“You can find a lot of conflicting quantities of writing–between Alfred Hitchcock, Daphne Du Maurier, and you will David O. Selznick–for it 1940 movie become an entire achievements, however, through its first couple of-thirds it is because best a myth of puberty due to the fact people of the Disney films, documenting new childlike, nameless heroine’s initiation for the mature mysteries of sex, death, and label, in addition to impossibility away from fixing the relationship these types of forces which have family unit members strictures.” — Dave Kehr, il Reader
“An outstanding example of new movies while the a well-known storyteller. Sherwood and you will Joan Harrison. ” – Leslie Halliwell, The fresh Filmgoer’s Spouse
“Daphne Du Maurier’s pretty smaller bestseller. became a tale regarding anxiety and you can shame, power and you may classification. What makes the movie two times as fascinating is Hitchcock’s fear of women, and in what way it goes beyond the effortless limits of narrative. A riveting and painful motion picture.” – Helen MacKintosh, TimeOut Motion picture Guide
“The new pure, swooning fulfillment this particular movie affords – the melodrama, the relationship, their extravagant hazard – causes it to be a must-come across. truly a beneficial masterclass inside artistry. The brand new atic words, and you will shows something rare in just about any motion picture of one months: emails just who change, and are generally satisfyingly proven to exercise for the duration of the story. A remarkable shed is actually round out of by the George Sanders, to tackle Rebecca’s caddish cousin: once again, a superb lightness and you will fertility regarding acting, and you may, again, particular superb suitings. A pleasant lose from just one from cinema’s experts. To not getting skipped.” – Peter Bradshaw, New Protector
“Consuming Lyle Wheeler’s good indoor kits (it dwarf Fontaine’s bashful reputation) and you may an incredibly caddish turn away from an excellent blackmailing George Sanders, Rebecca sweeps the newest reader together in order to a keen incendiary end.” – Thomas Dawson, BBC
“Shot for example a horror flick and you can presenting Olivier as one of the least sympathetic heroes regarding the Hitchcock cannon, Rebecca ‘s wise extrapolation into the themes passed on regarding golden-haired thrillers and you may Bronte novels allows the brand new movie director first off a great suspenseful love you to definitely barely provides its subtext within the skin, and you can smuggle within the a story of one woman’s immersion to the sexual expectations of her era. Rebecca is almost certainly not an effective Hitchcock picture, however it is tough to thought whatever you today contemplate because an excellent Hitchcock image without it.” – Keith Phipps, The latest Onion An effective. V. Club
Critics’ Part – Rebecca
Prizes & Remembers The National Panel away from Feedback placed Rebecca tenth toward their ten-greatest list having 1940, for the Grapes out-of Wrath in the number 1. They also indexed Joan Fontaine’s among the year’s finest shows. Rebecca acquired eleven Oscar® nominations — Ideal Image which Lang son girls are sexiest, Ideal Movie director, Ideal Actor (Laurence Olivier), Finest Celebrity (Fontaine), Finest Support Celebrity (Judith Anderson), Most useful Screenplay, Top Cinematography, Greatest Modifying, Best Score, Better Artwork Guidelines and greatest Graphic Effects. After the 1939’s Moved to your Wind, this is the following year in a row producer David O. Selznick had lead the film most abundant in nominations. Rebecca’s battle for Ideal Photo is formidable and you can incorporated The new Red grapes out of Wrath, The fresh new Philadelphia Tale, The great Dictator and you will Hitchcock’s own Overseas Correspondent.
To switch their Oscar® chance, Selznick hosted an excellent “re-premiere” from Rebecca at an extra-work on household when you look at the La the afternoon the brand new nominations was basically established
The guy even got the latest governor off Ca to help you re also-name Hollywood Boulevard “Rebecca Boulevard” throughout the day. Rebecca got Finest Picture, the only such as for example award to possess a beneficial Hitchcock flick, and best Cinematography. Hitchcock destroyed the new leading prize so you’re able to John Ford for the Grapes out-of Wrath. Olivier missing Greatest Actor in order to James Stewart in the Philadelphia Story, when you’re Ginger Rogers into the Cat Foyle overcome Fontaine to possess Most readily useful Celebrity. The new CRITICS’ Area “Rebecca is actually an artistic success whose b. Dave Selznick’s picture is just too heartbreaking and you will seriously emotional to hit the flamboyant out-of greater listeners notice. It does located desire regarding critics and group patronage given that an instance of the benefit inside the narrative crisis of brilliant display portraiture, but general audiences commonly case it an extended-slow drama which will was told ideal inside shorter footage.
