Must See Movies: Rebecca

10-07-2008 11:56

By the time Alfred Hitchcock released Rebecca in 1940 he was a major filmmaker in the UK and this movie was his first American project.

Starring Joan Fontaine and Laurence Olivier the film was an adaptation of Daphne du Maurier's 1938 novel of the same name.

Joan Fontaine takes the starring role and narrates the story of her life as the second Madam de Winter. Fontaine, young and innocent, meets the worldly and sophisticated Maxim de Winter (Laurence Olivier) while vacationing on the Riviera.

After a whirlwind romance and marriage, the two return to his opulent English estate, Maderley, where Fontaine begins to realize she is not entirely welcome in her new role.

Chief among her detractors is housekeeper Mrs. Danvers (Judith Anderson), who points out her every failing in relation to the previous mistress of the house, Rebecca.

Fontaine is nearly driven to suicide by her inability to understand the mysterious legacy of the first wife. However, when a ship washes ashore, the mystery begins to unravel.

Rebecca was the first of four collaborations between Hitchcock and Gone With the Wind producer David O. Selznick and the pair clashed on set as they both fought for creative control over the picture.

However none of this showed in the final film as the film sticks closely to the novel and is accompanied by the crisp and sharp black and white cinematography that beautifully depicts a time that is lost.

Hitchcock masterfully creates a sense of suspense and unease and the memories of Rebecca are almost claustrophobic.

Olivier and Fontaine have great chemistry as the second Madam de Winter is pushed to the brink of her sanity as she tries to settle into her new role as the lady of the house. Olivier's performance is subtle as Maxim as he hides a dark secret.

But the performance of the film must go to supporting actress Judith Anderson in the role of housekeeper Mrs Danvers as she remains loyal to Maxim's first wife even after she has died, refusing to let her memory die.

Despite difficulties behind the camera the film was a huge hit and was nominated for a massive eleven Academy Awards and went on to win Best Picture and Best Cinematography, Black and White.

The film launched Hitchcock as a quality director in America and his career soared. Almost sixty years later this still remains one of Hitchcock's best movies and is as eerie and suspense full today as it was back in 1940.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw