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Jamaica Inn

Play trailer Poster for Jamaica Inn Released Oct 13, 1939 1h 39m Adventure Play Trailer Watchlist
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54% Tomatometer 24 Reviews 35% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
After the death of her mother, young Mary (Maureen O'Hara) travels to the Cornish coast seeking her Aunt Patience (Marie Ney). Stranded on a windswept, isolated road, Mary meets Humphrey Pengallan (Charles Laughton), who kindly escorts her to the Jamaica Inn. There, Mary meets her aunt and bullying uncle, Merlyn Joss (Leslie Banks) -- who secretly leads a band of pirates that pilfers the goods from wrecked ships. Suspicious, Mary turns to Pengallan for help, only to discover another dark secret.

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Jamaica Inn

Critics Reviews

View All (24) Critics Reviews
Otis Ferguson The New Republic In spite of some creaky motivation, it is true enough in general outline and in the part of Laughton absolutely genuine, meaningful beyond Stevenson (and probably the book itself). It has suspense and a good run of motion. Dec 27, 2023 Full Review Pauline Kael New Yorker A forgettable, generally forgotten Hitchcock gothic. Jul 6, 2022 Full Review Stephanie Zacharek Village Voice Laughton is compelling from the first instant: His Pengallan is at least five of the seven deadly sins rolled into one, a cheerfully loathsome creature with wide-set eyebrows and a multitude of chins ... Feb 3, 2015 Full Review Kristin Battestella InSession Film While suspenseful if you aren’t familiar with the story, this never fully achieves a truly gothic ominous. Jul 25, 2023 Full Review Nicholas Bell IONCINEMA.com Hitchcock claimed he felt like a referee on the film, unable to reign in Laughton. But to his credit, Laughton mutates a potentially stuffy villain into a terrifically offbeat, perversely repellant portrayal. Rated: 3.5/5 Oct 27, 2020 Full Review Craig J. Clark The Dissolve It could have come across as strictly a work-for-hire gig, but it displays enough Hitchcockery to show he wasn't as disengaged from the material as he would later claim he was. Rated: 3.5/5 May 18, 2015 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Terry M Daphne du Maurier and Alfred Hitchcock, both of Rebecca fame, what could go wrong? Well, everything really. Dodgy cinematography, even for the time. Charles Laughton hamming it like Matt Lucas. Slow paced. Give this one a hard pass. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 11/05/24 Full Review Steve D Only passable despite the talent. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/10/24 Full Review SICKS6SIX S THE PUBLIC CRITICS SCORED THIS FILM AT 35% I MUST HAVE BEEN WATCHING A DIFFERENT FILM FROM THEM, LAWTON'S ACTING IS GREAT, AND HE DRAGS YOU ALONG WITH HIM RIGHT TO HIS UNTIMELY DEMISE, OR IS THAT TIMELY DEMISE? Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/24/23 Full Review Audience Member This movie wasn't really as bad as it seems. Some parts of it may drag a little bit, but overall it was tense and easy to follow. Charles Laughton and Maureen O'Hara are a good pairing and they both do a great job. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/16/23 Full Review georgan g Maureen O'Hara's feature film debut! She is beautiful and a great actress. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review paul d Hitchcock has filmed a very dark tale. The excellent movie craftsmanship on show includes the portrayal of the violent brigands, the unhappy life of the gang leader's wife, and a great and eccentric villain. What doesn't work is how the story is magically changed at key moments by a heroic young woman played by Maureen O'Hara. Once, OK; twice strains credibility; and after that the story falls apart. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Jamaica Inn

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Movie Info

Synopsis After the death of her mother, young Mary (Maureen O'Hara) travels to the Cornish coast seeking her Aunt Patience (Marie Ney). Stranded on a windswept, isolated road, Mary meets Humphrey Pengallan (Charles Laughton), who kindly escorts her to the Jamaica Inn. There, Mary meets her aunt and bullying uncle, Merlyn Joss (Leslie Banks) -- who secretly leads a band of pirates that pilfers the goods from wrecked ships. Suspicious, Mary turns to Pengallan for help, only to discover another dark secret.
Director
Alfred Hitchcock
Producer
Erich Pommer, Charles Laughton
Screenwriter
Daphne Du Maurier, Sidney Gilliat, Joan Harrison, Sidney Gilliat, Alma Reville, J.B. Priestley
Distributor
Paramount Pictures, LS Video, Kino Video, Reel Media International [us]
Production Co
Mayflower Pictures
Genre
Adventure
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 13, 1939, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 9, 2016
Runtime
1h 39m
Sound Mix
Mono
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