Jamaica Inn




That's women for you - save your life one minute, frightened of you the next.

Hitch's last (early) British work before he hit up the States. Purportedly one of his least favorite directing gigs.

After her parents die, Mary (Maureen O'Hara in her "debut" role) heads to Cornwall to stay with her uncle Joss and aunt Patience (Leslie Banks and Marie Ney). But while she doesn't initially hold to Joss' unruly manners, she quickly discovers that manners are the least of her worries. He happens to head a gang of cutthroats out of Jamaica Inn, who murder wayward ship crews and steal their cargos for a living. And before the night's out, Mary situation becomes precarious, to say the least.

When at it's at its best, Jamaica Inn is a moderately followable little semi-pirate action flick. But best being a subjective term, that hardly covers very much of the proceedings. While it manages to maintain interest, it's hardly an edge-of-your-seater, even though the mid twist is enjoyable and generally well handled for the duration. But there just doesn't seem to be enough really interesting things happening to warrant the majority of the film prancing around the Inn (literally). There are also a couple of poor jumps in the editing that sorta get annoying; this is definitely not one of Hithcock's strongest directional efforts. And it's probably best not to even get started about the romance. Though perhaps what could be mistaken for a sloppy effort at it may not be intended to be romance at all (it's hard to tell), in which case I would humbly withdraw that particular complaint.

And while Charles Laughton doesn't play the biggest role, it is admittedly the film's most interesting. His Sir Humphrey Pengallan is a double-sided coin of genteel mannerisms and darker dispositions. Marueen O'Hara is nice, but ultimately just another strong willed damsel, which pairs off nicely with Robert Newton's equally routine character. Leslie Banks is of a slightly better cut while Marie Ney is a bit underwhelming.

Next to no tension and little else to show for it to hold a fancy, except maybe Laughton, this is one Hitchcock flick that's no shame to skip.



-The Gnome