Rebecca (Blu-ray) Blu-Ray DVD

Editor's Note

A string of classic suspense films produced in England had earned Alfred Hitchcock a reputation in the United States, and his first American production, REBECCA, cemented his fame. Based on the novel by Daphne du Maurier, REBECCA was conceived to rival producer David O. Selznick's previous epic, GONE WITH THE WIND. This psychological thriller, however, derives its grandeur from Hitchcock's careful cultivation of the title character's haunting legacy. Joan Fontaine takes the starring role and narrates the story of her life as the second Madam de Winter. Fontaine, young and innocent, meets the worldly and sophisticated Maxim de Winter (Laurence Olivier) while vacationing on the Riviera. After a whirlwind romance and marriage, the two return to his opulent English estate, Maderley, where Fontaine begins to realize she is not entirely welcome in her new role. Chief among her detractors is housekeeper Mrs. Danvers (Judith Anderson), who points out her every failing in relation to the previous mistress of the house, Rebecca. Fontaine is nearly driven to suicide by her inability to understand the mysterious legacy of the first wife. However, when a ship washes ashore, the mystery begins to unravel, setting the stage for the memorable and fiery climax.

Features

Pan and Scan (TV Format)

Technical Info

Release Information
	Studio: Mgm Entertainment
	Release Date: 1/24/2012
	Running Time: 131 minutes
	Original Release Date: 1940
	UPC: 00883904252542
	Number of Discs: 1
Audio & Video
	Available Audio Tracks:
	Video: B&W

Entertainment Reviews

Rebecca (1940) - Blu-Ray DVD Review

By: Sherry Lipp Blogcritics.org Reviews

Published on: 2/2/2012 4:51 PM

Alfred Hitchcock’s Rebecca was the director’s first American production. Released in 1940, it became the first and only Hitchcock directed to film to win an Oscar for Best Picture, though Hitchcock himself would never win (except the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award). Produced by David O. Selznick (Gone with the Wind), the film starred Laurence Olivier, Joan Fontaine, and Judith Anderson. Rebecca was based on a 1938 novel of the same name written by Daphne Du Maurier. A year earlier, Hitchcock had adapted Jamaica Inn from her novel of the same name. His 1963 film The Birds was based on a Du Maurier short story....read the full review

Cast & Crew

	Laurence Olivier
	Nigel Bruce
	Gladys Cooper
	Reginald Denny
	George Sanders
	Judith Anderson
	Joan Fontaine
	C. Aubrey Smith
	James E. Newcom - Editor
	Hal C. Kern - Editor
	Lyle Wheeler - Art Director
	Daphne Du Maurier - Story
	Joan Harrison - Screenwriter
	George Barnes - Director of Photography
	Franz Waxman - Composer
	David O. Selznick - Producer
	Robert E. Sherwood - Screenwriter
	Alfred Hitchcock - Director

Plot Summary

REBECCA is Alfred Hitchcock's gothic romance about an innocent and sweet young woman who marries a wealthy gentleman and soon begins to fear that she cannot erase the memories of his first wife, Rebecca. Goaded on by a malevolent housekeeper, the woman attempts to re-create Rebecca's every move, with disastrous results. But gradually the truth about the mysterious Rebecca emerges--a truth that will forever change the woman's perspective on life and love. Based on the 1938 novel by Daphne Du Maurier, the film marked Hitchcock's American debut.