Recent Reviews for Rebecca
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MCT:October 9, 2008The solid hand of Hitchcocks direction and a strong lead make this an enjoyable thriller. But I must say I think it is highly overrated, an cannot compete with Hitchcocks masterpieces (such as 39 steps, Rear Window, Dial M for Murder, The Lady vanishes and so on). The haunting memory of Rebecca was not executed sharp enough and the line between reality and insanity, friend and foe was too clear from the start to. I would have prepared a more traumatical approach (Think Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte). So, I may step on some feet here in my little beloved community but I was a bit disappointed by the movie. Still, it does not scratch on my love for Hitch !
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MCT:October 1, 2008'Rebecca' is one of my favourite novels and this is a brilliantly realised adaptation of a great story. The cast are all perfect in their portrayal of some very complex characters, and Judith Anderson steals the show as Mrs. Danvers. The sense of impending doom is with you throughout the movie and the twists and turns of the story are expertly revealed.
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MCT:September 28, 2008
Una segunda mirada revela la grandeza de esta película. Desde la atmósfera hasta las actuaciones y la fluidez de la cámara, todo ayuda a que esta historia vaya cayendo en su lugar pieza por pieza y mantenga el interés a pesar de su extensión. / A second look reveals the greatness of this film. From the atmosphere to the performances and the fluidity of the camera, everything helps this story fall into place piece by piece and maintain interest despite its length.
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MCT:September 9, 2008I´m not a classic lover, but I have to say that I enjoy how the director do more with less and now some directors do less with more, anyways Rebecca is great suspense movie with a good atmosphere, excellents performances and brilliant direction.
Gotta love Judith Anderson in this movie..... -
MCT:September 8, 2008
Rebecca is really a magnificent classic from the master of Suspense. It may not be the most edge of your seat of his films, but you sense, ever since she gets to the mansion that there is something terribly wrong. The house is almost like a character itself with all the shadows. Laurence Olivier is 1 part charming and 3 parts kind of crazy and it works perfectly. Another Hitchcock film that really delivers.
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MCT:September 2, 2008
In Rebecca, a young woman marries a rich widower and comes to his estate, which appears to her a kingdom of the dead wife - someone all servants and guests hold in reverence and cannot stop talking about. She is intimidated with the hold that the dead woman continues to have, and attributes her husband's distance and distraction also to his love for the first wife (Of course, it is a Hitchcock movie, and you would therefore expect that something else lies beneath the apparent exterior).
The movie is a good adaptation of the text, though I think the tension in the book was far stronger than what the movie was successful in conveying. While in the book, the dead wife Rebecca almost appears like another character, always moving through the shadows, she is almost absent in the movie, except in the obsessive dedication of the housekeeper. Judith Anderson as this housekeeper, however, was positively spooky and did an excellent task with her character. The movie won an Oscar, surprisingly Hitchcock's only one for Best Film. -
MCT:September 2, 2008
You thought you could be Mrs. de Winter, live in her house, walk in her steps, take the things that were hers! But she's too strong for you. You can't fight her - no one ever got the better of her. Never, never. She was beaten in the end, but it wasn't a man, it wasn't a woman. It was the sea!
Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock
Starring: Laurence Olivier, Joan Fontaine, George Sanders, Judith Anderson, Nigel Bruce
Genre: Drama/Mystery/Romance/Thriller
Running time: 130 minutes
My review:
What a fantastic film this is. Rebecca is clearly one of Hitchcocks best films and it is certainly a really underrated film from the Master Of Suspense. I think this film becomes the start of Hitchcocks suspenseful films. This is one of the best psychological thrillers that I have ever watched. This film is quite haunting in slight places aswell because of Maxim de Winters previous wife before The Second Mrs. de Winter. Her name was Rebecca and you learn of her relationship with her husband and how she died. I liked all of the characters in this film because they all have hidden characteristics that arent really said in the plot of the film before you watch it. Maxim de Winters character is quite a mysterious one because nobody knows what happened with his first wife and why he lives in such a big mansion with servants. The Second Mrs. de Winter is more of a dramatic and depressing character because she is a shy ladies companion and she is staying in Monte Carlo with her bossy and lazy employer. She seems like she has a hidden secret. But when she meets Maxim de Winters she becomes more involved and much more of a stronger person than she was before. She feels uncomfortable around Mrs. Danvers who is the housekeeper of the large mansion because Mrs. Danvers teases Mrs. de Winters and she hurts her feelings by saying that Maxim doesn?t love her as much as Rebecca. Mrs. Danvers is a scary character with a hidden psychotic character that had not yet been revealed. No one ever knows of Mrs. de Winters real first name. Laurence Oliviers performance as Maxim de Winter was absolutely brilliant. He was the best from the whole film because he acted a bit more dramatic that the rest of the cast and also acted like this film meant something to him. Joan Fontaine was good as Mrs. de Winters in her Oscar nominated performance and so was Judith Anderson as terrifying character Mrs. Danvers. This film is a great mystery film because of what happened to Rebecca. Rebecca sounds like quite a scary character not because she is dead and no one knows what happened to her but she is the main keyword and a major character in the film. It is a really good romantic film too because of the relationship between Maxim de Winters and Mrs. de Winters. One of the best Hitchcock films of all time because this is the film that started to make Hitchcock become the Master of Suspense. -
MCT:July 30, 2008In terms of suspense it's not on par with Hitch's later films. There's the familiar theme of the woman who has to change herself into the mold of another woman that the man desires, except here the pressure is exerted not from the man, but by the cold lesbian housekeeper. The ending was a total copout.
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MCT:July 16, 2008
Fell in love with Joan Fontaine for a while after seeing this for the first time. It was the start of my fascination with golden age cinema and with Hitchcock. I love this film, and it has the best name of all time - George Fortesque Maximilian De Winter.
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MCT:July 16, 2008
Oh so wonderful! One of Hitchcocks best. Olivier and Fountain's performances are splendid. Excellent direction (Well, duh, its Hitchcock) and full of amazing twists. A great adaptation.
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MCT:July 6, 2008
Director:Alfred Hitchcock
Released: 1940
Stars: Laurence Olivier, Joan Fontaine, George Sanders and Judith Anderson
Genre: Drama/Thriller/Romance
Country: USA
When a naive young woman marries a rich widower and settles in his gigantic mansion, she finds the memory of the first wife maintaining a grip on her husband and the servants
Having seen the majority of a least most of Hitchcock's films I felt I had to check out Rebecca, which I should have seen many years ago. Rebecca is as great as everyone says it is and should be considered a UK film and not USA, but at the time Hitchcock went to Hollywood and was given American funding for most of his work in the late 1940s, so perhaps this was to be expected. Still an awful shame considering the majoirt of the cast are English, as was the director, locations and bits and pieces of the script contains dialogue that is associated with English people. But that's a small annonance that I have.
Rebecca was nominated for eleven Academy awards back in 1941, and won 2 of them. Three were for acting, which was well deserved. Laurence Oliver, with his English charm and gives out an instant attraction to the viewer that imediatly makes you sympathise with the character of Mximum De Winter and feel what Fontaine's character feels for him throughout the film. Both leads Oliver and Fontaine are just breathtaking to watch. You feel this instant affliliation with them both and want their marraige to work, despite the problems encuntered in the first part of the film. Fontaine, who's work I haven't seen an awful lot of, has this innocent youthfullness in her, which Maximum does mention, which instantly makes you feel for her and in some ways, relate to. Great supporting role by Judith Anderson as the sinister Mrs Danvers, obsessed by the previous Mrs De Winter, deliveres a marvallous performance which leaves you feeling scared, just like Fontaine's character.
Rebecca is a flawless Hitchcok picture which is effortlessly directed by Hitchcock ans delivers enough twists and turns that you wouldn't often seen in a modern orginal Screenplay. The beauty of this film is that even if you think you know what's about to come you will be pleasantly suprised. Which is absolutly amazing for a film 68 years old. The film spans nearly two hours and half way through the film you feel like you've seen an awful lot but all it is is Hitchcock's superb script and direction which makes you feel speechless-well me anyway.
Rebecca won best picture at the time and one for the superb cinematography which adds to the erriness of the backdrop to the film. For instance in the opening scene's narration, which seen glimpses of cliffs, which already gives an inclination of the end of the film. Oddly you don't predict the outcome, which I can't give away too much about. and the scenes of Mnderly, especially when the two leads arrive is beautiful to watch, even for a film done in 1940. I love the fire scenes at the end , which again ididn't expect, is still done so so well for a feel almost 70 years old. Also worth mentioning the art direction, for instance in many of the rooms the late Mrs De Winter resided in, is beautifully done and showcases how loves the character was and the differences in the late Mrs De Winter and the current one, played by Joan Fontaine.
The script is wonderfully crafted and perhaps was some sort of inspiration for Hitchcok's later film Vertigom which has a similar storyline. The dialogue given by each character is realistic and right for every character. The scenes between Olivier and Fontaine are filled with chemistry, mainly due to the superb dialogue. Oddly we are never told the name of Joan Fontaine's character throughout the film. Her character also changes thought the two hours and seems to blossom into a woman.
Interestingly, I'd forgotton this was a film of the 1940's as it feels lighyears ahead of it's time. This could very well be one of my favourite Hitchcoks films and one of my favourite films. I can't recomend this film enough. engaging throughout and still has many suprises that you will not see coming.
I say this a lot with Hitchcock, but an absolute masterpiece.
10/10
Highly recomended watch -
MCT:June 25, 2008
''No, it's not too late. You're not to say that. I love you more than anything in the world. Oh, please Maxim, kiss me please. ''
When a naive young woman marries a rich widower and settles in his gigantic mansion, she finds the memory of the first wife maintaining a grip on her husband and the servants.
Laurence Olivier: 'Maxim' de Winter
Joan Fontaine: The Second Mrs. de Winter
Rebecca won Best Picture in 1940, and it is in this manner that Hitchcock gives one of his best and vibrant adaptations to life in his first US film ironically set in my England. The adaptation that is Rebecca, that is Daphne Du Maurier's acclaimed Novel from the day, is a wonderful achievement. What we have is an all time classic which remains chilling and haunting even today, like the 40s were only yesterday.
One of the reasons that I connected with Rebecca so intensively was the main character, the new Mrs. de Winter. Joan Fontaine was simply essential for this film. Out of the ones with who I have knowledge of, I think she is among Hitchcock's mighty strong Heroines. Kim Novak's character Judy from Vertigo,Janet Leigh's character Marion Crane from Psycho come to mind. Those two provoked an impression and struck a chord that stuck with me. Joan Fontaine of Rebecca would certainly be among these shining Actresses from long ago.
Laurence Olivier also is brilliant as the volatile and conflicted Maxim de Winter. While George Sanders is always delightfully refined and matter of factly in his supporting role, the other creepy star of this film is the psychotic Mrs. Danvers, played by Judith Anderson. Her obsession with the late Rebecca manifests itself into instant channeled hatred and scorn for Maxim's new wife, Anderson's both understated and at times over-the-top performance is fantastic.
To sum it up as a whole Rebecca was the one that allowed Hitchcock to paint on a really huge canvas, and he creates a powerful sense of foreboding to the point where you can almost feel Rebecca's presence in the film. There's a miraculous shot of Mrs Danvers opening some drapes, where Alfred suddenly freezes the frame and dissolves to the next scene, epitomizing the soulful resonance of the story which equals a place frozen in time, where no-one can move forward or shake off the shrouded lingering past of yonder.
Rebecca is one of the best dark satirical romances ever filmed, a brilliantly directed movie adaptation of a incredibly crafted book. -
MCT:June 24, 2008didn't get to see it all, but those fade outs and fade ins to change from scene to scene really ticked me off!
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MCT:June 16, 2008
"Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again."
Everything about this is just brilliant, from the brilliant performances and gothic atmosphere to the unexpected twist at the end. -
MCT:June 3, 2008
The first quarter is a romantic comedy. The 2nd is sort of a rags to riches story. Then, without any tangible threat, it quickly fills up with haunting anxiety, feelings of inadequacy, and sheer terror. It shows the power that just the memory of a strong deceased woman can have. Good flick. Laurence Olivier's acting reminds me of Carey Elwes in The Princess Bride.
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MCT:May 31, 2008
This is class, the character rebecca is alive in this film and the best is the evil in the shadows portrayed by Housekeeper Mrs Danvers. Brilliant.
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MCT:May 27, 2008
A Cinderella story that quickly turns into a nightmare. Directed by Hitchcock and produced by David O. Selznick (Gone with the Wind), two of the giants of the golden age of Hollywood. Often times a collaboration of two such egos would result in a competitive struggle that would damage the end product but here there's just the right amount of Hitchcock's noir-ish suspense and Selznick's Hollywood pizzazz to make the whole thing work. There's not one illogical or nonsensical twist or turn in the entire screenplay. I sat, eyes glued to the TV, for an hour and a half, anxiously waiting to see what was going to happen next. Absolutely incredible, top to bottom, side to side.
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MCT:May 27, 2008
Master Of Suspense goes goth and how ! In Rebecca, Hitchcock has created one of the most suspenseful and haunting atmospheres in the history of cinema. Some astounding performances from the great Laurence Oliver, Joan Fontaine and Judith Anderson who was creepy as hell make the flick even more memorable, among my top three Hitchcock flicks.
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MCT:May 10, 2008
Franz Waxman?s score sets the tone for this suspense filled best picture winner. Although it is seemingly hard to find now, I believe the Criterion DVD is out of print, they might have it in that new Alfred Hitchcock package, it is one of Hitchcock?s best and features a quite chilling performance by Judith Anderson. Joan Fontaine is beautiful and also gives a good performance, but for the most part Judith dominates. Olivier and Sanders are their usual amazing selves. It is films like this that make me shake my head at the Academy for never honoring Hitchcock as a director in competition.
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MCT:May 3, 2008
it may not be the best hitchcock but it's my favorite...marvellously creepy, surprises at every turn
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MCT:April 12, 2008
"Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again...."
So begins Rebecca, a chilling gothic thriller from the pages of Daphne Du Maurier's celebrated novel, vividly realised in an entrancing and truly unforgettable cinematic experience.
Joan Fontaine delivers a star-making performance as a naive young ladies companion, whose fairytale romance with the wealthy Maxim De Winter is curtailed by the overwhelming memory of his late wife, Rebecca.
Alfred Hitchcock's menacing masterpiece embraces the character of Rebecca and exerts her formidable influence through intrusive camerawork that lingers ominously, like an unwelcome guest.
Furthermore, he saturates the screen with imposing shadows, like a shroud of mystery and despair hanging heavily over Manderley, concealing the truth regarding the fate of Rebecca.
Lurking within the shadows is the gloriously sinister Mrs Danvers, whose obsessive devotion to the late Rebecca torments the new Mrs De Winter and is a catalyst for a mesmerizing finale. -
MCT:April 4, 2008
the only film of hitch's that gained oscar recognition but it is a beauty all the players r at their best and hitch jst directed the horror perfectly!!!
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MCT:April 2, 2008
I have met very few people who have seen this movie, even the classic movie buffs like me. I would call it the most underated movie of all time, despite the best pic win. So incredibly amazing...you don't have to be a classic movie buff to enjoy it. Alfred Hithcock directed it, which should tell alot right there. But the story is so amazing and suspenseful, some incredible moments, good twists and turns. Incredible acting, everyone should this...it's a movie for all generations.
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MCT:March 8, 2008
Rebecca is one of the more perfect movies that's ever been made, and is one of Hitchcock's best. All actors are great, but Joan Fontaine is the standout. The first 3/4 is terrific, but I felt the last part fell apart a little.
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MCT:February 7, 2008
"Oh MY GOODNESS, I love this movie & haven't seen it years!! Its not called Mrs.DeWinter, its called 'Rebecca!' I've gotta remember this title."
