My Cousin Rachel (1952)

20th Century Fox
Directed by Henry Koster
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4
IMDb
(Fox Movie Channel)

Nominated: Richard Burton, Best Supporting Actor
Nominated: Best Cinematography, Black and White
Nominated: Best Set Decoration, Black and White
Nominated: Best Costume Design, Black and White

Gothic romance starts out strong but ultimately is nothing more than a melodrama. Richard Burton falls head-over-heels in love with his best friend/father figure's widow Olivia de Havilland. He inexplicably gives her his entire fortune, even when it is obvious she is only after his money. After that decision, he gets whatever he deserves. Hitchcock handled a similar Du Maurier novel much better with Rebecca.