Rebecca

I've watched all three versions of "Rebecca". I found it in high school and it's been one of my favorite books ever since. I liked the Olivier/Fontaine version but hoped that a longer movie would go more in-depth to his character, their courtship, some of the other scenes. The Brett/David movie was good and is the most accurate of the three as far as a replay from the book, but I didn't feel they had any genuine chemistry.This, although in some ways least like the book, was most like how I had always wanted to see it done, how I had always pictured the book to be. I feel this one shows more sides of both Maxim and Mrs. De Winter's character then either of the other ones showed. I could see how they fell in love with each other- I could see what appealed to one about the other. When they were home, you could see both how he loved her,and yet was clearly hiding something.The argument scene after the fancy dress ball is an example of something that was added, but I felt it was necessary, because her reflections after that are absolutely crucial but since they were silent reflections, short of voice-overs I don't really see how it could have been conveyed. I don't remember the actor who played Favell but he was the best out of the three by far.If you are watching this movie for the creepy Mrs. Danvers-that is its weakest link which is why people usually consider this the weakest out of the three. I usually roll my eyes at people's statements about implied sexual relationships in books and movies, feeling it shows nothing but our obsessed society, but this was pretty blatant. That and the attempt to visualize Rebecca- a good attempt, but not up to the mark (her voice was obnoxious, her walk too swaggering)- is why this got four instead of five stars.If you are watching it for the love story, this one will probably be your favorite. If you are watching it for the creepy mystery, skip this one and track down the Jeremy Brett version.

The Hitchcock movie, "Rebecca", with Laurence Olivier, Joan Fontaine, Judith Anderson, and the always-mesmerizing George Sanders, is a five-star classic, so I felt at first as if I should give this filmed version four stars.But, y'know -- we really like this version here, especially as it's a bit closer to the book, and more fleshed out in certain sections. It also doesn't seem to drag out things until important elements are revealed, as does Hitchcock's movie -- this slightly more modern take, with less quaking and nerviness of the female lead, is appreciated by a few of the males here, who, upon first view of the Hitchcock "Rebecca" some years ago, started saying things like, "Jeesh ... when is something going to HAPPEN?" They're not off the beam -- in the classic film, it's quite a chick flick as the characters and settings unfold. The undercurrents and threat of Hitchcock's telling of the tale is fabulous, with a fantastic climax, however, repeat viewings (worth it!), clearly make the viewer feel impatient to get to the uncovering of realities.In this version, the plot moves along to denouements a bit more quickly, and more thoroughly, and the ambiguity of how life and people are perceived by the main character, the innocent girl, is more clearly seen (in retrospect, if this is a person's first exposure to the story). And that's a primary theme -- that unless one get's out of one's own head and probes the mysteries of life and relationships more, one doesn't find truth. All that old fashioned British reserve is frustrating.It doesn't hurt that there are a few short scenes filmed that show the romance and intimacy of Maxim and his second wife, albeit still PG-13 style. Also, Emilia Fox's performance seems closer to the character as it's portrayed in the book, and her looks, demeanor, and youth fit better to the second Mrs. DeWinter as drawn by Daphne Du Maurier -- even though Fontaine was wonderful in her portrayal, the youth of Fox just fits the bill better. Charles Dance also seems to be cast exactly right -- his version of Maxim is terrific. It just seems as if this production had an overall better script, and some updating to the style of the story, that makes it just work -- for these times, anyway. Also, the little coda of the ending is nicely done, and satisfying.

In the 90s mainly the British were making movies of all their great novels and airing them on masterpiece theater. I was working for public tv in the 90s. This is Daphne du maurier's novel who liked to write about bad women. It was Hitchcock's film noir. Their remake is great! Creepy maid, as in original.

I purchased this DVD to replace one that I had purchase many years ago in the VHS format. This is family entertainment as it should be.This WGBH version of Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca is one of my all time favorites. It was a great novel and here it has become a great DVD.To me, it is a timeless story of love, passion and identify. GBH has added exceptional acting, beautiful scenery, period costumes as well as memorable music to create a motion picture classic. I particulary liked Dianna Riggs's peformance as a haunting and manipulative Mrs. Danvers, but the rest of the cast was equally talented and accomplished. WGBH's Rebecca is good entertainment for the entire family. You can't go wrong with Rebecca.

It's interesting and has good acting. Good weekend movie to watch!

I love a good love story, and I love Charles Dance. So here I have both. And I also love DuMaurier.I watched this twice as soon as I received it. Then I decided to compare it with the Hitchcock version, but I could barely tolerate that. I hate the old acting style - overly dramatic and not natural. This version corrected that.After watching the old version, I reread the book and then watched this new version again (third time!).Later this week a friend is coming over to watch this version again with me. I can hardly wait!!

Buena trama, en parte un cuento de hadas, aunque gira en torno a una tragedia.

This is a different version of Rebecca. I love the story and have other versions. This moves has several major stars. With good acting, sets and clothes. It also shows a different ending. I enjoyed this movie very much.

This adaptation of Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier had some good things going for it but I felt Charles Dance as Maxim de Winter was not the best actor to cast as I felt Dance looked uncomfortable in the role and the chemistry with Emilia Fox as the gauche young second Mrs de Winter was sadly lacking. Having a few bedroom scenes just jarred as Maxim looked old enough to be her father. Dance is a superb actor but is better suited to non-romantic roles, apart from White Mischief, where he was perfectly cast as the aristocrat Lord Errol. I felt the best casting was in Diana Rigg as Mrs Danvers. While she could not match Judith Anderson in the 1940 film of Rebecca, she played the role in a very silent and sinister way.Lastly, I felt Emilia Fox did her best in the role of the second Mrs de Winter but at times she was too knowing, particularly when she looked saucer-eyed at Maxim at the beginning of the film. Nothing can compare to Hitchcock's Rebecca, perfectly shot in black and white, which captured all the eeriness and menace of the novel and classics are best left alone as remakes are seldom successful.

Captures the essence of Rebecca more accurately than the Hitchcock version - as someone who has read the book in excess of 20 times, the script stays very close to Daphne Du Maurier's dialogue and the actors are perfectly cast. Emila Fox is exactly as the second Mrs De Winter should be and plays her very well, particularly after her arival at Manderley.Charles Dance is a brillient Maxim, even if it does seem a little old to be playing him in this, it's easily overlooked. He's an amazing actor and comes across brilliently.Diana Rigg as Mrs Danvers is absolutely perfect.If you're a fan of Du Maurier, this is a must have. Even if the music is a little cheesy at times and the DVD menu is horrendous, it was made in the 90s so you sort of have to live with that. It takes nothing away!

This is a perfectly acceptable adaptation of the classic novel. If I have one slight gripe it's that the production is slightly under-cooked. "Rebecca" is full-blooded , broody Gothic and that didn't fully come across here. This was where Hitchcock's original film scored very well but, because of the censorship of that time, he had to make a fundamental alteration to the story which rather spoiled things. In this TV production, thankfully, the original story line is adhered to. The other slight reservation is that we actually get to see Rebecca in person in this version, albeit only in fleeting, partial views. This, to me, was unnecessary and actually weakened the image you otherwise build up of the character. All that said, the production was well -acted, well-filmed and nicely paced. And for the price the DVD is being offered today it's a real bargain.

I was amazed at how fine the Charles Dance version of Rebecca was, though it seems unfair to single out the great Dance for special praise since all the actors were top notch. The film is in part a commentary on the grotesque lives of the stinking rich five generations ago and succeeds very well on the social level as a critique of past social injustices. It is a DVD which I hope I shall watch many times. Thoroughly recommended.

Charles Dance and Emilia Fox were just wonderful in this version of Rebecca. Faye Dunaway really did do it for me as Mrs Van Hopper rather pathetic and not suited to the part. Diana Rigg played a very convincing Mrs Danvers. All round great acting but the original is still the best as it's far more gripping, mysterious and it's black and white which adds to the drama and suspense of the story.