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Rebecca

Theatrical poster
Directed byAlfred Hitchcock
Produced byDavid O. Selznick
Written byOriginal novel:
Daphne du Maurier

Adaptation: Philip MacDonald and Michael Hogan
Screenplay:
Joan Harrison
Robert E. Sherwood

Narrated byJoan Fontaine
StarringLaurence Olivier
Joan Fontaine
Judith Anderson
Music byFranz Waxman
CinematographyGeorge Barnes
Editing byW. Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, KBE (13 David O Selznick, born David Selznick ( May 10, 1902 &ndash June 22, 1965) was one of the iconic Hollywood producers Daphne du Maurier Lady Browning DBE ( 13 May, 1907 – 19 April, 1989) (ˈdæfnɪ du ˈmɒɹieɪ was a British Philip MacDonald ( November 5, 1900, London — December 10, 1980, Woodland Hills California) was an English Michael Hogan may refer to Michael Hogan (academic (fl early 2000's American scholar and president-elect of the University of Connecticut Joan Harrison ( June 26, 1907 - August 14, 1994) was an English Film producer and Screenwriter. Robert Emmet Sherwood ( 4 April 1896 – 14 November[[ 955]] American Playwright, editor, and Screenwriter. Joan Fontaine (born October 22, 1917) is an Academy Award -winning British Actress in American films Laurence Kerr Olivier Baron Joan Fontaine (born October 22, 1917) is an Academy Award -winning British Actress in American films Dame Judith Anderson, AC DBE (10 February 1897 &ndash 3 January 1992 was an Australian Tony award - and Emmy -winning Actress Franz Waxman (24 December 1906 &ndash 24 February 1967 was a Jewish German American Composer, known for his bravura Carmen Fantasie George Barnes may refer to George Nicoll Barnes (1859&ndash1940 &mdash Scottish politician Leader of the UK Labour Party George Barnes (actor Donn Hayes
Distributed bySelznick International Pictures
United Artists
Release date(s)April 12, 1940 (USA)
Running time130 minutes
CountryUSA
LanguageEnglish
Budget$1,288,000
Allmovie profile
IMDb profile

Rebecca is a 1940 psychological thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock as his first American project. Selznick International Pictures was a Hollywood motion picture studio This article is about the film studio Previously it was affiliated with a cinema chain bearing its name now owned by Regal Entertainment Group. Events 467 - Anthemius is elevated to Emperor of the Western Roman Empire. Year 1940 ( MCMXL) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States The year 1940 in film involved some significant events Events February 7 - Walt Disney 's animated Film Psychological thriller is a specific sub-genre of the wide-ranging thriller genre Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, KBE (13 The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Its screenplay was an adaptation by Joan Harrison and Robert E. Sherwood from Philip MacDonald and Michael Hogan's adaptation of Daphne du Maurier's 1938 novel of the same name, and was produced by David O. Selznick. Joan Harrison ( June 26, 1907 - August 14, 1994) was an English Film producer and Screenwriter. Robert Emmet Sherwood ( 4 April 1896 – 14 November[[ 955]] American Playwright, editor, and Screenwriter. Philip MacDonald ( November 5, 1900, London — December 10, 1980, Woodland Hills California) was an English Michael Hogan may refer to Michael Hogan (academic (fl early 2000's American scholar and president-elect of the University of Connecticut Daphne du Maurier Lady Browning DBE ( 13 May, 1907 – 19 April, 1989) (ˈdæfnɪ du ˈmɒɹieɪ was a British Year 1938 ( MCMXXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Rebecca is a Novel by British author Daphne du Maurier. When Rebecca was first published in 1938 du Maurier became - to her great David O Selznick, born David Selznick ( May 10, 1902 &ndash June 22, 1965) was one of the iconic Hollywood producers [1] It stars Laurence Olivier as Maxim de Winter, Joan Fontaine as his second wife, and Judith Anderson as his late wife's housekeeper, Mrs. Laurence Kerr Olivier Baron Joan Fontaine (born October 22, 1917) is an Academy Award -winning British Actress in American films Dame Judith Anderson, AC DBE (10 February 1897 &ndash 3 January 1992 was an Australian Tony award - and Emmy -winning Actress Danvers.

The film is a gothic tale about the lingering memory of the title character, which still affects Maxim, his new bride, and Mrs. Gothic fiction (sometimes referred to as Gothic horror) is a genre of literature that combines elements of both horror and romance. Danvers long after her death. The film won two Academy Awards, including Best Picture. "The Oscar" redirects here for the film see The Oscar (film.

Contents

Plot

The story begins with images of a ruined country manor, and a woman telling us that she can never return to Manderley - as it no longer exists, except as a ruin. Joan Fontaine plays a young woman (who is never named) who works as a companion to the wealthy Edythe Van Hopper (Florence Bates). Joan Fontaine (born October 22, 1917) is an Academy Award -winning British Actress in American films Florence Bates ( April 15, 1888 - January 31, 1954) was an American Character actress who frequently portrayed a Grande In Monte Carlo, she meets the aristocratic widower Maxim de Winter (Laurence Olivier) and they fall in love. Monte-Carlo ( Occitan: Montcarles, Monégasque: Monte-Carlu) is one of Monaco 's various administrative areas sometimes erroneously Laurence Kerr Olivier Baron Within weeks, they decide to get married.

Maxim takes his new bride to Manderley, his country house in Cornwall, England. The English country house is generally accepted as a large House or Mansion, once in the ownership of an individual who also usually owned another Great Cornwall ( Kernow ˈkɛɹnɔʊ is the most southwesterly county of England, on the Peninsula that lies to the west of the River Tamar England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland However, the servants are reluctant to accept the new Mrs. de Winter as the new lady of the house. They are loyal to Maxim's first wife, Rebecca, who died under mysterious circumstances.

Particularly unpleasant is the housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers (Judith Anderson). Dame Judith Anderson, AC DBE (10 February 1897 &ndash 3 January 1992 was an Australian Tony award - and Emmy -winning Actress She is still obsessed with Rebecca's beauty and sophistication, and preserves her former bedroom as a shrine, even to the point of seeming to worship Rebecca's handmade underwear and expensive négligée. Rebecca's "cousin" Jack (George Sanders) (actually, and as well, one of her lovers) occasionally appears at the house when Maxim is away, and seems to know Mrs. George Henry Sanders (July 3 &ndashApril 25) was an Academy Award -winning English film and television Actor. Danvers well, calling her by the name "Danny", which was Rebecca's pet name for her. This and more in the film strongly suggests a lesbian relationship, or at least a sexual obsession on the part of Mrs. Danvers, with her promiscuous former mistress; although social ethics at the time strictly forbade any such outright declaration in the narrative.

The new Mrs. de Winter is intimidated by Mrs. Danvers and by the responsibilities of being the new chatelaine of Manderley. As a result, she begins to doubt her relationship with her husband. The continuous presence of Rebecca in the house starts to haunt her.

Trying to act more like the perfect wife, Mrs. de Winter suggests to Maxim that they host a costume party. Maxim reluctantly consents. Mrs. de Winter excitedly plans her own costume in secret, but Mrs. Danvers suggests that she copy Caroline de Winter, an ancestor, whose portrait hangs in the upstairs hallway. On the night of the party, Mrs. de Winter reveals her costume to Maxim, who is both surprised and angry at her, shouting at her to change her costume. Mrs. de Winter rushes upstairs, sees Mrs. Danvers go into Rebecca's room and follows her. There she confronts Mrs. Danvers about her knowing that Rebecca had worn the same costume the previous year. Mrs. Danvers retaliates by saying that she will never take Rebecca's place and almost convinces Mrs. de Winter to commit suicide. But Mrs. de Winter snaps out of her trance when a sudden commotion starts downstairs - a ship has been spotted floundering off the coast.

Mrs. de Winter (after changing her outfit) rushes downstairs to the front lawn, where she hears news that a sunken boat has been found off the coast - with Rebecca's body in it. She spots a distant glow from the cottage on the shore and enters to find Maxim. Maxim admits to his new wife that he had misidentified another body as Rebecca's in order to prevent discovery of the truth. From almost the beginning of their marriage, he and Rebecca had hated one another. They had agreed to "keep up appearances" of a real marriage for the sake of the family honor. Rebecca, however, began to get "careless" after a while, for example disappearing for days on end and then returning as though nothing were wrong. Maxim was also aware of Rebecca's ongoing affair with Jack. One night, suspecting to find Rebecca and Jack together, Maxim came down to the cottage. Rebecca had been expecting Jack, but he had never come, she told Maxim that she was pregnant with Jack's child. During the argument, she fell, hit her head, and died. Maxim took the body out in a boat which he then scuttled. Scuttling is the act of deliberately sinking a ship by allowing water to flow into the hull.

In the ensuing police investigation, officials question whether the damage to the boat indicates that Rebecca may have committed suicide. Jack quickly provides evidence, a letter from Rebecca, that strongly suggests that she was not suicidal (he even tries to blackmail Maxim with it). Maxim comes under suspicion of murder; and the second Mrs. de Winter must face the prospect of losing her husband. The investigation focuses on Rebecca's secret visits to a London doctor (Leo G. Carroll); visits which the audience presumes were due to her illicit pregnancies, i. Leo Gratten Carroll ( October 25 1886 &ndash October 16 1972) was an English actor best known for his roles in several Hitchcock e. that the doctor performs illegal abortions. Abortion in the United Kingdom has been legal in England, Scotland and Wales since the Abortion Act passed in 1967 However, an interview with the doctor reveals that Rebecca was, in fact, suffering from cancer, and would have died very shortly. Cancer (medical term Malignant Neoplasm) is a class of Diseases in which a group of cells display uncontrolled She was not pregnant: she had lied to Maxim, apparently trying to goad him into killing her - as an (indirect) means of suicide.

As Maxim returns home to Manderley, he finds it on fire, set alight by the deranged Mrs. Danvers, who dies in the flames.

Adaptation

At Selznick's insistence, the film adapts the plot of du Maurier's novel Rebecca faithfully. [2] However, one plot detail was altered to comply with the Hollywood Production Code, which said that the murder of a spouse had to be punished. For the television broadcasting term please see Production code number. [2] In the novel, Maxim shoots Rebecca, while in the film, he only thinks of killing her after she taunts him, whereupon she suddenly falls back, hits her head on a heavy piece of ships tackle, and dies from her head injuries, so that her death is an accident, not murder. According to the book It's only a Movie, David O. Selznick wanted the smoke from the burning Manderley to spell out a huge "R". Alfred Hitchcock thought the touch lacked subtlety. While Selznick was preoccupied by Gone With the Wind (1939), Hitchcock was able to replace the smoky "R" with the burning of a monogrammed négligée case which lies atop a bed pillow. Gone with the Wind is a 1939 American dramatic - romantic - War film adapted from Margaret Mitchell 's 1936 Hitchcock also edited the picture in the camera, a method of film-making that didn't allow David O. Selznick to reedit the picture. Although Selznick insisted the film be faithful to the novel, Hitchcock made many changes, especially with the character of Mrs. Danvers. In the novel, Mrs. Danvers is something of a jealous mother figure. Her past is mentioned in the book. But in the film, Mrs. Danvers is a much younger character and her past isn't revealed at all. The only thing we know about her is that she came to Manderley when Rebecca was a bride. Hitchcock made her more like a ghostly figure.

The theatrical release of Rebecca was delayed in order to give it a shot at the 1940 Academy Awards - the 1939 Awards would (obviously) be dominated by Gone with the Wind, another Selznick production.

Cast

Hitchcock's cameo appearance, a signature feature of his films, takes place near the end; he is seen outside a phone box when Jack is making a call. Forrester Harvey ( 27 June, 1884 &ndash 14 December, 1945) was an Irish -born film actor Mary Williams may refer to Mary Williams (caricaturist (1869-1960 American caricaturist who used the pseudonym Kate Carew Mary Williams (The Thirty-seven of director Alfred Hitchcock 's 52 surviving major films — his second film The Mountain Eagle is lost — contain a Cameo appearance by Hitchcock

Awards

Academy Awards wins (1940)

Academy Award nominations (1940)

In popular culture

Footnotes

  1. ^ Rebecca at the Internet Movie Database.
  2. ^ a b Spoto, Donald (1999). The Dark Side of Genius: The Life of Alfred Hitchcock. Da Capo, 213-214. ISBN 030680932X.  

External links

Awards
Preceded by
Gone with the Wind		Academy Award for Best Picture
1940		Succeeded by
How Green Was My Valley
Gone with the Wind is a 1939 American dramatic - romantic - War film adapted from Margaret Mitchell 's 1936 The Academy Award for Best Motion Picture is one of the Awards of Merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS to artists working How Green Was My Valley is a 1941 American Drama film directed by John Ford.
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