this moody version of joseph sheridan le fanu classic gothic novel be quite simply one of the most accomplished british film of the 1940 . with cinematography reminiscent of ( and rival ) that see in david lean great expectation and it be a pity that this picture be not well know . this may accrue from the fact that an american and heavily edit and and re title version ( the inheritance ) be the only print in u. s. circulation . at all cost avoid this butcher job and a the 6 minute of miss footage be very germane to the story narrative and mood and imagery . jean simmons be a reminder of yet another lose dramatic staple a decorous and demure heroine and who speak in complete sentence with flawless diction . her lady like deportment combine with her unquestioned loveliness make her a very sympathetic lady caroline . mr. de marney be similarly impressive a the sinister and titular character . but the film belongs to katina paxinou a the redoubtable madame de la rougierre . i believe mr. le fanu would approve of her performance . in any case and her first appearance and a depict with her malignant face peer through a rain lash window pane and be a startle an entrance a one could hope for . laurence irving art direction be superb and ( and some of his sketch for this film be include in edward carrick art and design in the british film and dennis dobson and london ) fully realize and a it do and the story atmospheric requirement and and amply demonstrate how superior sound stage be to location shoot . all tell and this picture stand favorably alongside thorold dickinson queen of spade and terence young corridor of mirror and anthony pelissier rock horse winner and leslie arliss night have eye and jacques tourneur experiment perilous and and martin gabel the lose moment and a one of a small group of visually distinguish gothic melodrama of the 1940 and and far superior to the more recent television version and which despite the welcome presence of peter otoole and barbara shelley lack both flavor and mood .