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Movie Review - Rebecca (1940)
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(What this rating means)
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| Director: |
Alfred Hitchcock |
| Starring: |
Joan Fontaine, Sir Laurence Olivier, and Judith Anderson |
| Rated: |
Not Rated |
| Length: |
130 minutes |
| Genre: |
Mystery/Romance |
| Website: |
IMDb Listing |
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PLOT
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*Based on the novel by Daphne Du Maurier*
Sir Laurence Olivier is George Fortescu Maximillian 'Maxim' de Winter, a wealthy widower. During a trip
to Monte Carlo, he meets a young woman who is working as a traveling companion / secretary to a wealthy
Monte Carlo visitor. Maxim and the young woman have a whirlwind romance, and she agrees to marry him.
They return to his family home, Manderly, and begin their life as newlyweds together. Only, things aren't
as happy as they appear.
Maxim's first wife, Rebecca, is present in every aspect of their lives, from the way the household is
run, to Maxim's fear of the ocean. But is his fear founded on the accidental drowning of his first wife,
or is there more to it than that? As Maxim's behavior begins to appear more and more suspicious, the
new Mrs. de Winter begins to suspect the real reasons behind the death of his first wife. And the more
she discovers, the more her life is in danger as well. A classic thriller of "Hitchcock jowlian"
proportions ensues.
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MS. CALI'S TAKE
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Every movie Alfred Hitchcock made is a masterpiece in its own way, but "Rebecca" is the masterpiece of
his masterpieces. With the possible exception of "Psycho," it is my favorite Hitchcock movie (excluding
of course, the few I haven't yet been able to see). It's also Hitchcock's first movie made in America,
and thus, in my opinion, the perfect first review for the "Classic Reviews by the Fresh Princess of Cali"
series.
Hitchcock keeps the audience guessing as the story unfolds, and that is the reason behind the genius of
this movie. Just when you think you have it figured out, he throws in some small detail that can put
your whole theory out of whack.
The cast is excellent - Joan Fontaine is perfectly cast as the young, inexperienced, newly-married Mrs.
de Winter (the only name she is given in the movie). Hitchcock had a penchant for young blondes, and cast
them in starring roles in the majority of his films. Sir Laurence Olivier is both charming and slightly
creepy at the same time, which is just what his character should be. The rest of the supporting cast
epitomizes the Hitchcock cast, with Judith Anderson as Mrs. Danvers, the housekeeper devoted to her
former mistress, standing out as perhaps one of the best, and creepiest, characters in any of
Hitchcock's movies.
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HITCHCOCK CAMEO
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In the final part of the movie, Hitchcock walks past a phone booth just after Jack Favell (George Sanders)
makes a phone call.
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MAMA'S APPROVAL
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There isn't really anything in this movie that Mama would object to. Young children who are easily
frightened probably wouldn't like it, but there is no graphic violence or bad language or anything like
that.
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THE GIST
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"Rebecca" is one of the best movies Hitchcock made. With an outstanding cast, incredible writing, and
the brilliant directing of Alfred Hitchcock, this is a movie every fan of mysteries, suspense, or classic
movies has to see.
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