Alfred Hitchcock was a popular filmmaker in England. This came to the attention of Hollywood. The producer, David O. Selznick, signed him to a multi picture deal. The first film that was given to Hitchcock, was a film adaptation of the Daphne Du Maurier novel, Rebecca. The production of the film was chaotic. There was constant tension between Selznick and Hitchcock. It was so bad that Hitchcock ordered Selznick banned from the set. The two giants of film had different ideas on how the film should look. The Master of Suspense won out, and his first American film, was very successful. It won The Academy Award for best picture. This made Selznick happy, because he was on stage to accept the award.
Rebecca is about a naive woman, (Joan Fontaine), who meets a widower, Maxim de Winter, (Laurence Olivier). The two have a whirlwind courtship, and she becomes the second Mrs. de Winter. They move into Manderley, de Winter’s country estate. The new bride is happy, and the household staff is happy. Everyone except for Mrs. Danvers, (Judith Anderson). She had a deep respect and devotion to Rebecca, Max’s late wife. Mrs. Danvers cannot come to terms with a second Mrs. de Winter. She goes out of her way to make life miserable for the new lady of the household. She even encourages her to commit suicide. She tells Max’s new bride that he does not love her and will never replace Rebecca. The situation becomes worse, when Max doesn’t want to discuss Rebecca. This has to do with the circumstances of her death. It was ruled a drowning through a boat accident. Max continually blames himself for Rebecca’s death.
Max conscience is made worse, by the appearance of a relative of Rebecca. This is her favorite cousin, Jack Favell, (George Sanders). The actor manages to take away the spotlight from Olivier. It says a lot about Sanders acting talents. Favell is convinced that Maxim killed Rebecca. Maxim is consumed with guilt over the circumstances of his first wife’s death. The police reopen their investigation, because they suspect Maxim killed Rebecca. Their investigation leads them to Doctor Baker, (Leo G. Carroll), who saw Rebecca not long before her death. His testimony sheds light on the true circumstances leading to Rebecca’s death.
This movie won an Oscar. It won out over The Grapes of Wrath, which is a better film. Rebecca is a very British film. Hitchcock probably felt very comfortable with its story. The two leads, Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine, went on to great success in Hollywood. Olivier won the Oscar for playing Hamlet and Fontaine won for her role in Hitchcock’s Suspicion. Joan Fontaine was also known for her well known feud with her sister, Olivia de Havilland. It was always there, but escalated after Olivia won her second Academy Award and was not congratulated by Joan. The sisters never reconciled.
Two of the actors involved in this movie, Judith Anderson and Nigel Bruce were famous in their own right. Judith Anderson gives a chilling performance in this movie. She had been acting for several years. Her stage and screen accomplishments earned her the British title of Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire. Nigel Bruce, who plays Major Giles Lacy, was of British royal stock. His family was bestowed a baronetcy by King Charles I. He had many stage and film roles. Bruce is best remembered playing opposite Basil Rathbone as Dr. Watson, in a series of Sherlock Holmes movies.
Rebecca is best remembered for giving Alfred Hitchcock his start in America. This propelled him onto great success. He continued directing masterpieces of film for over thirty five years. During the height of his success, he began introducing a television show, called Alfred Hitchcock Presents and then The Alfred Hitchcock Hour. The Film industry and many actors and actresses owe much to Alfred Hitchcock. It all began with a simple story involving a mystery in a country house.