Under Capricorn (1949)

In 1831, Irishman Charles Adare travels to Australia to start a new life with the help of his cousin who has just been appointed governor. When he arrives he meets powerful landowner and ... See full summary »

Director:

Alfred Hitchcock

Writers:

John Colton (play), Margaret Linden (play),

Stars:

Ingrid Bergman, Joseph Cotten, Michael Wilding

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ingrid Bergman	...	Lady Henrietta Flusky
Joseph Cotten	...	Sam Flusky
Michael Wilding	...	Hon. Charles Adare
Margaret Leighton	...	Milly
Cecil Parker	...	The Governor
Denis O'Dea	...	Mr. Corrigan
Jack Watling	...	Winter
Harcourt Williams	...	The Coachman
John Ruddock	...	Mr. Potter
Bill Shine	...	Mr. Banks
Victor Lucas	...	The Rev. Smiley
Ronald Adam	...	Mr. Riggs
Francis De Wolff	...	Major Wilkins (as Francis de Wolff)
G.H. Mulcaster	...	Dr. Macallister
Olive Sloane	...	Sal

Storyline

In 1831, Irishman Charles Adare travels to Australia to start a new life with the help of his cousin who has just been appointed governor. When he arrives he meets powerful landowner and ex-convict Sam Flusky, who wants to do a business deal with him. Whilst attending a dinner party at Flusky's house, Charles meets Flusky's wife Henrietta who he had known as a child back in Ireland. Henrietta is an alcoholic and seems to be on the verge of madness.

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Plot Keywords:

ex convict | governor | fortune | housekeeper | secret | 

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Taglines:

Cold husband. Broken wife. Gallant lover. A triangle set to explode...and reveal a strange and unusual crime.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 October 1949 (USA)

Also Known As:

Les amants du Capricorne

Filming Locations:

Warner Ranch, Calabasas, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Transatlantic Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

117 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In his autobiography "Vanity Will Get You Somewhere", actor Joseph Cotten referred to this film as "Under Corny Crap". Supposedly he had also done so on set, invoking Hitchcock's ire; intentionally or otherwise, the director did not use him again for six years.

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Goofs

(at around 1h 02 mins) By way of mentioning an invitation to a ball, Charles tells Hattie and Sam, "Oh by the way, I have a bit of news for you," but his mouth is closed for much of the sentence.

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Quotes

[last lines of the movie]
Winter: We'll be sorry to lose you, sir.
Hon. Charles Adare: If I may say so, Winter, I'm sorry to go. Not a bad place. It is said that there is some future for it, there must be- it's a big country.
Winter: Then why are you leaving, sir?
Hon. Charles Adare: That's just it, Winter. It's not quite big enough. Bye, good luck.

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Connections

Referenced in A Night at the Movies: The Suspenseful World of Thrillers (2009)

User Reviews

Hitchcocks Greatest?

Under Capricorn, is along with Notorious, I Confess and Rear Window Hitchcocks greatest film. Under Capricorn has been greatly under appreciated mainly because it was a commercial failure and because Hitchcock talked the movie down saying that he only made it for Ingrid Bergman. The truth is that he had been working on getting it made for years, would he really put his production company under pressure on it's second project with a $2.5 million budget if he didn't care for it. Maybe part of its mixed reputation is because it's not a thriller, being a character driven movie, at just under two hours long its not you're typical Hitchcock movie. But the story is revealed in a wonderful way, with such a great romantic feeling that I'm amazed that it's not more highly thought off by the general public. If there ever was a more beautifully film movie I've never seen it. Ingrid Bergman is as she always is, brilliant; her 10-minuet scene in which she tells wilding the whole story of what happened is pure magic. Another great moment is when Bergman has locked herself in her room and wilding comes through her window. Joseph Cotton is also on top form. Really all that I've got left to say is if you haven't yet seen this film and you get the chance to don't waste that chance. I wish it would come out on DVD or video I've nearly worn my copy out.