Jamaica Inn (film) far-removed from the darker characters and sinister inn and coastline depicted in the book. Today it is considered one of Hitchcock's worst films. Hitchcock himself was disgusted with the film even before it was finished and stated that it was a "completely absurd" idea. However, the film still garnered a large profit (US$3.7 million, a huge success at the time) at the box office. Daphne du Maurier was also not pleased with the finished production and for a while she considered withholding the film rights to "Rebecca". In 1978, film critic Michael Medved gave "Jamaica Inn" a place in his
Jamaica Inn (film) test was sub par, but Laughton could not forget her eyes). After filming finished, Laughton brought her to Hollywood to play Esmeralda opposite his Quasimodo in 1939 version of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame", where she became an international star. In March 1939, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood to begin his contract with David O. Selznick. Thus "Jamaica Inn " was his last British picture, as well as one of his most successful. Critics disparaged the film, largely because of the lack of atmosphere and tension which was present in the book, with its light-hearted, often camp banter, and portly landlord,