[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Dragonwyck (1946)

A lush Gothic melodrama starring Gene Tierney, Vincent Price and Walter Huston that focuses on social class and the stark differences between the wealthy and the poor in nineteenth century New York State as young Gene Tierney is enlisted to work as a child minder at the Dragonwyck mansion.

Dragonwyck the house is a fantastic Gothic chateau and is one of the films more memorable aspects along with the radiant Tierney, whilst Vincent Price, still in the early stage of his career oozes a proto-menace, hinting at what is to come years down the line but at the time of Dragonwyck isn't quite there yet, as he festers and then succumbs to a breakdown in a marvelously overwrought horror-lite finale.

Around the two thirds point there was a tremendous scene which showcased Gothic cinema in all it's glory. A dark and stormy night, lightning crashing, the camera in long shot slowly zooms in on the mansion, before highlighting Price sternly gazing through the window from outside. It's haunting, it's brooding and quite wonderful.

Although really a costume melodrama Dragonwyck's final twenty minutes aren't a million miles away from the events of The Fall of the House of Usher as Price descends into madness and murder.