IMDb > Jamaica Inn (1939)
Jamaica Inn
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Jamaica Inn (1939) More at IMDbPro »

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Jamaica Inn (1939) -- In Cornwall, around 1800, a young woman discovers that she's living near a gang of criminals who arrange shipwrecks for profit.
IMDb Holiday Movie Guide

Overview

User Rating:
6.3/10   3,015 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 11% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Alfred Hitchcock
Writers:
Sidney Gilliat (screenplay) &
Joan Harrison (screenplay) ...
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for Jamaica Inn on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
13 October 1939 (USA) more
Genre:
Adventure | Crime more
Plot:
In Cornwall, around 1800, a young woman discovers that she's living near a gang of criminals who arrange shipwrecks for profit. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
User Comments:
For once Robert Newton as a HERO! more (54 total)
US TV Schedule:
Tue. Nov. 244:30 AMTCM   

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Charles Laughton ... Sir Humphrey Pengallan
Horace Hodges ... His Butler
Hay Petrie ... His Groom
Frederick Piper ... His Agent
Herbert Lomas ... His Tenant
Clare Greet ... His Tenant
William Devlin ... Hiss Tenant
Jeanne De Casalis ... His Friend (as Jeanne de Casalis)
Mabel Terry-Lewis ... His Friend (as Mabel Terry Lewis)
A. Bromley Davenport ... His Friend (as Bromley Davenport)
George Curzon ... His Friend
Basil Radford ... His Friend
Leslie Banks ... Joss Merlyn
Marie Ney ... Patience - His Wife

Maureen O'Hara ... Mary - His Niece
Emlyn Williams ... Harry the Pedlar - Sir Humphrey's Gang
Wylie Watson ... Salvation Watkins - Sir Humphrey's Gang
Morland Graham ... Sea Lawyer Sydney - Sir Humphrey's Gang

Edwin Greenwood ... Dandy - Sir Humphrey's Gang
Mervyn Johns ... Thomas - Sir Humphrey's Gang
Stephen Haggard ... The Boy - Sir Humphrey's Gang
Robert Newton ... Jem Trehearne - Sir Humphrey's Gang
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Robert Adair ... Captain Murray (uncredited)
Marie Ault ... Coach Passenger (uncredited)
O.B. Clarence ... Coach Passenger (uncredited)
William Fazan ... Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Archie Harradine ... Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Mary Jerrold ... Miss Black (uncredited)
Harry Lane ... Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Sam Lee ... Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Alan Lewis ... Undetermined Role (uncredited)
John Longden ... Captain Johnson (uncredited)
Aubrey Mather ... Coachman (uncredited)
Philip Ray ... Undetermined Role (uncredited)
A. George Smith ... Undetermined Role (uncredited)
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Directed by
Alfred Hitchcock 
 
Writing credits
Sidney Gilliat (screenplay) &
Joan Harrison (screenplay)

Sidney Gilliat (dialogue)

Alma Reville (continuity)

J.B. Priestley (additional dialogue)

Daphne Du Maurier  novel (uncredited)

Produced by
Erich Pommer .... producer
Charles Laughton .... producer (uncredited)
 
Original Music by
Eric Fenby (music)
 
Cinematography by
Bernard Knowles (photography: in collaboration with)
Harry Stradling Sr.  (as Harry Stradling)
 
Film Editing by
Robert Hamer 
 
Set Decoration by
Thomas N. Morahan (settings) (as Tom Morahan)
 
Costume Design by
Molly McArthur (costumes)
 
Makeup Department
Ern Westmore .... make-up artist
 
Production Management
Hugh Perceval .... production manager
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Roy Goddard .... assistant director
Edward Joseph .... assistant director (uncredited)
 
Art Department
John Hoesli .... assistant art director (uncredited)
Albert Whitlock .... scenic artist (uncredited)
 
Sound Department
Jack Rogerson .... sound recordist
 
Special Effects by
Harry Watt .... special effects
 
Visual Effects by
W. Percy Day .... matte painter (uncredited)
 
Stunts
Bob Simmons .... stunts (uncredited)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Gus Drisse .... camera operator
 
Music Department
Frederick Lewis .... musical director (as Frederic Lewis)
 
Crew verified as complete


Production CompaniesDistributors
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Additional Details

Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
108 min | USA:98 min | Canada:90 min (Ontario)
Country:
UK
Language:
English
Color:
Black and White
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Photophone System)
Certification:
Finland:K-12 (1995) | Finland:K-15 (2006) | Australia:G (TV rating) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | UK:A (original rating) | France:U | USA:Approved (PCA #02483) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Germany:12 | Sweden:15 | UK:U
Filming Locations:
Associated British Elstree Studios, Shenley Road, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK more
Company:
Mayflower Pictures Corporation more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
This was the last movie that Alfred Hitchcock made in England before going to Hollywood under contract to David O. Selznick. more
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: After Trehearne and Mary escape from the villains by swimming out to their boat, they wind up seeking refuge at Pengallan's home. While still in his soaking clothes, Trehearne pulls a dry folded piece of paper from his pocket. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Captain: Can you make out the beacon light?
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Blue Murder: Tooth and Claw (#5.3)" (2009) more

FAQ

What poem is Sir Humphrey quoting?
more

User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
26 out of 28 people found the following comment useful.
For once Robert Newton as a HERO!, 29 August 2001
Author: countryway_48864 from United States

Most people tend to remember Robert Newton as Long John Silver, a role he perfected long after he gave up as an actor.

Jamaica Inn is an early film and here you see a fine looking Newton with the longest, darkest eyelashes I have ever seen on a man.

A side note: Not too long before Jamaica Inn was made, a scout for Sam Goldwyn spotted Newton in London and thought he would be perfect for the role of Heathcliff in the up-coming Wuthering Heights. Newton tested for the role and everyone but Goldwyn was thrilled. Goldwyn though Newton was "too ugly" to play Heathcliff, although everyone else thought he combined the emotional intensity and the black gypsy look that was perfect for that role. Eventually, Laurence Olivier was cast. He admitted that he always believed, his great friend, Newton would have been better, darker and more naturally dangerous as Heathcliff. I often wonder how Newton's career would have changed had he been given the role of Heathcliff.

Hitchcock takes advantage of the dual danger/kindness elements of Newton's personality to create a memorable hero. A young and lovely Maureen O'Hara is cast as the woman who comes to live with her Aunt after the death of her mother, only to discover she is in a den of cut-throats. She witnesses Newton being hung and just manages to save his life. Charles Laughton lends his special talent for seeming to one sort of person while actually being something quite different and Hitchcock rolls all these characters and a marvelous Leslie Banks, into a fine tumble of thievery and honor, love and loyalty, crime and punishment.

There are many of the familiar Hitchcock touches to move things along.

The climax is a bit over-the-top, but it affords Laughton a marvelous few moments.

Jamaica Inn has been re-made several times, but no one can replace Hitchcock, Newton, O'Hara and Banks.

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DVD with English subtitles? gourabrc
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It may not be his .. hohi101
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