Rebecca (1940 film)

Rebecca (1940 film)
Name	Rebecca
Caption	Theatrical release poster
Director	Alfred Hitchcock
Producer	David O. Selznick
Based on	Rebecca, Daphne du Maurier
Screenplay	Robert E. Sherwood, Joan Harrison
Starring	Laurence Olivier, Joan Fontaine, Judith Anderson, George Sanders, Nigel Bruce, Reginald Denny, C. Aubrey Smith, Gladys Cooper
Music	Franz Waxman
Cinematography	George Barnes
Editing	W. Donn Hayes
Studio	Selznick International Pictures
Distributor	United Artists
Released	1940, 04, 12
Runtime	130 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$1.3 million
Gross	$6 million

Rebecca (1940 film). *Rebecca* is a 1940 American gothic psychological thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and produced by David O. Selznick. It is an adaptation of the 1938 novel Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier and stars Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine. The film follows a young, inexperienced woman who marries a wealthy widower and moves to his estate, where she is haunted by the legacy of his first wife, the titular Rebecca.

Plot

A timid young companion, played by Joan Fontaine, meets the aristocratic widower Maxim de Winter, portrayed by Laurence Olivier, in Monte Carlo. After a whirlwind courtship, they marry and return to his vast estate, Manderley, in Cornwall. The new Mrs. de Winter is immediately intimidated by the estate's formidable housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers, a devoted acolyte of the first wife, Rebecca. Mrs. Danvers psychologically torments the new bride, constantly comparing her to the seemingly perfect Rebecca, whose memory pervades the house. The plot thickens when a boat is discovered containing Rebecca's body, leading to an inquest and a shocking revelation from Maxim about the true nature of his first marriage and the circumstances of Rebecca's death, culminating in a dramatic confrontation and a fateful fire at Manderley.

Cast

* Laurence Olivier as Maxim de Winter * Joan Fontaine as The second Mrs. de Winter * Judith Anderson as Mrs. Danvers * George Sanders as Jack Favell * Nigel Bruce as Major Giles Lacy * Reginald Denny as Frank Crawley * C. Aubrey Smith as Colonel Julyan * Gladys Cooper as Beatrice Lacy * Florence Bates as Mrs. Edythe Van Hopper * Melville Cooper as the Coroner * Leo G. Carroll as Dr. Baker

Production

The film was the first American project for British director Alfred Hitchcock, following his success with films like The 39 Steps and The Lady Vanishes. Producer David O. Selznick, fresh from the monumental success of Gone with the Wind, brought Hitchcock to Hollywood under contract to Selznick International Pictures. The screenplay was adapted by Robert E. Sherwood and Joan Harrison, with significant uncredited contributions from Hitchcock and Selznick himself, who insisted on a faithful adaptation of Daphne du Maurier's novel despite Production Code restrictions. Principal photography, with cinematography by George Barnes, took place largely at the Selznick International Studios, with some location shooting in California. The production was marked by creative tensions between Hitchcock's visual storytelling methods and Selznick's desire for literal fidelity to the source material.

Reception

Upon its release, *Rebecca* was both a critical and commercial success. It premiered in New York City at the Radio City Music Hall and was praised for its atmospheric direction, haunting score by Franz Waxman, and powerful performances, particularly from Judith Anderson and Joan Fontaine. Critics noted its masterful creation of suspense and its exploration of psychological manipulation. The film was a major box office hit, earning approximately $6 million against a $1.3 million budget, solidifying Alfred Hitchcock's reputation in America and proving the viability of sophisticated, adult-oriented thrillers in mainstream Hollywood.

Awards and nominations

*Rebecca* was nominated for eleven Academy Awards at the 13th ceremony. It won the Academy Award for Best Picture, the only Hitchcock film to do so. It also won the Academy Award for Best Cinematography for George Barnes. Other nominations included Best Director for Alfred Hitchcock, Best Actor for Laurence Olivier, Best Actress for Joan Fontaine, and Best Supporting Actress for Judith Anderson. The film also received nominations for its art direction, editing, original score, and screenplay.

Legacy

*Rebecca* is considered a classic of American cinema and a landmark in the gothic and suspense genres. It established key themes and motifs that would define Alfred Hitchcock's subsequent work, including the manipulation of an innocent protagonist and the exploration of a dark past. The character of Mrs. Danvers remains one of film's most iconic and chilling antagonists. The film has been preserved in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." Its influence endures, inspiring numerous adaptations and homages in film and television, and it continues to be studied for its technical mastery and psychological depth.

Category:1940 films Category:American films Category:Alfred Hitchcock films