Guest Author - Vannie

Rebecca has a genre listing of romance, mystery, thriller. It is all of that and more. Much of the mystery here is Rebecca herself. Who was she? What was it about her that has everyone tread softly when they speak her name? She is already dead when the movie opens. Her death has had a profound affect on those who knew her.

Alfred Hitchcock lost nothing in bringing Daphne DuMaurier's dark novel Rebecca to the screen. Joan Fontaine is the pretty and shy companion to an unsympathetic social-climbing wealthy woman, Mrs. Van Hooper, who seems to delight in being cruel to Fontaine and putting her down at every turn. When Fontaine meets, falls in love with and marries a rich, still grieving widower, you cheer as she escapes Van Hooper's daily cruelty. But not before Mrs. Van Hooper belittle's Fontaine one more time and says out loud what Fontaine is thinking. Why would someone like Maxim de Winter (Laurence Olivier) be interested in someone like her? Fontaine feels no welcome upon her arrival to de Winters Manderly estate. She is greeted by the grim faced housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers (played splendidly by Judith Anderson) who seems to hate her on sight. Nor does she feel that she is mistress of Manderly. When Mrs. Danvers calls for Mrs. de Winter on the intercom Fontaine is startled and replies in a confused manner.

This movie has many layers. Relationships are blurred. Rebecca's shadow hovers like a mist and lingers in every corner of the house. Everyone appears obsessed with Rebecca even in death. The new Mrs. deWinter finds that Manderly was not as happy as it was professed to be and that Rebecca's fate was the result of her dark side and her secrets. The end is a shocker and a must see for classic film buffs.

The casting was perfect. Laurence Olivier as wealthy, slightly snobbish George Fortescu Maximillian 'Maxim' de Winter; Joan Fontaine as the shy second Mrs. de Winter (she has no given name); Florence Bates is perfection as the snooty Edythe Van Hopper and (Dame) Judith Anderson will forever be remembered the unsmiling, off-putting Mrs. Danvers. However, one of my favorites is George Sanders and as the roguish Jack Favell who claims to be Rebecca's cousin.

I recommend:

Gaslight wonderfully directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Young Paula Alquist, played by beautiful Ingrid Bergman is sent away Italy to finish her schooling after her famous aunt is found murdered in her home. Years later, Paula falls in love with charming and dashing Gregory Anton (Charles Boyer). They marry and return to her Aunt's house which is now Paula's by inheritance. Paula cannot see it, but the audience sees that her husband's charm is quickly fading as he isolates her from their social circle under the guise that she is ill and cannot see anyone. He manipulates her to the point that she is fears that she is losing her mind.