‘My Cousin Rachel’: Between Trust and Doubt

Olivia de Havilland leads a powerful cast in a film of obsession, mistrust, and ambiguity.

Philip Ashley (Richard Burton) and Rachel Ashley (Olivia de Havilland), in “My Cousin Rachel.” (20th Century Fox).

NR | 1h 38m | Drama, Mystery, Romance | 1954

British author Daphne du Maurier’s novels have long been a wellspring of inspiration for filmmakers, weaving tales that balance romance and danger in ways that resonate far beyond their final moments. Adaptations like “Jamaica Inn” (1939) and “Rebecca” (1940) are celebrated for their rather grandiose sensibilities. “My Cousin Rachel” presents a quieter, yet more sinister narrative, one that coils itself around themes of obsession, mistrust, and ambiguity.