JAMAICA INN (DVD/B&W/1939) DVD

Jamaica Inn
Alfred Hitchcock directed this disappointing misfire, memorable solely for the fact is that it is the final film from Hitchcock's early British period before he left for the Hollywood studio system and David O. Selznick. In the England of the 1800s, a group of ruthless smugglers, led by Sir Humphrey Pengallon (Charles Laughton), prey on ships by blacking out warning signals. When the ships crash on the rocks, the nefarious group loots the remains and kills the sailors. The plot kicks in when the beautiful orphan Mary Yelland (Maureen O'Hara) goes to visit her uncle Joss Merlyn (Leslie Banks) at a creepy hotel called the Jamaica Inn, the home of the gang of smugglers. Mary doesn't realize that Uncle Joss is one of them. Meanwhile, Lloyd's of London sends one of their ablest men, Jem Trahearne (Robert Newton), to investigate the recurring shipwrecks. Jem checks in to the Jamaica Inn, and when the coven of smugglers finds out who he is, they capture him and attempt to kill him. But Mary comes to his rescue and saves him. Through the inn, the smugglers try to recapture Jem -- along with Mary. Thrown together by dire circumstances, the two fall in love. Meanwhile, all the shenanigans occurring at the Jamaica Inn appear to be driving Pengallon insane. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide

Cast Charles Laughton as Sir Humphrey Pengallan Maureen O'Hara as Mary Yelland Emlyn Williams as Harry the Peddler Hay Petrie as Groom Robert Newton as Jem Trehearne Leslie Banks as Joss Merlyn Basil Radford as Pengallan's Guest Frederick Piper as Broker Mervyn Johns as Thomas Marie Ney as Patience Merlyn Wylie Watson as Salvation Watkins Stephen Haggard as Boy William Devlin as Pengallan's Tenant Jeanne de Casalis as Pengallan's Guest

Crew Tom N. Moraham - Art Director Molly McArthur - Costume Designer Alfred Hitchcock - Director Robert Hamer - Editor Eric Fenby - Composer (Music Score) Frederick Lewis - Musical Direction/Supervision Ern Westmore - Makeup Harry Stradling - Cinematographer Bernard Knowles - Cinematographer Hugh Perceval - Production Manager Erich Pommer - Producer Charles Laughton - Producer Thomas H. Morahan - Set Designer Tom N. Moraham - Set Designer Harry Watts - Special Effects Alma Reville - Screenwriter Joan Harrison - Screenwriter J.B. Priestley - Screenwriter Sidney Gilliat - Screenwriter Daphne du Maurier - Book Author

Jamaica Inn
Jamaica Inn is definitely lesser Alfred Hitchcock, but it's not the terrible film it's often assumed to be. True, it suffers considerably from the fact that star Charles Laughton was also the producer, interfering mightily with Hitchcock and not allowing the director the free hand he needed to salvage what was admittedly a rather dull script. In spite of this, however, there are a number of Hitchcockian touches, including an amoral, misanthropic man who teeters on (and goes over) the brink of madness (think Strangers on a Train and Psycho). And the director does very well with his large-scale action sequences, as well as guiding new leading lady Maureen O'Hara in an impressive star performance. (For the record, O'Hara also looks simply stunning.) Laughton is a much bigger problem, giving a performance that is ludicrous and over the top; it's true that he holds your attention (even when the character shouldn't be doing so), but Laughton becomes tiresome very quickly. Robert Newton, as the hero/love interest, is also a bit stiff. Still, even with Hitchcock operating at less than his best, he does manage to make Jamaica reasonably entertaining -- especially when Laughton gets out of the way. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
 

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General Specifications: Language Options: English Subtitle Options: Sound Processing: Additional Features: Digitally mastered from a 35MM archive print MPAA Rating: NR DVD Discs Included: 1 DVD Sides: 1 DVD DVD Region Code: All Content Length: 98 min   DVD Chapters: Side #1 -- 0. Chapter Selection 1. The Wreckers Strike [7:11] 2. Mary Approaches [7:40] 3. Arrival at Jamaica Inn [15:44] 4. Hanging Mr. Trehearne [15:59] 5. The Squire Holds Court [3:46] 6. An Identity Revealed [20:49] 7. Patience Is Warned [3:06] 8. The Wreckers Aroused [3:59] 9. A Ship Approaches [4:56] 10. "Tonight I found Out who..." [9:05] 11. A Cornish Port [6:07] 12. End Titles [:21]