Johanna Van Ryn
Jessica Tandy	...	Peggy O'Malley
Trudy Marshall	...	Elizabeth Van Borden

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

West Germany:16 | UK:PG | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

In the original novel Nicholas drowned in a vain rescue attempt after diving off a riverboat.

Quotes:

Nicholas Van Ryn: [to Miranda] To my wife promptness at meals is the greatest human virtue.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Mankiewicz Dragonwick: naissance d'un auteur (2004) (V)

Soundtrack:

CREOLE LULLABY

Excellent early Price in a brilliantly Gothic mood piece

With shades of Hitchcock's Rebecca, Dragonwyck is a lushly Gothic melodrama; abound with themes of social class; centring on the struggle between the rich and the poor in nineteenth century America. The most striking thing about Dragonwyck is the beauty of the piece. The sets are brilliantly Gothic, while director Joseph L. Mankiewicz keeps the atmosphere thick and foreboding, which in turn ensures that the film succeeds in capturing the best of it's locations. The film reunites the two strongest cast members from Otto Preminger's masterpiece 'Laura' - Gene Tierney and the master of the macabre, Vincent Price. These two are both great thespians, but it is Vincent Price that shines the most. Many people pass this great man off as merely a camp horror movie actor, but with his performance here; along with the vast majority of his later ones - Price proves that he is far more than that. His voice and mannerisms make up a lot of his performances, but it's the subtleties that he hints at beyond his immediate performance that really make him great. Just like he did with The Fall of the House of Usher; Price plays one thing, while all the time hinting at a darker side to his character.

The plot follows a young farm girl (Tierney) who goes to stay with her mother's cousin, Nicholas Van Ryan (Price), in his castle upon his request. It isn't long after her arrival that she hears strange things from the servants, and it's not long after that she realises all isn't quite right with Dragonwyck. The plot is rather thinly spread, but the film always manages to stay interesting because of the fact that it doesn't let you know anything until you really need to know. Things are hinted at throughout the film, but the audience never really knows anything for sure. Even by the time the film reaches it's climax, there are several things that have been left open. Vincent Price's performance here stands out from the rest of his oeuvre because he manages to be charming at the same time as being dark and brooding. After having seen the likes of The Abominable Dr Phibes, it's hard to imagine the man being charming; but here it's hard to imagine why Gene Tierney wouldn't fall for him. Dragonwyck has a few problems, but on the whole this is a quality forties melodrama and comes with high recommendations, especially to the Vincent Price fan.