Rebecca (1940)
What Genre is it?
Mystery/Romance
Why Watch Rebecca?
A Hitchcock masterpiece, Rebecca tells the tale of a young woman (Joan Fontaine) who falls in love with a troubled widower Maxim de Winter (Laurence Olivier). Far and wide, the de Winter name is famously associated with the gorgeous Manderley estate. It is only natural that after the young woman and Maxim marry, they are eager to return to Manderley; that is until the house comes into view.
Dread and foreboding seem to wait for the happy couple. The well-kept gardens, intricate architecture, and ocean view are not all that encompass Manderley. Secrets of the first Mrs. de Winter, who died the year before, permeate throughout the house—in large part due to the housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers, who insists that the first Mrs. de Winter was absolutely perfect in every way.
The new Mrs. de Winter is confused and afraid by all she sees and hears. To make matters worse, she doubts the complete love and affection of Maxim. The faraway look that comes into his eyes only reminds the young woman of how wonderful Rebecca must have been. Suspense, mystery, secrets, and danger all lurk in this intricately woven tale, and a shocking set of events will upset all of Manderley if the truth about the first Mrs. de Winter is not discovered.
Behind the Scenes Fun
I was shocked that Joan Fontaine was not welcomed on the set of Rebecca. Laurence Olivier and many crew members wanted Vivien Leigh to play the young Mrs. de Winter. While Vivien Leigh was a talented actress in her own right, the screen test revealed that her presence and demeanor were too strong for the timid young Mrs. de Winter character. You can see clips of Vivien’s screen test for Rebecca on YouTube.
After viewing Rebecca, who do you think made the best Mrs. de Winter? Joan Fontaine captured the sweet, innocent, lost new wife persona through her facials, words, and expressions. Vivien Leigh could have played the role, but the young Mrs. de Winter character would have probably been developed differently.
Mainly, the biggest drawback would have been the fact Vivien Leigh is usually associated with stronger, more manipulating characters (such as Scarlett). In the screen test, her gentle manipulation of Maxim in the beginning changes the way we see the young Mrs. de Winter.
You can view an interview with Joan Fontaine below to hear her describe how she was initially treated on the set of Rebecca.
Awards
Not surprisingly, Rebecca was nominated for 11 Oscars and won the Academy Award for Best Cinematography Black and White and the Academy Award for Best Picture.
Memorable Quotes
Beatrice (Maxim’s Sister): You see she’s [Mrs. Danvers’] bound to be insanely jealous at first, and she must resent you bitterly.
Young Mrs. De Winter: Why should she?
Beatrice: Don’t you know? Why I should have thought Maxim would have told you. She simply adored Rebecca.
“How could we be close when I knew you were always thinking of Rebecca? How could I even ask you to love me when I knew you loved Rebecca still?”
~Young Mrs. de Winter
Bonus Content for the Literature Buffs
If you’re like me, you love finding the techniques writers (both novelists and scriptwriters) use to weave their masterful stories. Rebecca is such a wonderful example of literary technique, it’s impossible to write a film review about Rebecca without at least mentioning a few of the writers’ clever methods.
You’ll notice as you watch Rebecca, and especially if you read the novel Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, the young bride’s first name is never mentioned. The author and screenwriters were able to accomplish this feat by having the young bride narrate the story. In the movie, the only name given to the young bride is Mrs. de Winter. This is a rather interesting contrast since we hear Mrs. de Winter call her husband by his first name throughout most of the film. This particular detail helps us see the gap between this couple as the secrets of the past separate them.
Also, notice the symbolism in the film. There are many scenes where the rain and thunderstorms allude to upcoming foreboding and danger. This is a literary element that seems especially reminiscent of such literary classics as Jane Eyre.
The novelist’s and screenwriters’ ability to weave in these elements make this story even more enjoyable. Many other techniques develop the mood and tone of this story. Watch for them as you view this timeless classic!
