Joseph L. Mankiewicz (1909–1993)

“And one day you'll wish with all your heart, you'd never come to Dragonwyck.”

Joseph L. Mankiewicz gave Dragonwyck a dreamlike mood so intoxicating that those who had read Anya Seton’s wildly popular second novel in The Ladies Home Journal were willing to forgave a few important changes, and flocked to see it. Viewers were held spellbound from the moment the lights went down, as Seton’s darkly romantic story came alive, in all its brooding gothic atmosphere and exquisite period show more settings. Beautifully photographed by Arthur Miller, and augmented by a magnificent score by Alfred Newman, Vincent Price and Gene Tierney became Miranda and Nicholas from Seton’s book. Price even dropped thirty pounds to mirror the character Seton had written. Tierney’s gorgeous elegance and youth played perfectly against Price’s aristocratic countenance in this wonderful mood piece.

Ernst Lubitsch had been slated to direct this, but a massive heart attack relegated him to producer only. His meddling proved too much for Mankiewicz, however, and Lubitsch, whose talents lent themselves better to films requiring sophistication more than mood had his name removed from the final cut. Movie lovers today will find it hard to argue with Mankiewicz’s arguments or filmmaking decisions on this picture, because the result is an enthralling example of the genre. Walter Huston, Glenn Langan, Anne Revere, Spring Byington, Connie Marshall, and a young, pre-Dragnet/M.A.S.H Henry Morgan round out a fabulous cast. Watching Dragonwyck will no doubt prompt many fans of gothic romance to seek out the book.

Miranda is a young girl living on the family farm in Greenwich not big enough to hold all her dreams. Her father has misgivings about letting her go to the Hudson at the request of Nicholas Van Ryn, to care for his daughter. A relative who is barely so in any sense of the word, Nicholas and Dragonwyck seem a faraway but lovely dream to Miranda. When she convinces her devout father it is divine direction, however, he reluctantly acquiesces. Young Miranda will in time discover that some things in life are best kept as dreams.

On a romantic steamboat trip across the Hudson to the grand and imposing Dragonwyck, Mankiewicz allows the viewer to feel the attraction between the two leads. All charm and elegance at first, Miranda falls under her so-called cousin's spell and the life of gentry, having nowhere to turn for solace but Nicholas at the snobbery she becomes victim to at Dragonwyck. This would seem all so grandly romantic if Nocholas was not already married, his wife longing for Nicholas to love her, and shower his affections on a daughter starving for her father’s love. But carrying on his name is all that matters to him.

There is an eerie musical presence at Dragonwyck which only little Katrina and Nicholas can hear, heightening the gothic mood of the film. Miranda is cared for from afar by Dr. Turner, who opposes Nicholas for his treatment of those who farm his land, but will never own it. A death which seems suspicious and a tower overlooking the Catskills will bring things to a head and make for a fine ending, as though Miranda had awoken from a bad dream.

A gothic romance and period piece intensely lovely in its presentation, augmented by fine performances, this is a film classic in every sense. For fans of this genre, a must-see film. show less

This 1933 Alice is MY FAVORITE MOVIE VERSION & the best of them all. Not a rote replay of the book however this adaptation best captures the creepy characters, wonderful oddity, dream logic & surreal spirit of Carroll's books. Sadly, 13 minutes were edited out & apparently lost in the 1950s. Still a great film. EXCELLENT FILM QUALITY for a 1933 film! I remember this film from childhood. Glad to find my memory served me well. It holds up well to adult viewing. A treat for film history buffs & show more Alice fans alike.

Great cast includes: Charlotte Henry as Alice, W. C. Fields as Humpty Dumpty, Edna May Oliver as the Red Queen, Cary Grant as the Mock Turtle, Gary Cooper as the White Knight, Edward Everett Horton as The Hatter, Charles Ruggles as The March Hare.

Charles Lutwidge Dodgson aka Lewis Carroll (Author, England, 1832-1898). Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865). Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There (1871). show less

Showered with Oscars, this wonderfully bitchy (and witty) comedy written and directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz concerns an aging theater star (Bette Davis) whose life is being supplanted by a wolf-in-sheep's-clothing ingenue (Anne Baxter) whom she helped. This is a film for a viewer to take in like a box of chocolates, packed with scene-for-scene delights that make the entire story even better than it really is. The film also gives deviously talented actors such as George Sanders and Thelma show more Ritter a chance to speak dazzling lines; Davis bites into her role and never lets go. A classic from Mankiewicz, a legendary screenwriter and the brilliant director of A Letter to Three Wives, The Barefoot Contessa, and Sleuth. --Tom Keogh show less

An aging star is coming to terms (badly) with an up and coming replacement. Full of biting remarks and sideways looks, sarcasm and digs. Great to watch with a glass of wine. Leaves you feeling rather glad you've never faced Bette Davis in a bad mood.