Rebecca

1940 2 hr 10 min

Hitchcock’s first Hollywood film is an elegant adaptation of Daphne du Maurier’s gripping psychological thriller. Joan Fontaine stars as the new bride of an aristocratic widower, played by screen legend Laurence Olivier. Upon moving into his estate, she finds herself haunted by the memories of her husband’s first wife and tormented by her housekeeper. This brilliant new restoration showcases Hitchcock’s masterful filmmaking and cinematography.

Renowned German composer Franz Waxman achieved remarkable success with his score for Alfred Hitchcock's REBECCA. This film marked Hitchcock's inaugural Hollywood project under his agreement with producer David O. Selznick and was the first occasion he was permitted to utilize a complete symphonic score, leading to his collaboration with Waxman. Their partnership would later reunite them for the films SUSPICION and REAR WINDOW. Waxman was often sought after for his expertise in composing horror and suspense music, and REBECCA presented him with his most formidable challenge to date. The score is characterized as a quintessential orchestral work that is equal parts romantic, gothic, and ethereal. Waxman adeptly conveys the narrative's full spectrum, from the innocent beginnings to the haunting themes associated with Mrs. Danvers, while also evoking the ominous presence of Rebecca through the innovative use of the novachord, an electronic keyboard. The film represents an ideal marriage of plot and music; it’s impossible to imagine REBECCA without Waxman’s contribution.

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Director Alfred Hitchcock

Cast Joan Fontaine, Laurence Olivier, Judith Anderson

Country USA

Language English

Aspect 1.37

More info on IMDB ››