Rebecca (1940)

The shadow of this woman darkened their love.


Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock
Written by: Daphne du Maurier (novel), Philip MacDonald (adaptation), Michael Hogan (adaptation), Robert E. Sherwood (screenplay), Joan Harrison (screenplay)
Produced by: David O. Selznick
Starring: Laurence Olivier as Maxim de Winter, Joan Fontaine as Edith de Winter, Judith Anderson as Mrs. Danvers, George Sanders as Favell, and Leonard Carey as Ben
Music by: the incomparable Franz Waxman

Now before you begin reading the opinionated part of my review, you have to know that I've read the book this movie is based on and it's one of my favorite novels of all time. In fact, only HP Lovecraft gave du Maurier a run for her money in creepy factor. So if I was judging this movie all by itself just as a movie, I would probably rate it higher. But since I've read the book, I can't really get away without comparing the two.

This is the first of Alfred Hitchcock's American films. In it, Edith, a paid companion of a nosy old rich woman, falls in love with a widower while both are in Monte Carlo. Maxim de Winter, who seems haunted by his past, marries Edith and whisks her off to his lavish estate of Manderley. At the instant of her arrival, Edith feels threatened and unwanted - mostly due to the lingering and seemingly malicious presence of Maxim's first wife - the incomparable Rebecca. This problem is exacerbated by Mrs. Danvers, the head housekeeper of Manderley. Mrs. Danvers was completely devoted to Rebecca and even now after her death keeps her bedroom as a shrine. Edith is constantly reminded by Danvers just how short she falls when compared to the beautiful and poised Rebecca de Winter. It also doesn't help that there seems to be some mystery concerning Rebecca's death and that Maxim refuses to talk to her about it, instead flying into rages when the topic of Rebecca is brought up.

This movie was intentionally made in black and white so it would be creepier - however, I think they could have done much more with colors, especially since Manderley was such a vibrant place up to the end. I felt like something was lacking. And although the actors and actresses did a stellar job in their respective roles - I just couldn't find Mrs. Danvers all that disturbing. Maybe it's because in the novel you always wonder if Danvers is waiting, wraithlike, in the shadows of whatever room the plot is taking place in. In the movie, visually, you can often see that she's not. The book provides more of a horror suspense aspect, while the movie provides more a psychological suspense story. I just kept feeling more and more sorry for Edith as opposed to more and more afraid of Danvers. There was also a distinct lack of character development for Ben - he plays a much larger role in the book than he does in the film.

My biggest complaint with this movie is the changing of the ending.

*spoilers*
Maxim becomes infinitely more accessible when you find out he hasn't killed his wife - and without that aspect you have no reason for his ensuing insanity after the discovery of Rebecca's body and the burning of Manderley.
*end spoilers*

However, other than the end and the different tone of the movie from the book, everything else is exactly as du Maurier wrote it. I just felt that a vital aspect of the true novel was missing from this movie. I can't figure out what it is, whether it's in the acting, the plotline, or even the music. I'd give this a 3 creepy housekeepers out of a possible five (3/5).