Dragonwyck (1946)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

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 first cut, Miranda meets Dr. Turner on the riverboat going to Dragonwyck. Although it was cut by order of producer Zanuck, actor Glenn Langan can still be seen from behind walking toward Miranda. A brief opening scene showing Miranda reading a novel in a graveyard was also cut.

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation (1962)

Soundtrack:

I Dreamt I Dwelt In Marble Halls

Good thriller

This is a rare case where the movie adaptation is more enjoyable than the novel it was based on. I liked Vincent Price immensely in this movie; he is creepy yet seductive, and I can readily imagine a young woman getting caught in his web without realizing the danger. He adds much more nuance and subtlety to the character of Van Ryn, who in the novel came across as just a scary guy to be avoided at all costs. I wish it would come out on video - it's definitely an enjoyable "rainy day" movie.