1. Rebecca Novel by Daphne duMaurier Directed by Alfred Hitchcock

2. REBECCA Rebecca Film Notes Rebecca (1940) was Hitchcock’s first American Film and won Best Picture at the Oscars. It was his only film to do so although Joan Fontaine won Best Actress for Suspicion (1941) and the director himself was nominated for Best Director in Rebecca and Lifeboat (1944).

3. His early American films suggested how English he was, but his undisguised cinematic plea for the US to support allied Europe against the Nazis in the Second World War. The approach to Manderly at the start is filmed in a manner similar to the approach to the motel in Psycho; the building is glimpse through a windshield wiper shot in the rain. The houses in both these films are treated more like a person than a house, filled with the spirit of someone long dead, but whose presence is sensed through objects like napkins, stationery, pillowcases and a dress.

4. The relationship between the heroine and Mrs. Danvers is more like victim and tormentor, rabbit hypnotized by snake. This theme will be repeated in other Hitchcock films (Strangers on a Train: tennis star and psychopath; Psycho: thief and traffic cop). Rebecca’s obsession of the hero for a dead woman and confrontation with her proxy is also present Vertigo. However, Vertigo refines this theme and is long-considered to be superior film. Rebecca allows the viewer to glimpse at an unexpected side of Hitchcock not suspected in England, that of the tortured romantic. This side of him emerged with enormous potency in his American films.

5. Both Rebecca and Vertigo share the visual shot of the hero looking down over a precipice. As with other heroines, the second Mrs. DeWinter, our heroine, is adored but suffers for that adoration. Much of the film’s suspense comes from the heroine’s social awkwardness, embarrassment, and clumsy indiscretion such as breaking the figurine on the desk which provoke crises. The punishment undergone by the heroines seems out of proportion for passivity or deceit

6. Joan Fontaine herself was terrified throughout the film as she was a relative unknown and was awed by both Hitchcock and her co-star, Lawrence Olivier. The theme of the perfect marital murder was first presented to American audiences in Rebecca and became quite controversial.

7. Rebecca is a 1940 American psychological dramatic thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock as his first American project and his first film produced under his contract with David O. Selznick. The film's screenplay was an adaptation by Joan Harrison and Robert E. Sherwood from Philip MacDonald and Michael Hogan's adaptation of Daphne du Maurier's 1938 novel of the same name. It was produced by Selznick [2] and stars Laurence Olivier as the aristocratic widower Maxim de Winter, Joan Fontaine as his second wife, and Judith Anderson as the housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers.Alfred HitchcockDavid O. SelznickJoan HarrisonRobert E. SherwoodPhilip MacDonaldMichael HoganDaphne du Mauriernovel of the same name [2]Laurence OlivierJoan Fontaine Judith AndersonMrs. Danvers The film is a gothic tale about the lingering memory of the title character, Maxim de Winter's dead first wife, which continues to haunt Maxim, his new bride, and Mrs Danvers. The film won two Academy Awards, including Best Picture, out of a total 11 nominations. Olivier, Fontaine and Anderson were all Oscar nominated for their respective roles. Since the introduction of awards for actors in supporting roles, this is the only film named Best Picture that won no other Academy Award for acting, directing or writing.gothic tale Academy AwardsOscar Rebecca was the opening film at the 1st Berlin International Film Festival in 1951. [3]1st Berlin International Film Festival [3]