With somehow having always gotten the title mixed up for a George Saunder's Film Noir called The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry,I was happily caught completely by surprise,when a very kind IMDb'er gave me a chance to finally meet uncle Silas.
View on the film:
Surrounding the movie with towering mansion's,director Charles Frank builds a haunting atmosphere which combines icy Gothic Horror with a mean-spirited Film Noir mood,as Frank and Robert Krasker gradually allow the candle lights to burn out,and to be replaced by eerie shadows which wrap around every dark corner of the mansions.
Along with the excellent Gothic Noir atmosphere,Frank and Krasker also show an extraordinary eye in displaying the full content of their mansion,with Frank's superb wide-shots creating an unexpected claustrophobic chill,as Caroline Ruthyn demons start to suffocate her.
Whilst Frank shows a real skill in boiling a Gothic brew, Ben Travers adaptation of Sheridan Le Fanu's is sadly never able to fully matching the visual appearance,thanks to Travers taking a rather stilted approach to the screenplay,which leads to the film receiving sudden bursts of horror,instead of a slow-burning sense of menace,which Charles Frank appears to be setting his sights on.
Entering the film with a real elegance, Jean Simmons gives an excellent performance as Caroline Ruthyn,with Simmons showing Ruthyn to psychologically crumble into bits,as she starts to realize what sweet uncle Silas's plans are.
Sending a shiver down Ruthyn, John Laurie gives a great rustic performance as loyal butler Giles,whilst Derrick De Marney gives an extremely flamboyant performance as uncle Silas,with Marney slowly tearing up the flamboyance of Silas,to reveal the secret hidden inside.
View on the film:
Surrounding the movie with towering mansion's,director Charles Frank builds a haunting atmosphere which combines icy Gothic Horror with a mean-spirited Film Noir mood,as Frank and Robert Krasker gradually allow the candle lights to burn out,and to be replaced by eerie shadows which wrap around every dark corner of the mansions.
Along with the excellent Gothic Noir atmosphere,Frank and Krasker also show an extraordinary eye in displaying the full content of their mansion,with Frank's superb wide-shots creating an unexpected claustrophobic chill,as Caroline Ruthyn demons start to suffocate her.
Whilst Frank shows a real skill in boiling a Gothic brew, Ben Travers adaptation of Sheridan Le Fanu's is sadly never able to fully matching the visual appearance,thanks to Travers taking a rather stilted approach to the screenplay,which leads to the film receiving sudden bursts of horror,instead of a slow-burning sense of menace,which Charles Frank appears to be setting his sights on.
Entering the film with a real elegance, Jean Simmons gives an excellent performance as Caroline Ruthyn,with Simmons showing Ruthyn to psychologically crumble into bits,as she starts to realize what sweet uncle Silas's plans are.
Sending a shiver down Ruthyn, John Laurie gives a great rustic performance as loyal butler Giles,whilst Derrick De Marney gives an extremely flamboyant performance as uncle Silas,with Marney slowly tearing up the flamboyance of Silas,to reveal the secret hidden inside.