Rebecca Review

Number 139 on the top 1000 films of all time is one of Alfred Hitchcock's earliest films: Rebecca.

Based on Daphne DuMaurier's book, Rebecca follows an unnamed young woman (Joan Fontaine) who is a companion to the snooty Edyth Van Hopper (Florence Bates.) This young woman then falls in love with recent widower George DeWinter (Laurence Olivier.) After a whirlwind marriage, the second "Mrs DeWinter," soon suspects things to be out of place, as she realises that George might not be over the death of his first wife.

Rebecca struck me highly as a great example of film noir.  The film began slowly with perhaps too much focus on the set up of the DeWinter's relationship.  Obviously this is important to see and to set up, but I feel it was overdone.  While it was amusing to see the demanding and bossy Edyth Van Hopper at first, after a while it became a little tedious.

However, once the setup was over, we were left with an interesting murder mystery, as the circumstances surrounding the first Mrs DeWinter's death became suspicious.  Laurence Olivier was great as the conflicted Mr DeWinter, even if his character was used as an exposition device at times.

Joan Fontaine was equally good, as the naive, but well-intentioned second Mrs DeWinter.  It was difficult not to feel for her, as she felt further out of place in her husband's opulent lifestyle.  Yet she also has agency, as when she discovers the truth behind the first Mrs DeWinter's death, she is determined to protect her husband at all costs.

With stylistic angles, a complicated narrative, strong performances and Hitchcock a.k.a the Master of Tension, steering the ship, this is a must-see for fans of the noir genre.