the book ofcourse,is perfection,olivier is pissed that vivien leigh did not get the part, and i think he is rather dull and trying but still, good movie, saved by the leading lady,and omg, the housekeeper
I've been hooked on this movie all my life pre-cable television and pre-internet, I used to wait patiently for it to come around on a late Saturday night movie! Call it what you want but this man loves her, no matter his sometimes troubling attitudes. He needs her and she certainly knows how to comfort him. She's pretty and he's too handsome for his own good. Whew!
@sslohier No they sure din't have runny noses,but they had emotions and sometimes cryed and tissues wasn't invented yet. I had them when I was yung and the washing machine wasn't invented and it was quiet disgusting to wash them by hand and I hated it. I still have some embroydered one.It wasn't that long ago abaut in the sixties.
I disagree with Hitchcock's decision to sanitize the murder. I think the book brought out the story's points much better by making Rebecca's death an outright murder rather than an accident.
@ratskii1 In 1940 movie makers were at the mercy of the Hayes office, there was a strict moral code and this was deemed more suitable at the time. And that is why later, when Hitchcock made all his TV shows, the murderer could get away with the cirme in the show but Hitchcock always had to state a disclaimer which he hated.
I disagree with Hitchcock's decistion to sanitize the murder. I think the book brought out the story's points much better by making Rebecca's death an outright murder rather than an accident.
One of my favorite holiday movies! I'm searching for the DVD. I love to hear Sir Laurence say 'yes' at 1:33. He sounds so gentle. The whole scene is so romantic.
Joan is so much more likeable with backbone. Does she faint on purpose to stop max from getting too angry, or does she really faint because her nerves are so strained?
What if Rebecca is Ms. Danvers throughout the film, or Joan Fontaine's character is really Rebecca from the beginning. WOW if one of these predictions are true, I'm gonna be shocked!
Is it weird that I kinda have a huge crush on George Sanders in this movie? I can't decide though if he's sort of gay or just menacingly evil or whatever, but I just have to smile whenever he's on screen. I loved him in Foreign Corespondent too.
@AutumnDevi No, I used to even when I was 8 when I first watched this lmaoo! And I, and I'm sure many others, still think he's rather smexy. Slimy, but hot lol.
Mmm. What a man Olivier was. I would have given anything to take Joan's place during the whole fireplace scene. Having his beautiful hands on my face...and then that kiss.
@toothbrush55 - Yeah it's true (well, as true as IMDB can be). Hitchcock thought this was awesome and told Joan Fontaine that everyone else on set hated her too, which made her all shy and uneasy in front of the camera - exactly what he wanted for her character. Laurence Olivier is such a babe in this film, I was so gutted to find out!
There are so many great novels out there that could be made into movies. There's really no excuse why they can't make a movie like this today except that the movie industry conforms to what sells now. The music back then was also beautifully romantic and that added a lot too. Pop culture is the industry's priority. And it's all crap with rehashed pop soundtracks. It's nice to know that there are still young people out there that appreciate the classics like this though.
one can say that, but on the other hand, pop music then actually conformed to what we hear in this movie, and the movie industry was no better then now. They made what selled. This movie selled very well. Only ten years later, there was a massive reaction to this type of movies in Europe. Neorealist cinema and New Wave were all against such overly romantic and simplistic movies.
I love the scene in front of the fire place, because he finally starts showing his feelings toward her! I LOVE THIS MOVIE!!! I can watch it over and over again!!!
the bit where Favell gets in the car with couple and starts saying "things are going well for you, better than expected..." -- doesn;t make much sense -- they AREN'T going well at all! We have just heard about the holes in the boat etc. In the book he coes to speak to them once there has been a verdict of suicide
Yep, shot her right in the heart in the book. For the movie, they had to change it and make it an accident because the code at the time could not allow a murderer to go free. (something like that anyway)
in the book, he actually murders her. hitchcock didnt want to risk making the hero a murderer (in fact, someone capable of a double murder, since he believed she was carrying an unborn child) - and letting him getting away with it, so he stuck to the safe side and deviated a little, making it an accident.
it is the crux of du maurier's novel, and she took this risk of not being understood and being condemned. hitchcock didnt take the risk.
I'm actually glad Hitchcock changed it. I like a hero I can believe in. It doesn't feel like a happy ending if the bad guy gets away. But that's just my opinion. I think Joan is just great in this movie -- she captures the child-like quality perfectly.
well, yeah...thats why hitchcock changed it i guess. and i think there was even a law saying the murderer couldnt get away. its my opinion of course, but it depends on whether or not you see Maxim as the 'bad guy' - its rather open to interpretation. for me, the antagonist is actually Rebecca...but its just my opinion. And Joan is definitely does a great job - she is how i imagined the second wife when I read the book. Emilia Fox also does a good job in the other production :)
Well it's a bit simplistic to call him "the bad guy" in the book -- he was certainly very much provoked by Rebecca, who had all these lovers, and was taunting him that he would never be able to prove it in a divorce court because everyone thought she was a wonderful wife to him, and she then implied she was carrying a child by her cousin, and said he would inherit Manderley -- and Maxim shoots her.
It turns out later she probably wanted him to kill her, because she had found out she had cancer and she had always said when he died she wanted it to be quick, not drawn out
True -- but what I really meant was that it doesn't feel like a happy ending if the hero gets away with murder (however much the victim may have deserved it).
i don't remember the book very well but i think Rebecca made him kill her because she wanted to die. there was a reason for this, but maybe we should all (re)read the book and know for ourselves ;)
yes, but the previous wife was a complete bitch who just married him for his social position and money and proceded to shag endless other men and tanunted him about how his inheritance would go to her lover's son -- the new Mrs de Winter loves Maxim and is glad to hear Rebecca was not this wonderful model wife after all, and that Maxim hated her
the book ofcourse,is perfection,olivier is pissed that vivien leigh did not get the part, and i think he is rather dull and trying but still, good movie, saved by the leading lady,and omg, the housekeeper
maidmoira 2 days ago
She's really becoming the lady of the house now... GO HER!
Esmerda 2 weeks ago
I've been hooked on this movie all my life pre-cable television and pre-internet, I used to wait patiently for it to come around on a late Saturday night movie! Call it what you want but this man loves her, no matter his sometimes troubling attitudes. He needs her and she certainly knows how to comfort him. She's pretty and he's too handsome for his own good. Whew!
boomerang905 3 months ago 5
i could roast an elephant in that fireplace
shariaries 3 months ago 2
Damn I wished I had a fireplace that big! I'd be able to heat my whole house!
lukebccb 4 months ago
Awww. Poor Ben :-(
TheMoodyGuru 5 months ago
max aint sweet !!?
bita4u 6 months ago
Maxim is so sweet
FrerardBigFan 6 months ago
anyone else think she looks a bit like Ingrid Bergman at the end of Casablanca with that hat?
readtoomuch 7 months ago 2
@readtoomuch Totally! Good eye
Trund27 1 month ago
I am a little confused. Is Favell playing 'hide the sausage' with Danvers, too?
shanghaibenny2 8 months ago 2
@shanghaibenny2 Yes, I believe you are correct
Trund27 1 month ago
@Trund27 Actually I call back my statement. I think it's just a twisted connection between them...not a sexual liason
Trund27 1 month ago
If she had not fainted, Maxim would have had confessed the whole truth!!
Scoutpower1 9 months ago
@Scoutpower1 No crap
athish123456 3 months ago
What's up with women in the 30s and 40s with those handkerchiefs? Surely the didn't all have runny noses 24/7....
sslohier 9 months ago
@sslohier No they sure din't have runny noses,but they had emotions and sometimes cryed and tissues wasn't invented yet. I had them when I was yung and the washing machine wasn't invented and it was quiet disgusting to wash them by hand and I hated it. I still have some embroydered one.It wasn't that long ago abaut in the sixties.
judithmezei 9 months ago
@sslohier
judithmezei 9 months ago
They seem closer and much more affectionate with each other. :)))
cassanovadamsle 10 months ago
Mr. Freeze at 8:30!
brgvt97 10 months ago
they kissed so.....hard back then. like they were cemented together haha:)
TheLexanatorOfficial 10 months ago 7
they finally kissed!!!!! :D
poob4633 11 months ago
I love how so many people still love and comment on old classics. Yahoo for old movies
Trund27 11 months ago
@Trund27 Yes, they just don't make movies like they use too.
Shanebabys 10 months ago
@Shanebabys Totally
Trund27 10 months ago
My goodness, but George Sanders is sinister and gorgeous, gorgeously sinister
Trund27 11 months ago 3
@Trund27 Yes, very cat-like.
MissMortViolette 9 months ago
@Trund27 I used to have the biggest crush on him when I watched this for the first time when I was about 8!!
Massiveskinsfan93 1 month ago
@Massiveskinsfan93 A girl of good taste!
Trund27 1 month ago
@Trund27 Haha!
Massiveskinsfan93 1 month ago
@Massiveskinsfan93 :)
Trund27 1 month ago
i love how maxim cares for her,,now i can see it..<3
elenaaddams 1 year ago 2
I'd forgotten just how good this film was. The lead roles play their parts to absolute perfection.
TheAnn2shoes 1 year ago 2
I disagree with Hitchcock's decision to sanitize the murder. I think the book brought out the story's points much better by making Rebecca's death an outright murder rather than an accident.
ratskii1 1 year ago
@ratskii1 In 1940 movie makers were at the mercy of the Hayes office, there was a strict moral code and this was deemed more suitable at the time. And that is why later, when Hitchcock made all his TV shows, the murderer could get away with the cirme in the show but Hitchcock always had to state a disclaimer which he hated.
TheSkylur44 1 year ago
I disagree with Hitchcock's decistion to sanitize the murder. I think the book brought out the story's points much better by making Rebecca's death an outright murder rather than an accident.
ratskii1 1 year ago
One of my favorite holiday movies! I'm searching for the DVD. I love to hear Sir Laurence say 'yes' at 1:33. He sounds so gentle. The whole scene is so romantic.
9876543217303 1 year ago 2
Joan is so much more likeable with backbone. Does she faint on purpose to stop max from getting too angry, or does she really faint because her nerves are so strained?
HannahleeA 1 year ago 5
He is so adorable!
KAJAtheone 1 year ago
wots the whisky? nice spot of highland park maybe, yum
chrish12345 1 year ago
I would kill that guy if he ate my chicken.
ButterflyRedrum 1 year ago 18
Laurence Olivier...*swoon* oh my goodness!
socertiger13 1 year ago 19
blame it on the tramp!
GarydosDoritos 1 year ago
Joan was brilliant at playing the sweet, gentle, unworldly girl. Innocent and unselfish.
gmaureen 1 year ago 10
@gmaureen She played a similar character in Letter from an Unknown Woman, which was terribly tragic, even more so than Rebecca
aDieuSeul 1 year ago
What if Rebecca is Ms. Danvers throughout the film, or Joan Fontaine's character is really Rebecca from the beginning. WOW if one of these predictions are true, I'm gonna be shocked!
ajquioc 1 year ago
Geroge Sanders : fantastic !
RichardHell1959 1 year ago
lol! "Does this bother you?" "No, I love inhaling second hand smoke blown two feet from my face in an enclosed car...."
calamtykel 1 year ago 5
Joan looks so pretty with that hat! =)
kendappaouh 1 year ago
Yeah, no breakfast, that's the reason.
Nothing to do with the stress.....
karyn13house 2 years ago
hot kiss lolz
tennant000forever 2 years ago
That hot kiss scene was like until 3-6 takes
ajquioc 1 year ago
@ajquioc *like*
tennant000forever 1 year ago
Is it weird that I kinda have a huge crush on George Sanders in this movie? I can't decide though if he's sort of gay or just menacingly evil or whatever, but I just have to smile whenever he's on screen. I loved him in Foreign Corespondent too.
AutumnDevi 2 years ago 9
@AutumnDevi I think he was ingenious in All about Eve.
bambi2404 2 years ago
cool, I'll have to check that out! thanks for the recommendation!
AutumnDevi 2 years ago
@AutumnDevi No, I used to even when I was 8 when I first watched this lmaoo! And I, and I'm sure many others, still think he's rather smexy. Slimy, but hot lol.
Massiveskinsfan93 1 month ago
At about 3:59 the guy sitting behind Ben looks like an alien.
Nessesphep 2 years ago
that was very funny... his head mixed up with the globe i guess haha
iSnAtsMikEL 2 years ago
Mmm. What a man Olivier was. I would have given anything to take Joan's place during the whole fireplace scene. Having his beautiful hands on my face...and then that kiss.
BatmansBabe30 2 years ago 9
lol, i don`t see what is there to like, yes he is handsome but his character is just xxxxxx
idilali 2 years ago
Well, you are certainly entitled to your opinion.
I think he's sexy as hell :)
BatmansBabe30 2 years ago 7
This is the best part of the whole movie, when she faints and her husband takes care of her. It's so romantic. :)
dianaberry9393 2 years ago 5
In some ways, Joan reminds me of Judy Garland. I don't know why, it just strikes me that their performances are similair at times.
theatrecrazy07 2 years ago 9
im 15 and i lovee thissss:) and the book. joan is one lucky girl
lalagurrl1994 2 years ago 3
Is it true that Laurence Oliver was really horrible to her on the set as he had wanted Vivian Leigh to get the part?
toothbrush55 2 years ago
Yeah, I also read it
Gerry4ever 2 years ago
@toothbrush55 - Yeah it's true (well, as true as IMDB can be). Hitchcock thought this was awesome and told Joan Fontaine that everyone else on set hated her too, which made her all shy and uneasy in front of the camera - exactly what he wanted for her character. Laurence Olivier is such a babe in this film, I was so gutted to find out!
FibreOpticLlama 1 year ago 2
lol. it is soo cute how she has to be on her tippy-toes to kiss him. lol. so cute and romantic!!:)
theyoungestvivienfan 2 years ago 5
finally, a real kiss! lucky joan fontaine....
bookishmuch 2 years ago 8
Great actress Joan Fontaine: when she comes down the stairs at 0:13 is completely different woman from the one of all the previous part of the movie.
ombreross 2 years ago 8
i'm 15 and i absouloutely love this film and the book!
greenxlemons 2 years ago 12
lol. me too!!!:)
theyoungestvivienfan 2 years ago
omg me too
ripthefranks 2 years ago 3
Comment removed
theyoungestvivienfan 2 years ago
I'm sorry this is hilarious --- Questioning a madman. What next? "Let's see if Jasper will talk...come now, out with it!"
Labryschick 2 years ago 10
hahaha..i thought the same thing!
And they just hung on the man's every word as though he could reveal all answers!
BSTO88 2 years ago
it is so romantic!! The way he holds her, touches her face so tenderly...why can't there be movies like this today....
theyoungestvivienfan 2 years ago 10
There are so many great novels out there that could be made into movies. There's really no excuse why they can't make a movie like this today except that the movie industry conforms to what sells now. The music back then was also beautifully romantic and that added a lot too. Pop culture is the industry's priority. And it's all crap with rehashed pop soundtracks. It's nice to know that there are still young people out there that appreciate the classics like this though.
ElectricShed 2 years ago 8
one can say that, but on the other hand, pop music then actually conformed to what we hear in this movie, and the movie industry was no better then now. They made what selled. This movie selled very well. Only ten years later, there was a massive reaction to this type of movies in Europe. Neorealist cinema and New Wave were all against such overly romantic and simplistic movies.
ivanofna 2 years ago
does that girl eat anything?
MCRrox1996 2 years ago 18
I love the scene in front of the fire place, because he finally starts showing his feelings toward her! I LOVE THIS MOVIE!!! I can watch it over and over again!!!
tues21oct 3 years ago 68
Me too! It's one of the most romantic scenes I've ever seen!
illi10nis27 2 years ago 8
the bit where Favell gets in the car with couple and starts saying "things are going well for you, better than expected..." -- doesn;t make much sense -- they AREN'T going well at all! We have just heard about the holes in the boat etc. In the book he coes to speak to them once there has been a verdict of suicide
orlando098 3 years ago
I just love that when Laurence embrace her, he's always tenderly touches and caresses her face. It's so sweet. Sigh...
aidelade27 3 years ago 12
I hate favvel... Grrrr
I had to read the book for english
i really loved it!:D:D
bea7000 3 years ago 3
the man who says "i don't want to go to the asylum, them cruel folks there" scares me, hes kinda creepy
dianaberry1993 3 years ago 2
that is so romantic. i LOVE this movie!
dianaberry1993 3 years ago 2
ha. It's even proper then without tongues..Not too HOT outside... but inside...mmm..INTIMACY..between two hearts...Nobody must see it...
StupidFoolLady 3 years ago 9
ohh.. I want to be Joan at 2.36 - 2.50 TOO ^^()
StupidFoolLady 3 years ago 6
This comment has received too many negative votes show
It's not even a proper kiss. No tongues...
xxeternalbeautyxx 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
.....well did you see where his hand went lol?
verosapphire 3 years ago
What a cast........
HarborGuy 3 years ago 14
I love that Joan finally gains a little confidence. And I want that fireplace. And Maxim. And the dog.
magpiepeck 4 years ago 91
@magpiepeck LOL! Me too!
TheSkylur44 1 year ago
@magpiepeck Eee! I love the dog, too!
Trund27 11 months ago
I want to be where Joan is at 2:36 - 2:50! ;)
velocikat 4 years ago 11
Yep, she did, but well I better not give anything away unless you decide to read the book.
lshield1 4 years ago 3
omg that guy talks 99mph!
ihateskirts 4 years ago 6
Yep, shot her right in the heart in the book. For the movie, they had to change it and make it an accident because the code at the time could not allow a murderer to go free. (something like that anyway)
velocikat 4 years ago 5
He killed her in the book.
ian38018 4 years ago 3
yeah but he didnt actually kill her she hit her head and she was a nasty piece of wrk anyway
555564 4 years ago
so let me get this straight she decided to stay with a man who is a murderer of a previous wife?
JaneAustenRules 4 years ago 3
I'd say: she stayed w/ the man she loves, no matter what...
calybdis 4 years ago 7
in the book? i haven't read the book. did she stay with max?
vrgyan 3 years ago
as far as I can remember, she did. She was faithful to him...
gos11387 3 years ago 8
He didn't murder her. No offense, but weren't you watching the movie?
Addicted890189 3 years ago
in the book, he actually murders her. hitchcock didnt want to risk making the hero a murderer (in fact, someone capable of a double murder, since he believed she was carrying an unborn child) - and letting him getting away with it, so he stuck to the safe side and deviated a little, making it an accident.
it is the crux of du maurier's novel, and she took this risk of not being understood and being condemned. hitchcock didnt take the risk.
Lucithen 3 years ago 3
I'm actually glad Hitchcock changed it. I like a hero I can believe in. It doesn't feel like a happy ending if the bad guy gets away. But that's just my opinion. I think Joan is just great in this movie -- she captures the child-like quality perfectly.
danaeashley22 3 years ago 3
well, yeah...thats why hitchcock changed it i guess. and i think there was even a law saying the murderer couldnt get away. its my opinion of course, but it depends on whether or not you see Maxim as the 'bad guy' - its rather open to interpretation. for me, the antagonist is actually Rebecca...but its just my opinion. And Joan is definitely does a great job - she is how i imagined the second wife when I read the book. Emilia Fox also does a good job in the other production :)
Lucithen 3 years ago 4
Well it's a bit simplistic to call him "the bad guy" in the book -- he was certainly very much provoked by Rebecca, who had all these lovers, and was taunting him that he would never be able to prove it in a divorce court because everyone thought she was a wonderful wife to him, and she then implied she was carrying a child by her cousin, and said he would inherit Manderley -- and Maxim shoots her.
orlando098 3 years ago 4
It turns out later she probably wanted him to kill her, because she had found out she had cancer and she had always said when he died she wanted it to be quick, not drawn out
orlando098 3 years ago 6
True -- but what I really meant was that it doesn't feel like a happy ending if the hero gets away with murder (however much the victim may have deserved it).
danaeashley22 3 years ago
i don't remember the book very well but i think Rebecca made him kill her because she wanted to die. there was a reason for this, but maybe we should all (re)read the book and know for ourselves ;)
mjloca 3 years ago
yes, but the previous wife was a complete bitch who just married him for his social position and money and proceded to shag endless other men and tanunted him about how his inheritance would go to her lover's son -- the new Mrs de Winter loves Maxim and is glad to hear Rebecca was not this wonderful model wife after all, and that Maxim hated her
orlando098 3 years ago 12