1940 • Rebecca

For our next Best Picture, we had to move back 71 years to catch up on one that we missed the first trip through: 1940′s Alfred Hitchcock classic Rebecca, based on the novel by Daphne du Maurier. For some reason, this wasn’t available on Netflix until recently, so we had to break our continuity. After watching this one on Wednesday night before bed, I would say it was definitely worth the wait!

The short description of Rebecca on the Netflix DVD made it sound like we were in for a scare. It said the main characters were haunted by the ghost of a woman who once lived at the manor. I wasn’t sure if this was the kind of movie I should be watching right before bed. Luckily for me, however, Netflix’s description was more abstract than literal.

Rebecca stars the famous Laurence Olivier as the rich Maxim de Winter, who while on vacation in Monte Carlo, falls quickly in love with a young woman (Joan Fontaine) who is escorting an older woman as a paid companion. After just a few days together, Maxim proposes and the two marry and return to his estate at Manderley. There, it is revealed that just one year ago, Maxim’s first wife Rebecca died while boating alone one night. The head housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers, cannot get over her death and refuses to accept the new Mrs. de Winter. While Maxim is tending to his affairs during the day, his very nervous  and timid wife has very little to keep herself busy and constantly fears she is not able to live up to the stature of the first Mrs. de Winter. One night during a costume ball, a shipwreck takes place near the estate, and all the party guests flee to the beach to assist in the rescue. Rebecca’s boat is discovered submerged at the bottom of the sea, her body still inside the cabin. Maxim is now accused of murder. Can he clear his name and lead a normal life with his new wife?

Once we got through the 1950s and started in on the 1960s, I thought I was glad to have the older black-and-white movies out of the way so we could focus on the modern movies. But it was a bit of a treat to go back and watch a 1940 movie. It was a real breath of fresh air, I’d say. Rebecca really stands out as one of the best movies I’ve seen in a while. There were three outstanding leads in Olivier, Fontaine, and Judith Anderson as Mrs. Danvers. The story was engaging, there were plenty of unforeseen twists, and there were plenty of edge-of-your-seat scenes. I was reminded of Beauty and the Beast when Mrs. de Winter is sneaking into Rebecca’s old room on the wing of the estate that is to remain off-limits. Seeing her wander around, examining the room with the creepy music in the background, knowing she wasn’t supposed to be there, and then getting caught by the evil Mrs. Danvers… very reminiscent of that scene with Belle and the Beast… Anyway…

The Mrs. Danvers character is probably one of the top five creepiest characters in our Best Pictures so far. Her scene where she nearly talks Mrs. de Winter into committing suicide by jumping to her death is very unlike anything in movies of that time period. And at the end of the movie when she burns the manor down and stays inside as she’s engulfed in flames… pretty, pretty, pretty intense.

Meanwhile, I was very taken by Joan Fontaine. I have long thought Teresa Wright was the most charming, attractive actress of that time period, but Fontaine had me thinking twice! I was also surprised to find out she’s still alive, now 93 years old. I wonder if I could track her down for an autograph?

As it stands, Rebecca ranks in the top third of all movies in the project, with the possibility of moving up the rankings. Excellent movie that I would recommend to anyone. Now I must see some other Hitchcock films… that was my first since seeing The Birds as a young’un.

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