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People in my profession are used to being asked the same couple of questions: “What’s good in theaters right now?” and “What’s your favorite movie?” My answer to the latter is usually, “It depends on the day”—which is quite often the truth. If I’m feeling especially chatty, though, I’ll bring up Alfred Hitchcock’s Rebecca. Despite winning the Best Picture Oscar in 1941, it’s not one of the more popular Hitchcock films—in fact, many of the people I talk to have never heard of it. Yet this gothic romance, based on the novel by Daphne du Maurier, is one of my all-time favorite films.
Joan Fontaine stars as the story’s nameless narrator—a young girl who’s working as a paid companion to the obnoxious Mrs. Van Hopper (Florence Bates) when she meets the fabulously mysterious (and wonderfully wealthy) Maxim de Winter (Laurence Olivier) in Monte Carlo. When Mrs. Van Hopper falls ill, her young companion and Mr. de Winter begin taking daily drives out into the countryside, just enjoying each other’s company. But when Mrs. Van Hopper is forced to leave Monte in a hurry, her companion fears that she’ll never see Maxim again. But instead of letting her leave without him, he proposes, and the two race off to get married.
For a while, Rebecca seems like the kind of romance that any single girl dreams of finding. An awkward young girl meets a rich and handsome older man who proceeds to sweep her off her feet. Sure, he’s a bit moody—and he often treats her like a child. But he’s suave and charming and eager to whisk her away from her crappy job to a fabulous life at Manderley.
But, of course, this is an Alfred Hitchcock movie—and nothing is quite that simple in an Alfred Hitchcock movie. So what starts out as a sweet romance soon turns into a dark and twisted gothic thriller.
Once the honeymoon is over, the two return to Maxim’s huge estate, Manderley. And the new Mrs. de Winter’s fears of becoming the new mistress of Manderley are compounded by the disapproval of the stern maid, Mrs. Danvers (Judith Anderson), and the constant reminders of Rebecca, Maxim’s beautiful and glamorous late wife.
As soon as the newlyweds arrive at grand yet foreboding Manderley—even before that, in fact—you’ll know that the de Winters’ love story won’t have a happily-ever-after. And as the young bride faces the challenges of her new role—all the while going head-to-head with the wonderfully sinister Mrs. Danvers—the tension continues to build, and you’ll find yourself holding your breath as you wait to see what will go wrong and why.
Rebecca is the kind of film that you can easily watch over and over again, finding something new to appreciate with each re-watching. You’ll be fascinated by the characters—by Maxim’s mood swings, by his lovably awkward young wife’s eagerness to please, by Mrs. Van Hopper’s hilarious pushiness, and, of course, by the sheer evil that is Mrs. Danvers.
You’ll also appreciate the writing—the captivating monologues (particularly one by Olivier toward the end of the film), the sharp, witty dialogue. And you’ll be intrigued by the twisted, tangled relationships—from Maxim’s unlikely pairing with his young bride to Mrs. Danvers’s fierce loyalty to her late mistress.
Really, Rebecca is several movies in one. It’s a love story between two strikingly dissimilar people. It’s a psychological thriller, pitting a scheming maid against her naïve new boss. And, most of all, it’s a ghost story—just without the rattling chains or the sheet-covered apparition. Because, from beginning to end, it’s haunted by the memory of the strong and sophisticated Rebecca.
It may be more than 70 years old, but Rebecca is a stunning thriller—and a true classic. So if you love the action, suspense, and romance of Hitchcock films like Notorious, you, too, will find yourself haunted by Rebecca.
Blu-ray Review:
Fans of Hitchcock’s Rebecca will be thrilled by the special features included on the film’s Blu-ray release. Extras include all kinds of interesting little tidbits—from radio plays and screen tests to trailers and audio interviews with Hitch himself. In addition to other, lengthier features—like the commentary track (by critic Richard Schickel) and the isolated music and effects track (which highlights the film’s dramatic score)—you’ll also find a couple of fascinating featurettes.
The Making of Rebecca takes a closer look at the relationships and challenges involved in making the classic film. Of course, you won’t find a whole lot of behind-the-scenes footage, but, using interviews with filmmakers, authors, and historians (as well as some audio clips of interviews with Hitchcock), it discusses the entire process of making the film, especially focusing on the strained working relationship between the legendary director and his infamously hands-on producer, David O. Selznick.
The Gothic World of Daphne du Maurier, meanwhile, takes a closer look at the popular author, whose work often inspired Hitchcock’s films (including Rebecca and The Birds). The feature gives a brief (yet sometimes rather deep) overview of her history, her philosophy, and her writing—as well as the gothic genre.
For those who can’t get enough of Rebecca and its haunting story, then, the film’s Blu-ray release is well worth a look. So once you finish watching the film—whether it’s your first time or your twenty-first—be sure to check out some of these insightful extras.
