Jamaica Inn (film) Jamaica Inn (film) Jamaica Inn is a 1939 British thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock adapted from Daphne du Maurier's 1936 novel of the same name, the first of three of du Maurier's works that Hitchcock adapted (the others were her novel "Rebecca" and short story "The Birds"). It stars Charles Laughton and features Maureen O'Hara in her first major screen role. It is the last film Hitchcock made in the United Kingdom before he moved to the United States. The film is a period piece set in Cornwall in 1819; the real Jamaica Inn still exists, and is a
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,