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Summary: Rebecca
Review: This is an excellent mystery and the acting in it is superb. There is never enough superlatives for Sir Laurence Olivier's acting, but the supporting actors give this movie the depth and interest that few other mysteries have. It is a masterful study in personalities and human characteristics that are extremely unusual, to say the least. There are wonderful twists in the plot and enough suspense to keep you really interested in the next scene. I really like the fact that it is not a storythat unflolds easily and I enjoy watching it more each time I view it. I am an avid mystery lover and it is one of my favorites and I have not seen any more modern mystery film that is more suspenseful, nor better acted. This is Daphne Du Maurier at her best. It is a must for all serious mystery fans.
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Summary: Classic Suspense
Review: The Best Picture in 1940 and an adaptation of Daphne du Maurier's famous novel. It is not at all surprising this movie won two Academy Awards and nine other nominations. Through the masterful direction of Alfred Hitchcock, you will be kept in complete suspense. The newly restored version from the original negatives is presented full-frame and has been digitally mastered for optimum picture and sound. The result is a sumptuous black-and-white film that is better than I have ever seen it before. They do say this movie gets better each time you watch it, and I must agree. The opening scenes convince you that this is going to be quite a forbidding story. A meandering path overgrown with foliage and a ghostly manor (Manderley) appears out of the Cornwall, England mist. The gothic quality is only the stage for a love story haunted by the memory of Rebecca. While this is mostly filled with suspense and mystery, there are a few moments of humor. While a young woman (Joan Fontaine) is vacationing in the South of France as a ladies companion, she meets a wealthy widower Maxim de Winter (Lawrence Olivier). His wife, Rebecca is said to have died in a boating accident. They fall in love, marry and then he takes her home to Manderley. She is ill prepared for such a position in society and stumbles through her days trying to adapt as best she can. "Rebecca" is the theme of this movie, yet the heroine is the second rather timid Mrs. de Winter when she rises to the occasion and takes on this ghost who haunts her husband. Mrs. Danvers (Judith Anderson) manages the manor and seeks to keep the first Mrs. de Winter's memory alive in an almost obsessive way. She is cold and has no regard for Maxim's new wife's feelings. Judith Anderson is just magnificent in her role and her character is in a way is Rebecca's ghost personified. The conclusion is surprising as we find out how Maxim really feels and the story unfolds one detail at a time to finish with a satisfying conclusion. You will never once think these characters are actors, they are their characters from start to finish. You must watch this movie in complete darkness with just a few candles burning for it to be just slightly scary. One of my all-time favorite movies. Definitely worth owning!
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Summary: The Most Glamorous Woman Of All Time!
Review: This is tied as my favorite romantic film noir-with Jane Eyre(starring Welles and Fontaine). The story is one of mystery. And I will not give a hint of the plot. But you have to see it. But the set up is simple. Man remarries and finds a niave young bride. But the groom vant seem to get over his dead wife. But that's where the fun starts. The acting is top notch, Olivier is at his best charming and high-cheek boned as ever, Fonatine using every facial muscle she has to convey her pain but ultimately it's JUDITH ANDERSON who rocks!! ... she is cold hearted in this film and you believe every minute of her. But Fontaine does her magic too! And let it be known that to draw that performance out of her Hitchcock told her the first day on the set that all the actors hated her guts and vice versa. This led to complete paranoia by everone and it's brilliant to witness on film. And the opening lines is movie history at it's best. Watch it love it and be shocked at what you will learn. Oh and it won Hitchcock's only best picture oscar! Well deserved over all his other movies in my opinion.
Rating:
Summary: REBECCA
Review: This version of Rebecca was exquisite. It is how the book is written. Anyone that has not read the book or seen the movie definatly needs to. The 2nd Mrs. De Winter was beautiful and Maxim and the 2nd Mrs. De Winter were played wonderfully in this movie. It was the best movie by far. My friends and I love watching it. We watch it over and over. We all agree it is as good as the book.
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Summary: Hell Hath No Fury Like A Housekeeper Scorned!!
Review: Fabulously entertaining Gothic film, with classic actors who could really act, not like most of todays garbage, but that's another story. Story line grabs you from the get-go, never letting up the suspense until the satisfyingly over- the - top ending. Wonderful performances, not all of them big, but, like "Mrs. Van Hopper", jewel like in their quality. They don't make character actors like this anymore. All the quaint English banter & " Fa-fa-fa-ing" is charming, and, of course, Judith Andersons Lezbo-Devil "Mrs. Danvers" will send shivers down your spine!! To be watched preferably on a stormy night, with the lights out. No more hired help!!
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Summary: A Hitchcock Movie For Those Who Don't Like Hitchcock Films
Review: Rebecca ranks as my third favorite Hitchcock film (just behind The Man Who Knew Too Much and Vertigo). I remember when this film first came out and there was a buzz of anticipation to see this film (I'm really showing my age here). Obviously Alfred Hitchcock was a blip on the radar screen in regards to popularity (no one knew who he was), but David O. Selznick was a household name and a world acclaimed producer. Looking back in retrospect, I truly believe this film was the launching point of Hitchcock's career. He went on to have one of the most glorious careers in Hollywood history. Although he never won an Academy Award Oscar and to my knowledge was never even nominated for the Best Director award; Hitchcock showed that he truly belonged in the top echelon of directors. Especially in his golden era: circa 1951 to 1959. I remember vividly it was a very big deal to see his motion pictures in the mid 1950's. People would evoke his name with quality filmmaking and very well made motion picture productions. It's ironic that the only motion picture of his, to my recollection, that was ever nominated for the Best Picture Award from the Academy actually won the award in 1940. This was due to Selznick's influence in the industry not the quality of the motion picture itself; and this is an important bit of information to know. The Academy disdained Alfred Hitchcock and Hitchcock films in general, but in 1940, again Hitchcock was a blip on the radar screen. The reason why he lost with Rebecca was they didn't want to give the award to an Englishman. In particular an Englishman with Welsh roots (John Ford won best director in 1940). It was a long-standing tradition at that time that absolutely no foreigners were ever allowed to win any Major category Oscars. This film would have easily been overlooked and past over by the Academy in 1940 if not for Selznick. Back to the film. It's a torrent of emotional and psychological warfare. Olivier, Fontaine, and the villainous Judith Anderson were a primer of things to come later in Hitchcock films. This film has all the Hitchcock elements in place, but with only one thing missing...The producer decided to go the straight route and contain Hitchcock's element of unnerving suspense, his uncanny sense of the absurd, supreme visual storytelling techniques and most importantly, his dry, sarcastic, cunning sense of humor. The straightforward effect works here and there is plenty of mystery and most important a developed triangle of interesting characters. This film really plays as a modern day "Cinderella" and there is no doubt that the acting is the glue that holds this motion picture together. I really liked watching the relationship with the Fontaine and Anderson characters develop. There is a profound and deeply disturbing rhythm to it. So here's to the most unique collaboration I can think of in Hitchcock's career. Again, a very contained Hitchcock... The pacing of the story, the majestic sets, and the broad "big time" movie theatrics are all pure David Selznick. The sinister evil antagonist, the three dimensional portrait of the protagonist with all of it's complex angst and guilt ridden characterization, and the surprise plot twists are pure Hitchcock. One last very important note...Orson Welle's Citizen Kane was made one year AFTER Rebecca in 1941. You will notice a very strong influence of Rebecca in Citizen Kane. A lot of people are uninformed about the originality of Citizen Kane...Most of the films glamour shots of sweeping cranes movements, close-ups, extreme depth of field, and extreme low and high angles, were not that original at all. Take it from someone coming from that era. These shots were performed before. The Academy did get one thing right in 1941. It did not award Citizen Kane (very poorly constructed cheesy story) with Best Picture or Welle's with Best Director. That's justice and well deserved for a mediocre movie at best. The Academy made a very smart decision there. There are, after all, a lot of things in life that are fair and just!
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Summary: LAST NIGHT I DREAMT I WENT TO MANDERLY AGAIN......
Review: I shall never forget that line. My dreams are still filled with the opening sequence where she sees the gate slowly pushed open revealing that famous manor in the backgroud.(sigh) When someone asks what my absolute FAVORITE movie of all time is, I reply "Rebecca". Being 26 years old..most of my younger friends have never heard of it. I first saw this movie when I was six. I saw it again at the age of ten. At the time I thought it was sooo Scary! I laugh at that now. Rebecca begins with a young woman visiting Monte Carlo as a personal assistant to a wealty woman. When her relentless duties allow her some free time, she happens upon a mysterious, wealthy man known as Mr. deWinter. Mr. deWinter courts her tirelessly and eventually the young maiden agrees to marry him. She is then carried off to England as a new bride. Thrown into a wealthy, very social society, the woman feels peevish and overindulged. Their marriage takes on a sort of father-daughter manner. They "seem" to be happy. The young woman is brought to "Manderly" , and old British castle that was once the happy home of her husband, Mr. deWinter and his beloved, former wife Rebecca. Apparently, EVERYBODY adored Rebecca...she was a social butterfly and ran the house with a strict hand. Rebecca had everything and new everybody. All her former friends, and Mrs. Danvers, the somewhat scary household keeper, constantly refer to the "deity" Rebecca in front of the new and young Mrs. deWinter. She begins to feel small and unworthy. Obviously she cannot measure up to the mystique of the once great and beloved Rebecca. In one of my favorite scenes, the new Mrs. deWinter happens upon Rebecca's bedroom. The room was NEVER changed. Mrs. Danvers obssesively keeps it in the immaculate condition her former mistress had. She invites the young woman in and describes how special each and every item is, referring to them as "delicate" and "perfect". The young woman rushes out, realizing that none of her things even compare to that of Rebecca's. The young Mrs. deWinter decides to clear out alot of Rebecca's old things. She wants to be stonger , more like Rebecca, but soon realizes she can't compete. Mr. deWinter soon becomes sullen and quiet and their marriage seems strained. A new force against them is just around the corner The boat that Rebecca had supposedly drowned in is found and there is question as to how. Mr. deWinter sits through trial and after the verdict is read..he returns to his castle only to find it on fire! As with most great stories I cannot give away the ending. There are so many secrets revealed and lots of twisting plots..true Hitchcock style. I really loved the contrast between Rebecca the icon, and the young Mrs. deWinter who is never even given a name through the entire movie. It really allows you to feel her as a "nobody" compared to the great and haunting Rebecca, who's physical identity is never even seen, except in one oil painting. How different the two women are! I have chills from just remembering! Young or old..this movie can entertain any age.
Rating:
Summary: A timeless classic!
Review: This is a wonderful film that fans of Laurence Olivier, Joan Fontaine, Judith Anderson or Alfred Hitchcock are sure to enjoy. It tells the story of a demure young lady, played wonderfully by the beautiful Joan Fontaine, who falls in love with a wealthy man, played excellently by Laurence Olivier. They get married and everything seems perfect until they return to his estate. There, the new Mrs. de Winter constantly finds herself living in the shadow of her husbands' deceased wife. Judith Anderson plays the icy Mrs. Danvis to perfection. This is a good film to buy if you are just discovering director Alfred Hitchcock, Laurence Olivier or Joan Fontaine. This is probably one of Laurence Olivier's best roles. Be sure to see this film as it is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! If you like Joan Fontaine, be sure to see "Suspicion". Judith Anderson fans should see "And Then There Were None" and "Laura".
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Summary: A good his and hers classic
Review: My wife being a Daphne du Maurier fan, I ordered "Rebecca" for her. However, as we watched together I was drawn in by Hitchcock's masterful direction and the incredible suspense. This is one worth owning. It is classic Hitchcock and worthy of the title "Best Picture" which it won in 1940. Also, it is not a bad case study of what it means to carry "baggage" into a new relationship.
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Summary: Stunning, satisfying and chilling gothic romance
Review: Rebecca is a near-perfect blend of gothic mystery, romance and chills as the always excellent Joan Fontaine finally perfects her signature persona as the vulnerable innocent (see also Hitchcock's Suspicion) drawn into a milieu of mystery and history in which her presence is unwelcome. Laurence Olivier is perfect as the haunted de Winter, struggling with his love of his new wife against his guilt over the mysterious Rebecca, his first wife. Judith Evans is positively chilling in her role as the hostile and sinister housekeeper Mrs Danvers (a definite forerunner of Billie Whitelaw's evil housekeeper in The Omen). Rebecca is everything you'd want and expect of an adaptation of one of Daphne du Maurier's moodiest gothic works. And, contrary to critics who consign the honor to Silence of the Lambs, is arguably the first HORROR movie to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. An absolute classic of cinema - and Gothic - perfection.
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