1940: Rebecca - Hitchcock's obsessions... Love, Violence and the Psycho-sexual

History of Italian Horror!

Another great video. Would love to see the history of italian horror.

Interesting observation: Did anyone notice that the real name of the protagonist (played by Joan Fontaine) is never revealed? Throughout the film her identity is always suppressed by the overbearing shadow of her predecessor.

A History of Italian Horror.

Italian horror especially movies by Dario Argento and mario brava

No gone with the wind? Dislike

I just discovered your channel and it's amazing, I'm doing a marathon of all the videos. Congratulations!

Grindhouse

The film Rebecca stuck fairly closely to the original book by Daphne du Maurier, so the ideas are more du Maurier's obsessions rather than Hitchcock's.

A very underrated Hitchcock classic.

Good narration but it reveals too much about the movie plot. Had to switch off, but not before I was stunned by the clarity of the HD.

Any chance for some Frank Capra film reviews? I'd like to see some of his less discussed films like 'The Power Of The Press' or 'Mr. Deeds Goes to Town'.

i just finished watching this movie. what a satisfying ending and great acting. i started clapping as soon as the movie finished

A very good analysis, but I think it was obvious to the audience (and certainly the better critics) even in 1940 that Mrs Danvers is lesbian, and (in movies I mean) the Australian actress playing the role acquired the same sort of persona as Agnes Moorehead. My only regret is that you did not give this critique of Hitchcock to one of his better films - like "Strangers on a Train", "Vertigo", "Psycho" or even "Notorious", if you want to go back to the 1940s. For when all is said and done, and despite its subtleties, "Rebecca" is essentially gothic melodrama.

Great video! I’m definitely going to give this film a rewatch.

One of my favorite movies, and definitely at the top of my list of favorite books. I highly recommend reading the book as well as watching the movie. The book has one huge revelation about Maxim DeWinter that Hitchcock wasn't allowed to use in the film, and so the ultimate power of the story was diluted because of it.

muy muy muy bueno!! gracias!!!

I watched REBECCA first, at 11 or 12 years of age, on a reruns of old black and white movies, in South America. Unbelievable, but this movie (after more than 40 years, since I first watched it), still holds me 100% SPELLBOUND...

Very good analysis about Hitchcocok's classic movies. Congratulations!

Sex and violins. According to Tippi Hedren Hitchcock harrassed her and she really didn't have much of a career after he stopped other directors from hiring her.

Thanks for this. I just watched the remake and needed to detox.

Holy crap, this channel is so impressive. I'm so glad I discovered it.

Not a single mention to Daphne du Maurier. Not surprised.

Hitchcock's Rebecca is the best adaptation so far. The latest adaptation (2019 or 2020) of Rebecca is actually not bad. Better than the one before. But I always recommend Hitchcock's version.

She may be unmarried, but the Housekeeper is MRS Danvers, not Miss, let alone Ms! In the period, the title "Mrs" conveyed higher social standing and authority than "Miss", and so senior female servants, chiefly housekeepers and cooks used "Mrs" as an honorific title - think of those most celebrated TV cooks, Mrs Bridges (Upstairs Downstairs) and Mrs Patmore (Downton Abbey).

Rebecca one of my all time favorites. Modern take on Mrs. Danvers and lesbian relationship with Rebecca? I just thought it was maternal affection. She had come with Rebecca so maybe this evil woman raised Rebecca and instilled her selfish qualities in Rebecca since childhood.

One of my favorite films! Hitchcock was a genius director, but as a man, he was an abusive, manipulative, sexist PIG enabled by his wife! She knew he sexually assaulted and abused Tippi Hedren and did nothing to stop it, even after tearful pleas by Hedren. His treatment of "his blonds" was abominable and well-documented, but he was obsessed with Tippi Hedren was the worst! When she rebuffed his attempted rape during the filming of "The Birds", he extended the attic scene where she's attacked by maniacal birds, from one day to five days, and instead of mechanical birds, used dozens of real birds! So the bloody pecks on Tippi's beautiful face are real and Hitch was likely an undiagnosed sociopath! Great movies though..so there's that!

I don't know if I've commented this before but, when you think about it all the main female characters of the story are spoken for rather than developing/introducing themselves. All of them have something major missing from them that would normally be essential to be your own person. I don't think we ever discover the first name of Mrs Danvers nor the 2nd Mrs De Winter which suits my point, the only woman who has an individual name not tied to a man is Rebecca. But Rebecca is only a name and a spirit not a body or alive in the traditional sense, she is kept alive by the memories of those around her, most prominently by Mrs Danvers and by Manderlay. The fire that destroys Manderlay is the only way max can be happy with his new wife, since both the house and it's keeper have gone, they were the strongest bearers of Rebecca's memory they needed to be gone.

Back to my point on names and individuals. Mrs De Winter is never given a first name, she is treated as just an extension of Max and replacement to Rebecca, never being her own woman. Meanwhile Rebecca is given a name, a title and she has a lot of influence, but during the timeline of the story she is never a physical presence just a ghost, we only know her through the eyes of others, hiw can we truly know Rebecca based on the testimonies of people wjo hated her and people who adored her? She is never given her own voice to explain herself. Mrs Danvers has a body, a voice, a title, and a powerful presence, however her name is still tied to men (her husband and being a servant to max). Mrs Danvers is a very interesting and strangely tragic character to me, she is cruel but devastated, she had tied her entire life to that of another, Rebecca, once she was gone, she had nothing but the house that holds onto Rebecca's spirit, so she decided to feed that hold. Her life was so strongly linked with Rebecca's she couldn't escape and be her own person, even her eventual death was all about Rebecca. She kills herself surrounded by the presence of the only thing she ever loved. Even in the remake Danvers cannot have her own unique death, she drowns in the same ocean where Rebecca's body was found.

I find this whole story absolutely fascinating.

It’s worth noting that Max killed Rebecca as part of her final desire to destroy him. She could have killed herself (knowing she had terminal cancer) instead, she lied and told Max she was pregnant with her lover’s child, pushing him to strike out.

Such insight and yet you mis-speak the actual 'villain' moniker! Mrs ("Misses") Danvers, not Ms; seems inobservant and disrespectful to get main-character address wrong. Care so much? Get it right.

You also misread the costume. It is only evil intent of Mrs Danvers to urge a dress sure to shock and torment Maxim. Mrs D sees no hint of 'symbolic reviving' in mousy, diffident Mrs De Winter #2 - glam or no.

Mr Karlos below: as with Marilyn Monroe's nameless character in The Seven Year Itch, it's an intentional touch to deepen the feel of fantasy, altered reality.

MUBI has to be a waste of money if they sponsor this ill informed auto writer.

This movie won the Oscar for best picture...but Not Hitch! In fact he never won an Oscar

It's MRS Danvers.

Mrs D did not learn Maxim killed Rebecca (as in the book.) 'Hayes Code' would not have let him off. Mrs D learnt of her CANCER; burned ManderLEY not LAY so Maxim could not be there with wife 2.

Well, Mrs. Danvers doesn't trick the new Mrs. De Winter into dressing as the former one. And Mrs. Danvers doesn't find out that Max killed his wife but rather that she committed suicide. But other than that ... yes, I guess.

Wow I love this reading of the film!

I Have been that Kid who is Always wanted to make a Movie like Hitchcock with Batman.

As for Hitchcock 'the man', the current cliche maintains that he dominated his women protagonists, etc. Apart from Tipi Hedren who was a special case, for Hitchcock really made her into an actress, she had no prior experience (or talent) and her work was in advertising toothpaste or something. Because he considered her his own creation, he developed a demented, pathetic Pygmalion-like obsession with her, and only bad things could come out of it what other female protagonist of his has ever spoken badly of him? Kim Novak (and this was after Hitchcock's death when she did not have to be gracious) has always maintained that he was wonderful to her and that she, for the first time in her career, felt free to explore a character as Hitchcock put all his trust in her. Ingrid Bergman simply loved him, despite their disagreements on set. Grace Kelly had great affection for him. Doris Day had only good things to say about him, ditto Janet Leigh. The difference is that all these female protagonists were actresses and had a career in film before (and after) Hitchcock, and whatever 'obsession' he MAY HAVE felt for each one of them, it was never manifested. I think he gave us remarkable female characters, complex, profound and dark (and brave), and in a world where most viewers are after hagiographies and identity affirmations and (fake) 'positive role models', his films still shine and disturb.

Some good insights here. Hitch was a very sick man and some very sick productions happened under his name. His best work is immortal, yes including ,Rebecca'.

If ur referencing other films pls give a spoiler warning geez

WHY do people keep saying 'Mandalay' when discussing Rebecca ? It is 'Manderley' not Mandalay.

Did you get Peter Lawford's grandson to do the narration?

Maxim DID NOT kill Rebecca! Did you watch? Mrs Danvers finds that he didn't (censors would insist on punishment if he did, as in the book). Mrs D refuses them happiness in "Rebecca's" manor.

Manderley and Mandalay are more than one place.

There are many "Subtexts" in this film. Someone who is just relaxing and watching a film made in another generaton would miss many of the subtle themes that are presented in this fim. There seems to be a lot going on below the surface of this film.