Rebecca
Rebecca

Rebecca

1940Movie130 minEnglish

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. The young wife must come to grips with the terrible secret of her handsome, cold husband, Max De Winter. She must also deal with the jealous, obsessed Mrs. Danvers, the housekeeper, who will not accept her as the mistress of the house.

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Insights

IMDb8.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes100%
Metacritic90
Google Users95%
Director: Alfred HitchcockGenres: Mystery, Thriller, Romance, Drama, Film Noir

Plot Summary

A young woman marries a wealthy widower and moves into his grand estate, Manderley. However, she soon finds herself haunted by the memory of his deceased first wife, Rebecca, whose presence seems to permeate every aspect of the household, aided by the sinister housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers. The new Mrs. de Winter struggles to find her identity and place in this imposing new world, constantly living in the shadow of the past.

Critical Reception

Alfred Hitchcock's first American film was a critical and commercial success, earning widespread praise for its atmospheric tension, masterful direction, and strong performances. It was nominated for eleven Academy Awards, winning Best Picture and Best Cinematography. The film is celebrated for its psychological depth and its ability to sustain suspense throughout its runtime.

What Reviewers Say

  • A masterclass in suspense and gothic atmosphere.
  • Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine deliver compelling performances.
  • Hitchcock's signature style is evident in its psychological tension and stunning visuals.

Google audience: Audiences consistently praise 'Rebecca' for its gripping suspense, haunting atmosphere, and superb acting. Many highlight the film's enduring power and Hitchcock's skillful direction in creating a palpable sense of dread and psychological complexity.

Awards & Accolades

Academy Award for Best Picture, Academy Award for Best Cinematography (Black-and-White), Nominated for 9 other Academy Awards including Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Actress.

Fun Fact

The iconic Manderley estate was a composite creation, with its imposing facade primarily built on the Selznick studio backlot and its interiors filmed on soundstages.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

7 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

We saw this quite recently on the big screen at Somerset House in London. One of those outdoor screenings - and the fact that it poured with rain on hundreds of us didn't matter one jot (though the hampers got quite sodden). Olivier and the...
Filipe Manuel Neto

Filipe Manuel Ne...

**One of the greatest films of Hitchcock's career.** Alfred Hitchcock was truly a master, and there are not many directors who can present a CV so vast, so rich and so deserving of acclaim. Ironically, he did not win a single Oscar for h...
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

We saw this quite recently on the big screen at Somerset House in London. One of those outdoor screenings - and the fact that it poured with rain on hundreds of us didn't matter one jot (though the hampers got quite sodden). Olivier and the...
John Chard

John Chard

Do you think the dead come back and watch the living? Rebecca is directed by Alfred Hitchcock and adapted to screen play from the Daphne du Maurier novel of the same name. It stars Laurence Olvier, Joan Fontaine and Judith Anderson. Cin...
waltzma

waltzma

Absolutely perfect Gothic Thriller that has many imitators but few of equal quality. With "Rebecca" about to hit the Broadway stage (as a musical!), I thought it was time to write my review of perhaps my favorite Hitchcock film. I recall...
CharlesTheBold

CharlesTheBold

A poor "lady's companion", so self-effacing that we are never given her name (Joan Fontaine), suddenly finds her life changed when a moody widower, Maxim de Winter (Laurence Olivier), proposes to marry her and take her to his splendid esta...
Andres Gomez

Andres Gomez

A good movie and interesting plot but the characters are a little bit exaggerated and the outcome is quite expectable.