Rebecca

Rebecca (1940)

Timing: 2:10 (130 min)

7.897/10
1931

7.849/10
34989

8.1/10
162000

All about film

Video 4

Photo 106

Actors and characters

Release date

1940-03-23

Country

United States

Production

United Artists, Selznick International Pictures

Genre

Mystery, Romance, Thriller, Drama

Budget

$1 288 000

Revenue

$6 000 000

Website

Director

Alfred Hitchcock

Actors

Laurence Olivier, Joan Fontaine, George Sanders, Judith Anderson, Nigel Bruce, Reginald Denny, C. Aubrey Smith, Gladys Cooper, Florence Bates, Melville Cooper
All actors and roles (10)

Scenario

Producer

David O. Selznick

Operator

George Barnes

Composer

Franz Waxman

Artist

Audition

Editing

W. Donn Hayes
All team (37)

• Alfred Hitchcock can be spotted in a scene where Jack Favell is on the phone shortly before the end of the film.
• “Rebecca” became Alfred Hitchcock’s first Hollywood film and his only picture to win an Academy Award for “Best Picture of the Year”.
• “Rebecca” was the first film Alfred Hitchcock made in collaboration with David O. Selznick.
• Unlike most of his films, Alfred Hitchcock did not participate in writing the screenplay.
• Alfred Hitchcock wanted to make the film several years earlier, but was unable to do so as he could not afford to buy the rights to adapt Daphne du Maurier’s novel.
• Throughout the film, Mrs. Danvers seems to glide rather than walk. This was precisely the effect the director aimed for, striving to present Mrs. Danvers exclusively from the perspective of Mrs. De Winter (Joan Fontaine).
• Around 20 actresses were considered for the role of Mrs. De Winter, including Margaret Sullavan, Anne Baxter, Vivien Leigh, Loretta Young, and Maureen O'Hara.
• Laurence Olivier wanted Vivien Leigh to play Mrs. De Winter. However, the role went to Joan Fontaine. Throughout the entire filming period, Olivier treated her with extreme hostility and unfriendliness. After Alfred Hitchcock noticed this, he asked the crew to treat her in the same manner. Thus, the director sought to elicit maximum shyness and insecurity from the actress, qualities required for her character.
• Despite all the producers' efforts, they were unable to find a suitable location to film Manderley. Therefore, a miniature model was used in the film.
• In Daphne du Maurier's novel, the narrative is told in the first person, and the main character is unnamed. Hitchcock suggested to producer David O. Selznick that the character be named Daphne, after the author, but it was ultimately decided to leave the second Mrs. de Winter nameless.
• Ronald Colman refused the role of Maxim de Winter, and before Laurence Olivier was cast, Selznick and Hitchcock considered Melvin Douglas, Leslie Howard, and William Powell for the part.
• Selznick suggested Nova Pilbeam, a former English protégé of Hitchcock who had appeared in his films 'The Man Who Knew Too Much' and 'Young and Innocent,' for the role of Mrs. de Winter. However, the director insisted on an American actress and persuaded Selznick.
• “Rebecca” was Alfred Hitchcock’s first Hollywood film and his only one to win the Academy Award for Best Picture.
• “Rebecca” was the first film Alfred Hitchcock made in collaboration with David O. Selznick.
• Around 20 actresses were considered for the role of Mrs. de Winter, including Margaret Sullavan, Anne Baxter, Vivien Leigh, Loretta Young, and Maureen O’Hara.
• Selznick suggested Nova Pilbeam, a former English protégé of Hitchcock who had appeared in his films “The Man Who Knew Too Much” and “Young and Innocent,” for the role of Mrs. de Winter, but the director wanted an American actress for the part and dissuaded Selznick.