REBECA

This one I've bought from third party, never arrived and I've had my money back. It's a pitty for I want this movie so much.

the master's hand...

A man whose wife died mysteriously years earlier, meets a woman while on holiday. He falls in love, marries her and brings her to his mansion. A story filled with romance and shrouded with mystery and suspense. Hitchcock infuses it with such an incredible feeling of melancholia, tragedy, fear and tension without being melodramatic, boring or awkward. In this film the master's hand is as encompassing as ever!

I'd Give This Five Stars If I Hadn't Read The Book!

Daphne du Maurier's gothic suspense novel REBECCA has been one of my favorite books since first reading it in jr. high. The 1940's film is very well made with a wonderful cast and beautifully done black and white cinematography which actually adds to the moody atmosphere and perhaps helps mask that the movie was filmed in California rather than Monte Carlo and Cornwall. Joan Fontaine is perfect as the narrator (the second Mrs. de Winter) whose first name is famously never given. Though the narrator describes herself in the novel as plain the actress Fontaine has an exquisite face and lovely figure which is needed if the audience is to believe the rich handsome Maxim who loves beautiful things would ever give her a second glance.Fontaine wonderfully conveys the shy young bride who at first is intimidated by her new regal surroundings and the supposed perfection of her husband's deceased first wife (the Rebecca of the title) but grows before our eyes in to confident young woman when the truth of that first marriage is revealed. Laurence Olivier both looks and acts the part of Maxim De Winter to perfection and Dame Judith Anderson gives a classic performance as Mrs. Danvers.

Unfortunately because it was thought by 1940's censors that not even in the movies could anyone be allowed to "get away with murder" a major point of the plot is changed. This change detracts from the believability of the actions and motivations of some of the characters. Also the ending of the novel REBECCA is left rather ambiguous while the film ends in way over the top melodrama which is not nearly as effective as Du Maurier's quiet thoughtful closing.