Rainey Dawn Uncle Silas AKA The Inheritance (1947) The film is a good piece of Gothic eye-candy: great sets, costuming, atmosphere and cinematography. The acting is good but a bit over the top more often than not. Also, there are parts of this film that seems to drag in places.The story is above average, it's about a girl, Caroline Ruthyn, who's father dies and leaves her an inheritance plus leaves her in the care or hands of his brother Silas. Her evil Uncle Silas, wants the inheritance and his wicked accomplice, Madame de la Rougierre, will help him to drive Caroline mad or even to death in order to gain control of the inheritance.I like the film overall - I just wish some of the scenes didn't drag on so long.7/10

GManfred This picture gets off to a very slow start as the director and screenwriter laboriously set the table for events to come. Carolyn Ruthyn (Jean Simmons) is heiress to her father's fortune, and upon his demise is sent to live with his brother, eccentric Uncle Silas. Matters take some nasty turns as Uncle Silas turns out to be a rotter.The film really picks up steam with the appearance of Katina Paxinou as the governess-from-hell, who is an arresting presence and lights up the screen in every scene she is in. She lends credence to a movie which limps along without her and elevates the acting level, which is remarkably pedestrian save for Jean Simmons. I felt Derrick De Marney as Uncle Silas was too finicky and lacked menace, and was not a good choice for the role. The director finally gets the Gothic feel of the story correct from midpoint on in the scenes at Unlce Silas' estate, and from here the story becomes tense and suspenseful.If you can find it, "The Inheritance" is well worth your time, chiefly for the two female leads who carry the picture. The first half is a chore, but stick with it and you will be rewarded with an exciting 90 minutes - more, if you can find an uncut British version.

blanche-2 I saw this film years ago as "The Inheritance," and I never forgot it. When I read the description of "Uncle Silas," I thought it sounded suspiciously like "The Inheritance" - after all, did Jean Simmons go around playing one young heir after another? After seeing it again, I'm not surprised I remembered it."Uncle Silas" is a Gothic thriller, based on a novel by Sheridan Le Fanu, and directed by Charles Frank, who also directed "So Long at the Fair," another wonderful film. "Uncle Silas" is the story of a young heiress, Caroline Ruthyn (Simmons) who is sent to live with her uncle (Derrick De Marney) in a dark, eerie mansion after her father's death. Her father adored his brother, who was once accused of murder, and has made Carolina a ward of Silas. However, as he's dying, he tries to change this provision, but dies before he can do it. Silas, with the help of Caroline's ex-governess (Katina Paxinou) plan to get rid of Caroline, since the inheritance then passes to him.The acting of especially DeMarney and Paxinou is fairly over the top, but I believe this was intentional on the part of the director to give it that good old scary Gothic feel. Sinister characters often aren't very subtle in Gothic books. Jean Simmons is lovely as Catherine - vulnerable, sweet, and naive, making her a perfect target of danger.This story was remade as "The Dark Angel" back in the '80s - I remember the sets being completely overdone, a kind of Gothic version of Liberace's house. I don't remember much else, but I'm sure O'Toole was marvelous as Silas.As others have pointed out, the British version is recommended.

MarcoAntonio1 I really enjoyed "Uncle Silas", although it's called "The Inheritance" on the VHS copy that I own and there are seemingly five minutes of footage missing. It's a wonderful, creepy little film about a young woman, Caroline (lovely Jean Simmons), who goes to live with her scheming old Uncle Silas in his big, gloomy mansion after her father dies. Uncle Silas (perfectly played by Derrick De Marney) and his accomplices; a French governess, Madame de la Rougierre (marvelously played by Katina Paxinou), and his son, Dudley (well played by Manning Whiley) are planning to do away with the heroine to gain her fortune. Thankfully, there are intervals where the young woman visits with her sympathetic cousin Monica (nicely played by Sophie Stewart). Brilliant music score by Alan Rawsthorne is available on CD through Amazon.com on a collection called Rawsthorne:Film Music. Nice cinematography and sets add the finishing touches to this atmospheric film. I got my VHS copy from Movies Unlimited.com.