1940 Rebecca
Stars: Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine
The book that this movie is adapted from is a personal favourite. I remember reading it many years ago and being totally absorbed. Now it almost seems formulaic, but it is the original from which many have followed. As ever, I cannot get enough of Larry on the screen, although he does almost seem to saunter through the part of Maxim.
I found their whirlwind romance a little unconvincing, but that could be a fault of mine, rather than the cinematic portrayal. Ms Fontaine is delightful, capturing the innocence one imagines coming from such a different background to Maxim, and being thrust into life as the lady of such a great estate.
Judith Anderson as Mrs Danvers is truly creepy - just what the role requires, with measured amounts of austerity.
Some people feel that this is not Hitchcock's greatest work, but still remains memorable for its Oscar win. (Personally I always loved "Rope", but probably due to its technical ingenuity, rather than the script.) I enjoyed this immensely - dark and foreboding, but gripping.
Stars: Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine
The book that this movie is adapted from is a personal favourite. I remember reading it many years ago and being totally absorbed. Now it almost seems formulaic, but it is the original from which many have followed. As ever, I cannot get enough of Larry on the screen, although he does almost seem to saunter through the part of Maxim.
I found their whirlwind romance a little unconvincing, but that could be a fault of mine, rather than the cinematic portrayal. Ms Fontaine is delightful, capturing the innocence one imagines coming from such a different background to Maxim, and being thrust into life as the lady of such a great estate.
Judith Anderson as Mrs Danvers is truly creepy - just what the role requires, with measured amounts of austerity.
Some people feel that this is not Hitchcock's greatest work, but still remains memorable for its Oscar win. (Personally I always loved "Rope", but probably due to its technical ingenuity, rather than the script.) I enjoyed this immensely - dark and foreboding, but gripping.
posted by Cath at 2:15 pm
2 Comments:
rebecca is really a silly soap opera. (though it's fun to liken people in the office to "most like mrs danvers"). i think the film is best enjoyed as a tone poem: as a sustained exploration of menace and dread. it's wonderfully ominous and creepy.
almost as much fun is reading about the personal tug of war between hitchock and david o. selznick. it really is a long long way from his previous picture, "the 39 steps". don't you think?
I have very fond memories of Rebecca. Very convincing portrayals and wonderfully expressive sexual tension. I adore a young Larry.
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