Poster

Drums sound. Fog streams through the trees, silhouetting their branches black against the sky. Absorbed in the scene, I realize that I have no idea what to expect.

No, I’m not about to battle orcs or encounter aliens. In fact, I’m sprawled on my couch at home. But I still feel a little tingle of excitement as the winner of the 1940 Oscar for Best Picture, Rebecca, starts on the screen. In black and white, this is my first encounter with Alfred Hitchcock's work.

Rebecca is about an orphan (played by Joan Fontaine) who falls in love with the wealthy Maxim de Winter (played by Laurence Olivier) while she is traveling as a ladies’ companion. (A ladies companion is paid to provide company for a wealthy woman).

She marries Maxim and they return to his home. But the new Mrs. de Winter finds herself being constantly compared with Rebecca, Maxim’s late wife who recently perished in a “boating accident.”

This movie was exciting and suspenseful without being too violent or scary, with good acting all around. This is especially true as Joan Fontaine's character is confronted by her sinister housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers (played by Judith Anderson). Both of the actresses were believable, and their dialogue gave me the chills without falling back on eerie costumes or special effects. The mystery of Rebecca's demise that unfolded over the last third of the film made me further intrigued in the film.

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/alfred-hitchcocks-rebecca-video-trailer/1291861636

Rebecca would probably not be made today for several reasons. First, the main character (who is only referred to as "Mrs. de Winter," never a first name) is uncertain of herself when she is unexpectedly introduced into high society. This is a contrast to many modern movie heroines like Mulan who take charge of their destinies.

Also, four of the characters in this movie contemplate suicide. Most movies made for general audiences today don’t touch on such dark themes. If they are made, they're usually rated "R." For example, the song "Beautiful Girl," by Sean Kingston was edited last year on several radio stations because the chorus contained the lyrics -- "You'll have me suicidal, suicidal/When you say it's over."

Finally, the movie creates character stereotypes that aren't very believable, especially today. The young, timid orphan is good, and the venomous, cranky housemaid is evil. Today's movie characters are more complex and true-to-life.

This film has a lot of scary dialogue and other scenes that could be frightening to a young child. I recommend Rebecca to kids age 10 and older.

Copyright 2008 Y-Press