#135: HITCHCOCK, Alfred: Rebecca (1940)

HITCHCOCK, Alfred (United States)
Rebecca [1940]
Spine #135
DVD


"Last night, I dreamt I went to Manderley again." Rebecca's haunting opening line conjures the entirety of Alfred Hitchcock's romantic, suspenseful, elegant film. A young woman (Joan Fontaine) believes her every dream has come true when her whirlwind romance with the dashing Maxim de Winter culminates in marriage. But she soon realizes that Rebecca, the late first Mrs. de Winter, haunts both the temperamental, brooding Maxim and the de Winter mansion, Manderley. In order for Maxim and the new Mrs. de Winter to have a future, Rebecca's spell must be broken and the mystery of her violent death unraveled. The first collaboration between producer David O. Selznick and Hitchcock, Rebecca was adapted from Daphne du Maurier's popular novel and won the 1940 Academy Award for Best Picture and Cinematography (Black and White).

130 minutes
Black & White
Monaural
1:33:1 aspect ratio
Criterion Release 2001
Director/Writers


Based on the novel by Daphne du Mauier.
Adaptation by Philip MacDonald and Michael Hogan.

Film Rating (0-60):

60

The Extras

The Booklet

Twenty-two page booklet featuring an essay by Robin Wood and George E. Turner.

Commentary

By film scholar Leonard J. Leff, author of Hitchcock and Sleznick.

Isolated music and effects track

Rare

Screen, hair, makeup and costume tests including Leigh, Baxter, Young, Sullavan, and Fontaine.

Hitchcock on Rebecca

Excerpts from his conversations with François Truffaut.

Phone interviews

With stars Fontaine and Anderson from 1986.

Hundreds of behind-the-scenes

Photos chronicling the film’s production from location scouting, set photos and wardrobe continuity to ads, posters, and promotional memorabilia.

Production correspondence

And casting notes.

Deleted scene

Script excerpts.

1939 test screening questionnaire

Essay

On Rebecca author du Maurier.

Re-issue trailer

Three hours of complete radio show adaptations:
  • 1938 Orson Welles and the Mercury Theatre broadcast, including an interview with author du Maurier.
  • 1941 Lux Radio Theatre broadcast starring Ronald Colman and Ida Lupino, including an interview with David O. Selznick.
  • 1950 Lux Radio Theatre broadcast starring Olivier and Leigh.
Extras Rating (0-40):

39

60 + 39 =

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