Uncle Silas (US: The Inheritance) is a 1947 British drama film directed by Charles Frank and starring Jean Simmons, Katina Paxinou and Derrick De Marney.[4] It is an adaptation of J. Sheridan Le Fanu's 1864 novel Uncle Silas in which an heiress is pursued by her uncle, who craves her money following her father's death.[5]
| Uncle Silas | |
|---|---|
 British Theatrical poster | |
| Directed by | Charles Frank |
| Written by | Ben Travers, from the novel by Sheridan le Fanu |
| Produced by | Josef Somlo, Laurence Irving |
| Starring | Jean Simmons Derrick de Marney Katina Paxinou |
| Cinematography | Robert Krasker |
| Edited by | Ralph Kemplen |
| Music by | Alan Rawsthorne, played by the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Muir Mathieson |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | General Film Distributors |
Release date |
|
Running time | 103 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Budget | over $1 million[1] or £366,300[2] |
| Box office | £96,400 or US$269,920 (by Dec 1949)[3] or £82,700[2] |
The film was shot at Denham Studios with sets by the art director Ralph Brinton. The costumes were designed by Elizabeth Haffenden.
Plot
editCaroline Ruthyn is the teenage niece of her elderly uncle Silas, a sickly and at one time unbalanced rake who becomes her guardian on the death of her father. The fact that Silas is broke and greedy and young Caroline is the heir to her father's vast fortune is reason enough for Caroline to be wary, but her fears increase when she meets Silas's brutal son, her cousin, and when she discovers that her fearsome former governess, Madame de la Rougierre, is working with her uncle...
Cast
edit- Jean Simmons as Caroline Ruthyn
- Katina Paxinou as Madame de la Rougierre
- Derrick De Marney as Uncle Silas
- Derek Bond as Lord Richard Ilbury
- Sophie Stewart as Lady Monica Waring
- Esmond Knight as Doctor Bryerly
- Reginald Tate as Austin Ruthyn
- Manning Whiley as Dudley Ruthyn
- Marjorie Rhodes as Mrs Rusk
- John Laurie as Giles
- Frederick Burtwell as Branston
- George Curzon as Sleigh
- O. B. Clarence as Victor Clay
- Frederick Ranalow as Rigg
- Patricia Glyn as Mary Quince
- Robin Netscher as Tom Hawkes
Reception
editThe film was a box office flop. Producer's receipts were £70,500 in the UK and £12,200 overseas.[2]
References
edit- ^ Cane (22 October 1947). "Film Reviews - Uncle Silas". Variety. Vol. 168, no. 7. New York, NY: Variety Publishing Company. p. 13.
- ^ a b c Chapman, J. (2022). The Money Behind the Screen: A History of British Film Finance, 1945-1985. Edinburgh University Press p 353. Income is in terms of producer's share.
- ^ Gillett, Philip (28 June 2003). The British Working Class in Postwar Film. Manchester University Press. p. 200. ISBN 978-0-7190-6258-2. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
- ^ BFI.org
- ^ Fowler, Roy; Haines, Taffy (15 May 1990). "Interview with Sidney Gilliat" (PDF). British Entertainment History Project. p. 46.
External links
edit- Uncle Silas at IMDb
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