The Classics discussion

I don't know how many of you have watched "Rebecca", directed by Alfred Hitchcock but it's an interesting take on the book. It won Best Picture and star Laurence Olivier, Joan Fontaine and Judith Anderson.

Has anyone else seen it? I thought the portrayal of Mrs. Danvers by Anderson is truly creepy. Also, Joan Fontaine plays the part perfectly.

I haven't seen it yet, but if it has Laurence Olivier in it, I'm there! I will be getting it from the library this weekend.

I haven't seen the movie (didn't realize there was one) but will probably be watching it once I finish the book. I'm on chapter 5 right now, so I have a ways to go.

You can watch it on YouTube. Olivier looks gorgeous in the movie.

Vivian Leigh actually did a screen test to play opposite him because they were together at the time but she came off as too strong.

I just watched the movie and it was good, but not as great as the book...as that always seems to be the case. I did like the casting for both women in the story. Mrs. Danvers was great! I like the story of the book much better, including the ending.

I agree with Sadie. I loved the book so much that I went searching for a copy of the film, especially since Hitchcock directed it. The book's better. The film tried to stay true to the book in most parts, which made it rather long and hard to watch if you already read the book. Still, I found the book much more exhaustive in the sense that the characters fell more real in it than on screen, despite already having actors to play them out. In fact, I think I understood the movie more because I read the book beforehand.
I did think the roles of Mrs. de Winter and Mrs. Danvers were played exceptionally. You could really see Joan Fontaine transition from a shy, new second wife to a more mature woman by the end of the movie. And you never really see Mrs. Danvers walk -- she just suddenly appears in her scenes, which I thought was really creepy.