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:

Mystery, murder and passion from the master of suspense!

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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

Hitchcock began to use the "Ten Minute Take" of continuous one-reel shooting which he had enjoyed refining on his previous film Rope, but as the process proved far more difficult here than in the enclosed apartment-set drama, only a couple of sequences were ultimately shot for the finished print.

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Goofs

The opening narration declares that "In 1770 Captain Cook discovered Australia". While James Cook led one of the first British expeditions to Australia, other European explorers had visited the country before him.

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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

Follows Gaslight (1944)

User Reviews

Underrated and beautifully photographed

While certainly uncharacteristic of Hitchcock's American films this film still has the Master's unmistakable imprint. Joseph Cotton is excellent in his role as a common man who resents the upper class of which he can never be a part. The rest of the actors do a fine job including Ingrid Bergman's turn as Cotton's drunk half mad wife. Perhaps the best and most interesting aspect of the film is the gorgeous Technicolor cinematography by Jack Cardiff. Cardiff who is probably best known for his work with Powell and Pressburger does a great job bringing the rich color of this period piece to the screen. The camera work is also characteristically Hitchcock with many long traveling shots with wonderfully complex compositions. The pace is slow and lacking suspense, but the characters and the situations are interesting and make the film work despite the pacing problems. Certainly not one of Hitchcock's strongest films, but definitely worth watching.