Rebecca
1940 Directed by Alfred Hitchcock
Synopsis
The shadow of this woman darkened their love.
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.
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**Part of the Best Picture Project**
The last time I saw Rebecca, I was very young and found the film to be boring, as nothing about it really stood out to me, and it just seemed to be a boring melodrama and a lesser Hitchcock film. It's only now that I've watched it at a significantly older age that not only is the film brilliant, but it's also one of Hitchcock's finest.
It is sad that this would be the only Hitchcock film to win Best Picture, but it shouldn't really demean Rebecca since it's a brilliant film of subtlety that really disturbed me. I realized with this new watch that Rebecca is rather a Gothic Horror film disguised as…
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Mr Hitchcock goes to Hollywood. Rebecca could have gone either way, really.
On on the one hand, Hitchcock was handed a much sought-after adaptation of what seemed like a perfectly adaptable Daphne du Maurier story. He had a star cast. He had major studio backing. He had super producer David O. Selznick to help him out.
On the other hand, it was his first Hollywood film outside of his London comfort zone. He had a star cast, yes, but a potentially overpowering one. du Maurier wasn't at all happy with Jamaica Inn. And he had super producer David O. Selznick to help him out.
On some level I'm quite sure that Hitchcock must have hated making Rebecca for those reasons…
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I have seen my fair share of Hitchcock films, but am amazed that I can still be 'wowed' by the ones I have missed. This is quite simply a wonderful film; The Hitchcock undercurrent of darkness and suspense is here, the striking photography is as good as anything I have seen in a black & white film, the acting by all is first rate, but in particular the magnetic leads.
'Rebecca' drew me in from the first frame, as if bewitched by the ghost of Rebecca De Winter that haunts the narrative at every turn. The gorgeous framing, compostion and the use of shadows is a sight to behold as are the breathtaking sets and outdoor locations.
The script is sharp… -
I wasn't aware this was an adaption of a novel until I'd started watching, due to my habit of reading as little as possible about movies I haven't yet seen. I should have known though, as I now recall I own a copy of the novel in question... I wouldn't have watched the movie if I knew, at least not until I read the source material. Then again; with Hitchcock at the ropes, I might have had a lucky break there.
Not your typical Hitchcockian movie, and yet as typical as Hitchcock ever was. Few, if any, could get away with the choices made in the adaption, and he pulls it off with flying colors. What starts out as a…
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An early Hitchcock classic. Somewhat gothic in tone, with many twists and turns I didnt really see coming. Laurence Olivier is good, and Fontaine very relatable. The woman playing Danvers also deserves mention. I really loved the score here as well, very haunting.
I do feel like I need to see this film again to love it, but I very much enjoyed Rebecca. Its basically a romantic princess-in-a-castle fairy tale mixed with a dark gothic thriller.
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Sumptuous gothic melodrama from Alfred Hitchcock that brings Daphne du Maurier's 'Jane Eyre' inspired novel to the screen. The classic tale is presented with perfection in with top performances from Laurence Olivier, Joan Fontaine and Judith Anderson whose performance ranks among the very best of screen villians. The film grabs you from the start but, perhaps because of producer David O. Selznick's insistance on sticking strictly to the novel, the film drags ever so slightly in the third act with some courtroom dramatics. Hitchcock's use of Judith Anderson's Mrs Danvers as a almost ghost like presence must have informed many of the great spectral films over the next few years. The whole cast is amazing, including George Sanders in a…
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Hitchcock's first Hollywood film and unfortunately his only ever Best Picture Oscar win, Rebecca is an eerie and foreboding melodrama with masterful direction from Hitchcock and superb performances from Fontaine and Olivier. Lawrence Olivier pushed for his then partner Vivien Leigh to play the part of Mrs. De Winter leading to a slight mistreatment and harshness towards Joan Fontaine, Hitchcock did as Hitchcock would and used this to his advantage. He told her that everyone on the set hated her and therefore she performed with timidness and fear and she did an incredible job, just another example of how Hitchcock can draw the best performance from his cast. Hitchcock does everything perfectly from the camera positioning, the use of black…
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The Good: The mesmerizing Joan Fontaine as the charmingly naive and insecure protagonist; Her body movements right down to her posture is pitch-perfect. Flawless and engrossing first half. Exceptional black-and-white cinematography; The adept manipulation of light and shadow is simply remarkable. The psycho creeper maid, Mrs. Danvers.
The Bad: Hits a few bumps in the second half.
The Bottom Line: Another overlooked Hitchcock film. This enthralling, gothic psychological thriller comes recommended.
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A funny, horrifying, tense masterpiece with some great early work from Olivier. Fontaine breaks out in this amazing film that PREDATES 'Citizen Kane,' and does more than share some of the technical and narrative elements that established 'Kane' as the greatest film in history. I'd put my foot in a 'Rebecca' theatre before any other 'Citizen.'
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Alfred Hitchcock's "Rebecca" is famous for being the great director's only film to win the Oscar for Best Picture. While it is a good film, I don't think I'm out of line in saying Hitch made other films more deserving of the prize. At any rate, "Rebecca" is a pretty solid movie. The second half is especially engaging and I like the performances. Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine are good as expected, but it's Judith Anderson who stole the show as the housekeeper. The film is very atmospheric and tense and there's some striking images. Having said that, it takes a while for the film to get going and the payoff at the end feels slightly unsatisfying.
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it is as exciting and intriguing as the best kind of gossip is but unlike that this film is as sophisticated as early century aristocracy.
HITCHCOCK really nails the mise-en-scene, sights and sounds trap you in a classy yet confusing world.
HITCHCOCK, of course, had one great blue print to work with; the fact that you know as much as JOAN FONTAINE character haunts you.
while FONTAINE and OLIVIER deliver what is needed and lead effortlessly, i think JUDITH ANDERSON over-the-top performance steals the whole movie.
HITCHCOCK's first and last best picture winner might not be as complex as other works of his but it surely is one of the most sophisticated. -
Not my favorite Hitchcock, but some great performances.
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Pretty good. The score and some of the performances go a bit over the top at times, but on the whole it’s perfectly decent.
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Hitch on his "A" game and a luminous Fontaine carry Olivier's dead weight over the finish line.
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I am continuously impressed with Hitchcock's films. Rebecca was his first American film (even though it's not set in America) and I loved it. I enjoyed every performance, including the super creepy Ms. Danvers. It was a little slow in the middle and didn't have the same suspenseful build-up or mystery that my favorite Hitchcock films have. Joan Fontaine is wonderful and overall, this was another top-notch film.