Rebecca (1940)

Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock | 130 minutes | drama, thriller, romance | Actors: Joan Fontaine, Laurence Olivier, George Sanders, Judith Anderson, Nigel Bruce, Reginald Denny, C. Aubrey Smith, Gladys Cooper, Florence Bates, Melville Cooper, Leo G. Carroll, Leonard Carey, Lumsden Hare, Edward Fielding, Forrester Harvey

The books by the British writer Daphne du Maurier, full of suspense and sometimes even leaning towards gothic horror, were an important source of inspiration for director Alfred Hitchcock. In 1939 he filmed ‘Jamaica Inn’, set in Du Maurier’s hometown of Cornwall, and the well-known film ‘The Birds’ was also inspired by a short story by the writer. The biggest success, however, was ‘Rebecca’ from 1940, also the first film Hitchcock made in the United States (even though the footage was mainly shot in Great Britain and the majority of the cast is English). The film was produced by David O. Selznick, who had major triumphs the year before with “Gone with the Wind” and had brought Hitch to the United States. Unfortunately, the collaboration between Hitchcock and Selznick was not optimal, as their egos stood in the way of both men. However, that did not hinder the success of ‘Rebecca’: it is the only picture by Hitchcock to win the Oscar for best picture. In addition, it earned Hitch his only Oscar nomination for best director.

Sir Lawrence Olivier plays Maxim de Winter, a wealthy middle-aged widower. His wife, Rebecca, died not long ago in a tragic sailing accident. In Monte Carlo, Maxim, walking around with his soul under his arm, bumps into a very young and shy woman (Joan Fontaine). They fall in love and get married head over heels. The ‘second Mrs. De Winter’ – her own name will never be known to the viewer – will live with her new husband in his gigantic mansion, Manderley. There, in that haunted castle, she is soon confronted by her predecessor Rebecca, whose ghost still haunts the great halls and corridors of Manderley. Everything the young woman does is balanced against the way Rebecca used to do it. Her whole life is suddenly in the shadow of a dead person, with whom she will never be able to measure herself. Especially the terrifying housewife Mrs. Danvers deliberately makes life miserable for the new bride.

Dark family secrets, murder and betrayal in a chilling old mansion. All these elements are represented in ‘Rebecca’. If this material had been used by another director, it could well have turned out to be a laughable whole. But you can leave the processing of a gothic novel like ‘Rebecca’ to Alfred Hitchcock. Hitchcock had – thanks to Selznick – a large budget at his disposal and made the Manderley mansion almost a separate character. This beautiful seaside home is the atmospheric backdrop to an ominous romance between Joan Fontaine and Laurence Olivier. Hitchcock plays all his artistic assets to the fullest: the mysterious and dark history, the suspicion, the fairytale romance overshadowed by the past and the possibility that Fontaine’s character has been entrapped. He takes great pleasure in letting the tension mount to the point that it becomes unbearable for her.

Selznick was not only involved as a producer on the film, but also responsible for the casting of lead actress Joan Fontaine, who excellently portrays the shy and anxious second Mrs. De Winter and was rightfully nominated for an Oscar. And to think that her opponent Laurence Olivier didn’t like Fontaine; he would rather have had his fiancée Vivien Leigh opposite him. He took his frustrations out on Fontaine on set. Rumor has it that Hitchcock let Olivier have his way. The director felt that Fontaine’s fearful and insecure appearance in the film would be more realistic if she was actually intimidated by the other actors. Olivier himself properly portrays the mysterious Maxim de Winter. Judith Anderson, the icy and terrifying servant, Mrs. Danvers, stars as the greatest role of her career and one of the most memorable villains in cinema history.

‘Rebecca’ was nominated for eleven Oscars and went on to win two, for Best Picture and Best Cinematography, as well as confirming Joan Fontaine’s talent. A year after this film, she would star again in a Hitchcock, ‘Suspicion’ (1941). She managed to cash in on her Oscar nomination for that role. Lovers of Hitchcock or classic films will love this great thriller packed with suspense and atmosphere.