Credited as the First Real Mystery Novel and the inspiration for the writing style of Dracula The Woman in white is an Elaborate adaptation of Wilkie Collins' 1800s novel that follows a Penniless drawing instructor Walter Hartwright ( Gig Young who won an oscar much later for 'they shoot horses dont they') falls in love with one of his students beautiful Laura Fairlie (a luminous Eleanor Parker the Countess from the sound of music) who is already promised to evil Sir Percival Glyde (John Emery)
. Marion Holcombe (a gorgeous Alexis Smith a Lesbian Glamorzon who is in the closet by all accounts but seems to be visually and authentically offended by Gigs Advances) helps Laura while slimy Count Fosco (Sydney Greenstreet' Casablanca/ Maltese Falcon) helps Glyde. And who is that mysterious woman in white that appears and disappears so rapidly?
Its got some weird Gothic appeal and some great suspense,that is smothered in a Max Stiener Score which is almost impossible to find a good clear quality of sadly , as well as sporting a pre Nancy drew character in Marion.
its been adapted into a full blown as somewhat unsuccessful stage show by Andrew Lloyd Webber and has been adapted for television in the 1980s with one of Edith Heads Last Costume design Credits. if 1940s Victorian Gothic of Dr Jekyll and the Spiral Staircase does it for you this may also enjoy this rare mystery.
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