Other strong nominees for best picture in 1940 included the following two of which were very deserving comedies the great dictator and the philadelphia story. Jan 01, 2000 while 1940 s rebecca may lack the high wire mastery of hitchcocks later work the subverted cosiness of shadow of a doubt, the shock tactics of psycho, as an example of oldfashioned filmmaking. While 1940s rebecca may lack the high wire mastery of hitchcocks later work the subverted cosiness of shadow of a doubt, the shock tactics of psycho, as an example of. Joan fontaine and laurence olivier in rebecca 1940 alfred hitchcock in rebecca. Selznick and alfred hitchcocks drama rebecca at radio city music hall in new york. Laurence olivier, joan fontaine and george sanders a selfconscious woman juggles with adjusting to her new role as an aristocrats wife and avoiding being intimidated by his first wifes spectral presence. In 1940, rebecca competed against another hitchcock film, foreign correspondent, a feature that deals with espionage in tenseridden europe. A spoiled heiress running away from her family is helped by a man who is actually a reporter in need of a story. The film is a hitchcockian fairy tale combined with gothic romance. Rebecca 1940 alfred hitchcock synopsis, characteristics. The film is shot in black and white, and is a gothic tale.
Rebecca is a 1940 american romantic psychological thriller film directed by alfred hitchcock. Selznick is the producer the film while michael hogan and philip macdonald. Rebecca is a 1940 american psychological thrillermystery film. Oct 16, 2009 but rebeccas producer david o selznick made history that night. Olivier, fontaine and anderson also were oscarnominated for their respective roles as were hitchcock and the. Criterionhome vision the shadow of this woman darkened their love. Directed by alfred hitchcock, it was his first american project, and his first film produced under contract with david o. Online ticket sales close at midnight the night before the show.
The title of the film is rebecca but the entire film rests on the steady shoulders of joan fontaine, appearing in her first of two movies under the eye of alfred hitchcock. When a new inquest is held into rebecca s death, things look dim for maxim until rebecca s london doctor testifies to the authorities that she was dying of cancer and was contemplating suicide. Oct 31, 20 rebeccas monogram, a symbol of her presence, haunts poor mrs. Join us for the newyork historical societys film series, featuring opening remarks by.
The british film industrys loss was hollywoods gain, as rebecca 1940 made abundantly clear. The eras film critics also picked up on the films lesbian subtext. Danvers, and discovers that rebecca still has a strange hold on everyone at manderley. Joan fontaine plays the unnamed narrator, a young woman who works as a companion to the welltodo mrs. The first film hitchcock made in hollywood and the only one that won a best picture oscar. Anne baxter was one of the actors tested by hitchcock for the leading role. What happened to her becomes the source of much drama, and mystery. When a new inquest is held into rebeccas death, things look dim for maxim until rebeccas london doctor testifies to the authorities that she. Angered, maxim struck rebecca and she fell, hitting her head on a ships tackle. It is hitchcocks first american film, released in 1940, as he was brought from britain by producer david selznick a few years earlier to direct the piece here. Du mauriers novel rebecca was a property selznick had acquired at great cost to follow his production of gone with the wind 1939, and the read more. Tony thomas the films of the forties secaucus, nj, 1980. Maxim is still troubled by the death of his wife, rebecca, in a boating accident the year before. Later that evening in the new brides bedroom, the blackgarbed mourning clothes for the deceased rebecca, austere housekeeper suddenly appears and surveys the young girl from head to foot.
As it was directed by alfred hitchcock is has to be a winner for suspense and atmosphere. To add to rebeccas unseen but very real presence, mrs. Rebecca 1940 is the classic hitchcock gothic thriller and a compelling mystery. Image of rebecca for fans of rebecca 23141492 history through hollywood. For example, in both versions of gaslight 1940, uk, thorold dickinson and 1944, us, george cukor as well as alfred hitchcocks rebecca 1940 and suspicion 1941 the heroine increasingly comes to suspect her husband. They marry, and soon she finds out that the former mrs. Rebecca is a 1940 american psychological thrillermeestery film. Max is still troubled by the death of his first wife, rebecca, in a boating accident the year before.
This film is a classic gothic thriller directed by alfred hitchcock. Information from its description page there is shown below. A selfconscious bride is tormented by the memory of her husbands dead first wife. The credits on the reissue version read the selznick studio presents its production of daphne du mauriers rebecca. The film was interpreted by many as an endorsement of the american involvement in the war, because its producer, walter wanger, was known for his antifascist views. Only one of alfred hitchcocks films won the academy award for best picture. Adapted from the bestselling novel rebecca by daphne dumaurier.
Rebecca is a film about abusive relationships, and the way power might shift within them and, most unusually, even for its time its hero is the worst of the abusers. Webm audiovideo file, vp9opus, length 2 min 22 s, 592. Rebecca, gothic suspense novel by daphne du maurier, published in 1938. Story of a young woman who marries a fascinating widower only to find out that she must live in the shadow of his former wife, rebecca, who died mysteriously several years earlier. Gallery of 146 movie poster and cover images for rebecca 1940. In 1940, alfred hitchcock made his first film in hollywood under the watchful eye of behemoth producer david o. It may be conceded that rebecca is a film well worth careful study by students of the cinema. Based on the novel by daphne du maurier, the classic psychological thriller rebecca was alfred hitchcocks first american film. Rebecca was the first americanmade film directed by british suspense master alfred hitchcock. Rebecca 1940 classic movie quotes, hollywood scenes. Dec 31, 2015 a selfconscious bride is tormented by the memory of her husbands dead first wife. This series will explore how film has tackled social conflict, morality, and the perennial struggles between right and wrong that are waged from the highest levels of government to the smallest of local communities. Rebecca 1940 old hollywood stars old hollywood movies golden age of hollywood classic hollywood classic movie stars classic movies dramas best tv couples fantasy films last night i dreamt i went to manderley again. It has been adapted numerous times for stage and screen, including a 1939 play by du maurier herself, and a 1940 film, rebecca, directed by alfred hitchcock, which won the academy award for best picture.
Rebecca was hitchcocks first american movie, and it won oscars for best picture, and best cinematographer, blackandwhite, while garnering a nomination for best director a prize hitchcock never did win. Rebecca 1940 first friday film friday, october 2 at 7. Find out where rebecca 1940 is streaming, if rebecca 1940 is on netflix, and get news and updates, on decider. Danvers expresses some hostility toward her new mistress.
I have chosen to analyze rebecca in terms of hitchcocks use of genre and how it contributes to, complicates or takes away from the film. Joan fontaine and laurence olivier feeling terribly desperate in rebecca alfred hitchcock, 1940 see more. This is unusual when compared to most gothic film narratives. The original 1940 credits read selznick international presents its picturization of daphne du mauriers rebecca. Even alfred hitchcock took a stab at it in his 1940 feature film.
Nr, minutes directed by alfred hitchcock starring. Nov 12, 2019 cary grant stars in hitchcocks suspicion on november 14, 1941, suspicion, a romantic thriller starring cary grant and joan fontaine and directed by alfred hitchcock, makes its debut. If you havent seen it or read the book, i wont spoil it for you. The director had to remove the one murder that takes place in daphne du mauriers story but still created. Rebecca was adapted by alfred hitchcock into a popular film 1940. Widely considered a classic, it is a psychological thriller about a young woman who becomes obsessed with her husbands first wife. The best known of these is the academy award winning 1940 alfred hitchcock film version rebecca, the first film hitchcock made under his contract with david o.
Cary grant stars in hitchcocks suspicion on november 14, 1941, suspicion, a romantic thriller starring cary grant and joan fontaine and directed by alfred hitchcock, makes its debut. Nov 01, 2017 the title of the film is rebecca but the entire film rests on the steady shoulders of joan fontaine, appearing in her first of two movies under the eye of alfred hitchcock. Rebecca 1940 is the classic hitchcock gothic thriller and a compelling mystery and haunting ghost story about a tortured romance. Selznick is the producer the film while michael hogan and philip macdonald developed the screenplay. The movie is a mustsee, a classic piece of cinematic history. But rebeccas producer david o selznick made history that night. The quality is superb, particularly for a film made in 1940. Jan 04, 2017 rebecca is a 1940 american psychological thrillermystery film. Danvers and discovers that rebecca still has a strange hold on everyone at manderley.
A young woman joan fontaine believes her every dream has come true when her whirlwind romance with the dashing maxim. Rebeccas haunting opening line conjures the entirety of hitchcocks romantic, suspenseful, elegant film. Aug 07, 2012 rebecca is a film about abusive relationships, and the way power might shift within them and, most unusually, even for its time its hero is the worst of the abusers. The screenplay of the film was derived from a novel called daphne du mauriers.
She and maxim fall in love, get married and return to manderley, his large country estate in cornwall. Selznick following his recent success with gone with the wind 1939, it was hitchcocks first americanhollywood film. Rebecca won two academy awards, best picture and best cinematography, out of a total 11 nominations. Danvers dame judith anderson, the housekeeper, who begins driving the young wife to madness. Score franz waxman, best film editing, and best special effects. Rebecca 1940 new sealed dvd alfred hitchcock for sale online. Rebeccas monogram, a symbol of her presence, haunts poor mrs. Rebecca 1940 classic movie quotes, hollywood scenes, old.
The film won the academy award for best picture of 1940 and it is the only film directed by hitchcock to win that prestigious accolade. Rebecca 1940 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Joan fontaine left and judith anderson in rebecca 1940. Danvers by remote control, wrote bosley crowther of the new york times, comparing miss holloway to another of the eras quasilesbian characters, mrs.
It is these credits that have turned up on all telecasts of the film even as recently as 20 and all previous video releases. She and max fall in love, marry and return to manderley, his large country estate in cornwall. On march 28, 1940, united artists unveiled david o. In my view, this is the best adaptation ever of rebecca. Mar 28, 2018 on march 28, 1940, united artists unveiled david o. Danvers expresses some hostility toward her new mistress the new mrs. Jan 02, 2007 in 1940, rebecca competed against another hitchcock film, foreign correspondent, a feature that deals with espionage in tenseridden europe. An analysis of alfred hitchcocks thriller, rebecca huffpost. Directit bi alfred hitchcock, it wis his first american project, an his first film produced unner contract wi david o. Hitch has italfred hitchcock that is, the english master of movie melodramas.
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