Rebecca (1940)

Star Rating: 3
Length of Film: 130 minutes
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Cast: Laurence Olivier, Joan Fontaine, George Sanders, Judith Anderson, Glady Cooper, Nigel Bruce, Reginald Denny, C. Aubrey Smith, Melville Cooper, Florence Bates, Leonard Carey, Leo G. Carroll, Edward Fielding, Lumsden Hare, & Forrester Harvey
Oscars: David O. Selznick (Best Picture) & George Barnes (Photography)
Oscar Nominations: Alfred Hitchcock (Director), Robert E. Sherwood, Joan Harrison (Screenplay), Laurence Olivier (Actor), Judith Anderson (Actress in Supporting Role), Lyle R. Wheeler (Art Direction), Hal C. Kern (Editing), Jack Cosgrove, Arthur Johns (Special Effects), & Franz Waxman (Music)

Maxim de Winter (Laurence Olivier) is am aristocratic widower, vacationing in Monte Carlo.  Joan Fontaine, (we never know her name) is at the hotel with her employee, wealthy Edythe Van Hopper (Florence Bates), who works for her as a paid companion. Mrs. Van Hopper notices Mr. de Winter right off and tries to make a move. She knew that Mrs. de Winter committed suicide. He of course, ignores the old lady, and looks at her sweet, innocent companion. Mr. de Winter approaches the young lady at breakfast, and sits down with her. They start this innocent flirtation. She is entralled with him, and he enjoys her company. They take rides together in his car, and a sparks fly. Joan Fontaine is so innocently beautiful. She reminds me of a mix between Anna Paquin & Scarlett Johannson.

Mrs. Edythe Van Hopper's daughter calls from New York to announce that she's getting married. Edythe packs everything up, and Joan's heart sank. She ran to the phone to call Mr. de Winter to tell him that she HAS to go to New York, but when she called the front office, he was out for his morning drive. It was adorably done, she kept running to the phone every 20 minutes or so, calling the front office, seeing if Mr. de Winter was back. When he finally was back, she rushed over to his room, and told him that she was leaving. He suggested that they get married. He rang the front office, to call Edythe up to announce that her companion will be staying with him, to become his wife.

Mr. de Winter drove his new bride to Manderley, their mansion estate, and was greeted by his staff. Everyone was welcoming and lovely, except Rebecca's (the first Mrs. de Winter) maid, Mrs. Danvers (Judith Anderson). Mrs. Danvers held Rebecca at a VERY HIGH standard. She kept everything in her room, exactly the same. It became very hard for the new Mrs. de Winter to live in a home where the "perfect" Rebecca once lived. She became paranoid and starting looking at things around the house and wondered if it belonged to Rebecca. When Rebecca was Mrs. de Winter, they had wonderful costumed parties, the new Mrs. de Winter, asked her husband permission to throw a ball. Mrs. Danvers showed Mrs. de Winter family portraits, and stopped infront of a painting, telling Mrs. de Winter's that this portrait is Mr. de Winter's favorite.

For the ball, Mrs. de Winter decides to recreate the dress. She tells no one about her idea, and reveals it on the night of the ball. Excited that she's going to impress her husband, his face was NOT what she wanted to see. He tells her the dress is innapropriate and she needs to go back upstairs and change. Mrs. de Winter was so upset! She ran upstairs and of course, Mrs. Danvers is right there to rub it in, that her dear Rebecca wore that dress, first. Politely, Mrs. Danvers opens the window, to give Mrs. de Winter some fresh air. She leans into the open window, and Mrs. Danvers tries to persuade her into jumping. Look at Mrs. Danvers...she definately has the crazy look in her eyes!!!

After Mrs. Danver's attempt to push Mrs. de Winter to suicide, this is the part of the movie where we FINALLY find more information about Rebecca and what happens to her. What you find out, is surprising, but not so shocking, that it leaves a lasting impression. I will leave you with one last picture...happy viewing!!!