“There are a lot of contradictory levels of authorship–anywhere between Alfred Hitchcock, Daphne Du Maurier, and you may David O. Selznick–because of it 1940 movie becoming a complete achievements, however, with regards to first two-thirds it’s because prime a myth off adolescence while the any of your own Disney video, recording the new childlike, nameless heroine’s initiation on adult secrets out of sex, dying, and you may term, and the impossibility from getting back together this type Korea bruder of pushes with family members strictures.” — Dave Kehr, Chi town Audience
“A splendid example of brand new theatre once the a popular storyteller. Sherwood and you can Joan Harrison. ” – Leslie Halliwell, The brand new Filmgoer’s Partner
“Daphne Du Maurier’s pretty smaller top seller. turned into an account out of concern and you may guilt, stamina and you can class. Why are the film doubly fascinating is actually Hitchcock’s fear of female, and exactly how it is not in the simple restrictions regarding narrative. A riveting or painful movie.” – Helen MacKintosh, TimeOut Movie Book
“The fresh new absolute, swooning pleasure that this flick affords – its melodrama, their romance, their elegant danger – causes it to be a must-find. it is a masterclass within the artistry. This new atic terminology, and reveals one thing uncommon in any motion picture from any several months: emails just who change, as they are satisfyingly proven to do so during the story. A superb shed is actually rounded from by the George Sanders, to relax and play Rebecca’s caddish cousin: again, an impressive lightness and you may fertility about pretending, and you will, once again, particular superb suitings. A gorgeous eradicate from just one off cinema’s positives. To not ever be skipped.” – Peter Bradshaw, This new Guardian
“Ingesting Lyle Wheeler’s breathtaking interior sets (they dwarf Fontaine’s shy reputation) and you can a wonderfully caddish change regarding good blackmailing George Sanders, Rebecca sweeps the fresh new reader along in order to an enthusiastic incendiary conclusion.” – Thomas Dawson, BBC
“Shot including a nightmare motion picture and you can featuring Olivier among at least sympathetic heroes on Hitchcock cannon, Rebecca is why smart extrapolation into layouts passed on regarding golden-haired thrillers and you may Bronte books allows the fresh movie director in the first place a good suspenseful romance one to rarely features the subtext within the epidermis, and you can smuggle during the a story of a single woman’s immersion on sexual hopes of their own time. Rebecca might not be a beneficial Hitchcock image, however it is difficult to think that which we today think about given that good Hitchcock picture without it.” – Keith Phipps, Brand new Onion A beneficial. V. Pub
Critics’ Corner – Rebecca
Awards & Remembers This new Federal Panel out-of Comment place Rebecca tenth towards the the ten-best listing getting 1940, with the Grapes out of Wrath from the number 1. Nonetheless they detailed Joan Fontaine’s as among the year’s best performances. Rebecca obtained eleven Oscar® nominations — Better Picture, Ideal Movie director, Ideal Star (Laurence Olivier), Best Actress (Fontaine), Top Supporting Celebrity (Judith Anderson), Greatest Screenplay, Top Filming, Greatest Editing, Better Score, Finest Ways Guidelines and greatest Artwork Consequences. Following the 1939’s Moved with the Cinch, this is the following 12 months in a row manufacturer David O. Selznick had lead the movie with the most nominations. Rebecca’s race to possess Better Picture is formidable and you can included New Red grapes of Wrath, The brand new Philadelphia Tale, The nice Dictator and you can Hitchcock’s individual Foreign Correspondent.
To alter his Oscar® chance, Selznick managed a beneficial “re-premiere” out-of Rebecca at the a moment-work at home inside La a single day the fresh nominations were launched
He even got the brand new governor regarding Ca in order to lso are-title Hollywood Boulevard “Rebecca Boulevard” for the day. Rebecca took Best Photo, really the only for example prize for a good Hitchcock film, and best Filming. Hitchcock lost the latest directing award in order to John Ford toward Red grapes regarding Wrath. Olivier destroyed Greatest Actor so you’re able to James Stewart regarding Philadelphia Facts, while you are Ginger Rogers in Cat Foyle defeat Fontaine having Best Actress. This new CRITICS’ Spot “Rebecca was an imaginative victory whoever b. Dave Selznick’s picture is actually tragic and you can seriously emotional going to the fancy out of wide audience interest. It can discover interest off experts and category patronage while the an exemplory instance of the power within the story crisis out-of vivid display screen portraiture, but general visitors often case it a lengthy-drawn out drama which could was basically advised finest inside the quicker video footage.
