i watch this film yesterday on film 4 i quit like this film in some part . upon watch and i realise this film be really about family breakdown . you sometimes think that family problem be more of a modern thing of today but back then they have their fair share of family upheaval and back stabbing and murder in mind . this film be a gothic and atmospheric melodrama about caroline play by a young jean simmons a a 16/17 year old who go to live with her uncle silas ( derrick de marney ) after her father dy . uncle silas house be some big creepy mansion with lot of cob web dark corner and dungeon like stair and room . while there creepy uncle silas and his son and a french governess plot to kill caroline and keep her inheritance . i though derrick de marney at time performance of uncle silas be not creepy enough and a it verge towards be comical . the french governess madame de la roughierre ( play by katrina paxinau ) be very creepy and sinister and especially when she take caroline on a journey of extreme deception . she be menace caroline every step of the way . her performance make up for the loss in derrick de marney non evil performance . caroline ( jean simmons ) sometimes give a weak performance which probably be down to some weak and prissy dialogue . sometimes i felt i could of climb in the telly and give her a good slapping and tell her to pull herself together and be strong .