Harrison's Reports (1949) - Under Capricorn
Details
- article: Under Capricorn
- journal: Harrison's Reports (10/Sep/1949)
- issue: volume 31, issue 37, page 147
- journal ISSN:
- publisher: Harrison's Reports, Inc.
- keywords: Alfred Hitchcock, Cecil Parker, Helen Simpson, Ingrid Bergman, Joseph Cotten, Margaret Leighton, Michael Wilding, Transatlantic Pictures, Under Capricorn (1949), Warner Bros.
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Article
"Under Capricorn" with Ingrid Bergman, Joseph Cotten and Michael Wilding
(Warner Bros., October 8; time, 117 min.)
Lavishly produced and photographed in Technicolor, this period melodrama with psychological overtones is an impressive entertainment of its kind. The story, which is set in Australia in 1830, and which revolves around a woman, an alcoholic, who, having killed her brother, finally expiates her crime after the blame had been shouldered by her husband, is not unusual, nor are the characters, with the exception of the heroine, particularly sympathetic. Yet the acting of the entire cast is so competent that one's interest is held well. Ingrid Bergman, as the wretched dipsomaniac who is victimized by a murderous housekeeper in love with her husband, comes through with another striking performance. The story is not without its weak points, particularly in that much of the footage is given more to talk than to movement, but Alfred Hitchcock's directorial skill manages to overcome most of the script's deficiencies by building up situations that thrill and hold the spectator in tense suspense :—
The story depicts Ingrid as a titled Irishwoman, married to Joseph Cotten, who had been the family stable-groom, and who had been convicted for murdering her brother when he had protested the marriage. Cotten had been shipped in chains to Australia and, after serving his seven-year sentence, had become a free citizen and a prosperous businessman in Sydney, although shunned by the social set. Ingrid had followed him there, but the years of waiting for his release had broken her spirit. When Michael Wilding, the new Governor's cousin, comes to Sydney to seek an easy fortune, Cotten helps him and invites him to his home in the hope that Ingrid will benefit from meeting some one of her own social class. Wilding recognizes her as a childhood friend and, with Cotten's consent; undertakes to cure her alcoholism. Margaret Leighton, a prim shrew who ran the household, and who kept Ingrid in a constant stupor by supplying her with drink, determines to thwart Wilding's efforts. Through malicious lies she inflames Cotten with jealousy and provokes him into wounding Wilding seriously in a quarrel. With Wilding's life in doubt, the Governor (Cecil Parker) threatens to send Cotten back to prison as a second offender. Ingrid, to save Cotten, confesses that she had killed her brother, and that Cotten had shouldered the blame to protect her. Convinced of Ingrid's love, Cotten softens toward her. Margaret, desperate, gets Ingrid drunk and attempts to poison her, but she is caught and discharged on the spot. Meanwhile Wilding, by this time in love with Ingrid, recovers. Realizing that she could never love anyone but her husband, he refuses to press charges against Cotten. He returns to Ireland, while Ingrid and Cotten look forward to a new life.
It is a Transatlantic production, directed by Mr. Hitchcock from a screen play by James Bridie, based on the novel by Helen Simpson.
Adult fare.
