Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1816 in DVD
• Released on: 2008-01-01
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: PAL, Black & White, Full Screen
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 126 minutes

Synopsis
A string of classic suspense films produced in England had earned Alfred Hitchcock a reputation in the United States, and his first American production, REBECCA, cemented his fame. Based on the novel by Daphne du Maurier, REBECCA was conceived to rival producer David O. Selznick's previous epic, GONE WITH THE WIND. This psychological thriller, however, derives its grandeur from Hitchcock's careful cultivation of the title character's haunting legacy. Joan Fontaine takes the starring role and narrates the story of her life as the second Madam de Winter. Fontaine, young and innocent, meets the worldly and sophisticated Maxim de Winter (Laurence Olivier) while vacationing on the Riviera. After a whirlwind romance and marriage, the two return to his opulent English estate, Maderley, where Fontaine begins to realize she is not entirely welcome in her new role. Chief among her detractors is housekeeper Mrs. Danvers (Judith Anderson), who points out her every failing in relation to the previous mistress of the house, Rebecca. Fontaine is nearly driven to suicide by her inability to understand the mysterious legacy of the first wife. However, when a ship washes ashore, the mystery begins to unravel, setting the stage for the memorable and fiery climax."

Customer Reviews

I'm not the sort of woman men marry
The one that got the Best Picture Oscar...even if it was David O Selznick who picked it up as producer. It remains one of his most popular features, especially with women by all accounts, although Germaine Greer isn't a fan.

This was Hitch's first Hollywood film and is a brooding atmospheric film that takes a great novel (which was normally something Hitchcock would avoid like the plague, arguing that if a novel was too good, how could he possibly improve on it) and makes it into a film that is just as good, if not better.

Joan Fontaine makes a compelling "Second Mrs De.Winter" and whilst Laurence Oliver can't quite drop his "luvvy" acting style to make the role as Maxim De Winter equally as compelling, it's fair to say that he does make a good stab at the role. Judith Anderson makes a great Mrs Danvers, effortlessly adding the neccessary creepiness and spite to the chararacter, whilst George Sanders role as Jack Favell may not take up too much screen time, but is very memorable.

Sticking mainly to the plot of the novel, the changes Hitchock made to the book's plot aren't neccesarilly for the best. The film laws of the time meant that murder had to have consequences, so as a result, Rebecca's death is treated as an accident in the film. Secondly, Hitchcock takes away the ambiguity of the book's ending with his own fiery resolution.

I tend to think that the film takes a little too much time meandering whilst you wait for the "important" bits to come along, but by any stretch of the imagination, it's still a very fine piece of cinema. And it's hard to think of any other version of this classic story has ever come close to matching it.

Joy - sheer joy

A masterpiece, one of the greatest, fab performances, this version can never be beaten.

Rebecca
I was very pleased with my purchase & the efficiency with which it was carried out by the vendor. It was good to be able to buy the DVD, which is the best production of Rebecca, even though it is the oldest & in black & white. Quite the most scary!!