Rebecca

Rating:
Summary: A Spellbinding Masterpiece
Review: 'Last night,I dreamt I went to Manderly again....'

So begins the atmospheric and moody story of REBECCA,and Mrs DeWinter's odyssey of epic proportions. Joan Fontaine plays the role of the child bride who wins the hand of the widowed Mr DeWinter (Laurence Olivier) a man plagued by the shrill ghosts of his unhappy past. She finds,in his ancestral home of Manderly,that she is continually at odds with the housekeeper,the foreboding Mrs Danvers (Judith Anderson) and Maxim's sister Beatrice (Gladys Cooper). Everything seems to lead back to the first wife of Maxim,Rebecca,who died under mysterious circumstances.

A truly riveting piece of cinema.

Rating:
Summary: Classic Hitch
Review: This is a classic suspense movie. You have the frail Mrs. DeWinter in constant battle against the chilly Mrs. Danvers climaxing in a haunting scene in which Danvers nearly coaxes DeWinter into sucide. There is the ever present, thought oftem cryptic, memory of Maxim's first wife, the title character. The movie has a nice flow, wonderful perfomances and direction, and, of course, great atmosphere. There are, however, two flaws. One is the screenplay, which was based religiously on the original novel. The problem is, there are times when it doesn't quite work because they had to cut corners and condense scenes together usually unconvincingly. The diologue itself was a little trite and often sounded written (as opposed to sounding like actual everyday conversation). The other problem is the fact that the movie was in black and white. Though this wa most likely done for money reasons, it really needed to be in color. In the book, Manderley was filled with bright flowers and colors in general. Seeing Manderley in black and white wsa a little underwhelming based on what I excpected from the book. However, this sin is easily forgivable, and the screenplay can be forgivin because it still preserves the great story, and the performances are good enough to make the script sound better.

Rating:
Summary: Dark, deep, moody, Hitchcock at his best!
Review: This is one of my all-time favorite movies. The book is slow and takes forever to get to the point. Hitchcock has adapted it brilliantly to the screen. His use of pace and lighting are superb. And the casting!

Olivier is perfect as the easily frustrated Maxim. Fontaine all but disappears as the mousey second Mrs. de Winter, who can never live up to the memory of the first. And Dame Judith Anderson is stellar as the malevolant and sinister Mrs. Danvers.

With a wonderful twist ending, this movie is sure to capture your interest, and perhaps your heart. Don't hesitate!

Rating:
Summary: One of my favorite Hitchcock movies
Review: I love Alfred Hitchcock movies and this is one of my favorites. Joan Fontaine did such a good job as playing the naive young bride of Max De Winter. I love gothic type novels and movies full of suspense and mystery and romance! Mrs. Danvers was really creepy! And I loved the cinematography. This is Daphne Du Maurier's best book and one of Hitchcock's best films. Enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: My favorite movie of all time!
Review: I kept wondering why this video was not available on video for such a long time. I'm a big old-movie buff, and EVERYTHING is right about this movie. The casting is fantastic, right down to the tiniest supporting roles. I don't really like reading DuMaurier's books - find them very slow-moving -- but Selznick and Hitchcock improved tremendously on the book, culling all the best stuff but keeping things moving along at a brisker clip. Not only are Fontaine, Olivier and Anderson great, but George Sanders is a treat, as is the actress who plays the hilarious Edythe Van Hopper at the beginning. Compare this movie with the Masterpiece Theater remake a few years back (which was more faithful to the book, but just didn't work) -- and you realize what a masterpiece the Selznick version is.

Rating:
Summary: I wish I lived at Manderley...
Review: This movie is haunting...and I adore it. Dame Judith Anderson is incredible as the obsessed housekeeper Mrs. Danvers. There is one scene that I watch over and over...the scene between Mrs. Danvers and the new Mrs. de Winter in Rebecca's bedroom. It sends chills up and down my spine...and one day when I win the Lottery, I'm going to have that bedroom. From beginning to end, this movie never disappoints the viewer. A must have movie for everyone's video/DVD library.

Rating:
Summary: Like a Fine Wine
Review: This film had to grow on me, at first the film took me off gaurd because the story was completly different than what I had in mind. As I watched more and more, I became very involved and was trying to figure the mystery in my head. Not only do the performances help very much in this film, but also the atmosphere which so errily gives you chills. The maid was completely outstanding. Her empty stares and her obssesiveness of Rebecca was almost uncanny. I believe this film had every right to win a Best Picture Oscar. It had all the ingridients and more... I reccomend this film, not because of those facts but because it really grew on me. And now everytime one of the scenes pop into my memory, I have to recall where that stirring scene came from, then of course after a moment of thought, it was from "Rebecca"

Rating:
Summary: Perfection
Review:

There are not many films that can equal this one. In fact, at the moment I can think of none. I first saw this as a teenager on cable, and even on a lowly 19" box, this movie was absolutely captivating. I can only imagine what seeing it on a big screen when it was first released might have been like. Anyone who has done so would surely remember it to this day if they are still around.

The performances are all first-rate (I would use the word 'perfection', but it would be easy to over-use that word here, so I'll try to use others). Just thinking of the characterizations brings back the forcefulness with which they are all delivered from the very finest of casts.

This is my favorite Hitchcock film by far. I love all his work, but this one stands out to me as nothing less than a masterpiece of darkness. The scene with Judith Anderson among the flames comes back vividly into my mind just as clearly as if I was watching it now.

The sets are all masterfully rendered, and can cause a person to easily believe they are right there. To get caught up in the flow of events comes naturally and the movie is over before you know it. I would advise you to see this movie with no distractions, but that's really not necessary. If anything can distract you while you're watching this, I'll be very surprised.

Even as a teenager, I appreciated this film. I didn't know why exactly, but when it was over, I sat back on the sofa and said "Wow". It still has the same impact 20 years later, in spades.

Rating:
Summary: One of my all-time favorite Hitchcock movies
Review: If you want to see Hitchcock at his best, then you must see "Rebecca". The lighting, directing subtleties, innuendo, and overall suspensefulness of the movie will captivate you. Laurence Olivier is brilliant as Maxim deWinter: amazingly handsome, dashing and brooding at once. Joan Fontaine is perfect as the naive second Mrs. deWinter, and Dame Judith Anderson will send chills down your spine as the obsessed "Danny". Watch this movie once, and you will watch it again and again, and find yourself recommending it to your friends.

Rating:
Summary: Simply Hitchcock
Review: Ahhh. When I was a teenager I saw REBECCA on the big screen and was utterly transported into its beautiful black and white world. If you are a Hitchcock fan, this film is definitely one of his best.

This DVD has no extras on it. That's a little disappointing, but made up for with the high quality of the film transfer. The black & white is gorgeous and clear.

And who can resist the elements here? A gorgeous English Manor, complete with different "wings" ... an elegant bachelor, played by Lawrence Olivier ... an eery housekeeper, played by Judith Anderson ... a murder ... Ahhh, it's simply Hitchcock!