5/5 Superb
  by David J. Horne (Cincinnati, Ohio United States)
I love this version and the Laurence Olivier-Joan Fontaine version. I actually prefer this version. Its narrative is more complete. I find the love between Maxim and the second Mrs. DeWinter to be more compelling in this version than in the Hitchcock. Our office had a tradition of watching hour-length episodes of films on video at lunch. We watched dozens over several years, and the tradition began with this production of Rebecca. I love both the Masterpiece Theatre version and the Hitchcock in the same way I love both the Colin Firth/Jennifer Ehle and the Keira Knigtley/Matthew MacFayden versions of Pride and Prejudice. I have both versions of Pride and Prejudice on DVD and both versions of Rebecca on VHS. The power of the Hitchcock is in the passion and romance. This version is more subtle and suspenseful. Here the DeWinters are deeply committed spouses, willing to endure suffering for the sake of each other, not mere lovers. Joan Fontaine is angelic in the Hitchcock. She excels at portraying the second Mrs. DeWinter's passion for her husband. Emilia Fox's excellent performance emphasizes the character's awkwardness. The costume party scene is particularly brilliant in this version. It's given more time to unfold and is so effective that it's painful to watch. Charles Dance is a fine, subtle actor. His Maxim is excellent, more impatient and volcanic than Olivier's. His portrayal of Tulkinghorn in Bleak House is bloodcurdling. You can't judge this version of Rebecca by the Hitchcock. They both must be enjoyed on their own merits. I read the novel because of this version, not because of the Hitchcock. I have never seen the Jeremy Brett version. He is one of my favorite actors, and I would jump at the opportunity to acquire his version of Rebecca.

4/5 Good Show
  by R. Swanson (New Mexico)
I wasn't expecting high art and I hadn't read the book. I may have seen the Hitchcock film but if so I forgot it. So I didn't have a lot of standards to measure this film by and I was free just to take it as it was... and to enjoy it.

First...it's long. When a book is condensed into a two hour film a lot of elements have to be eliminated, so this Materpiece Theater production allows for a lot of interesting details to be included.

It's set in Monte Carlo and in Cornwall so there is plenty of pleasure for the eye. Also, as a period piece it shows all the fun styles of the times.

The story seemed a little pat in the beginning and I feared it would be too predictable---wealthy widower chooses plain young working class woman over a bevy of overdressed, vapid society women. We know there will be problems awaiting her, namely the ghost of Rebecca, the reputedly amazing beauty who was the first wife of the widow, Maxim de Winter. How can such a plain girl who "is not used to be rich" navigate the ways of high society, knowing she'll be compared constantly to the amazing Rebecca. She has to endure the cruelty of the miserable housemistress, Mrs. Danvers who clearly was in love with Rebecca.
Worst is her fear that she will fail to hold the love of Maxim as he realizes that she can never measure up to her predecessor.

In the second half, the plot becomes even more complex which holds your interest as surprise after surprise is revealed. It's a good story!

The production is up to the high level of Masterpiece Theater and the acting is first rate. Charles Dance is impressive as Maxim de Winter, displaying the pride of his position which sometimes borders on impatience and criticism of Wife II. (She is, curiously, never named.) He makes the character real, and thorougly understandable as he battles his own inner demons. He is also quite strikingly handsome and cuts a fine figure in his 1920's style swim suit.

Diana Rigg is wonderfully evil as the dementedly devoted housekeeper. Her greasy gray bob and slash of too-red lipstick make for an almost humourous portayal of the dreadful woman. Rigg gives a well rounded performance, eventually letting us see the weakness that underlay her cruelty.

My only quibble about casting is that of Emilia Fox as the heroine, the new Mrs. de Winter. She is beyond plain, in my opinion, veering on dowdy and it is hard to see how Maxim would have fallen so much in love with her in a few days as to want to marry her. The only plausible explanation I could come up with is that she is the polar opposite of Rebecca, the woman he's trying to forget...so her very lack of beauty of either form or face is in her favor. Also, she's young and he can project whatever he wants to see onto her. But that's probably going further into the psychology than the film intends.

As the host of Masterpiece Theater said, this isn't a work for English teachers, but it's a good show and if you don't expect Olivier or Hitchcock, you may really enjoy it.

5/5 Great Classic- romance and mystery!
  by Dara Melrath
I loved the book, and I enjoyed this movie rendition by BBC. It is VHS so quality is not as up to date as some blue ray DVDs, but still a good film. A great story, along the lines of Jane Eyre but set in the 1930s. Don't want to say to much, just watch it!

5/5 Rebecca
  by Shannah Eagles
We'd watched the first half of this version of Rebecca but forgot to record the second half so of course had to get it somehow. We thoroughly enjoyed the whole film and would wholeheartedly recommend it to everyone.

5/5 Powerful, Haunting, Memorable, Mysterious
  by Erika Borsos (Gulf Coast of FL, USA)
This film adaptation of the novel "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier superbly portrays the elegance and mystery of Maxim de Winter whose first wife died in a boating accident and the subsequent romance and marriage to his second wife. Their chance meeting on the coast of Monte Carlo in the 1920s leads to an unexpected May-December romance which surprises everyone who knows Max. He is considered a handsome wealthy aristocratic gentleman, set in his ways, not likely to engage in a whirlwind romance. Yet, Maxim fell in love with his second wife within a short period of time, amidst the surroundings of Monte Carlo among a circle of wealthy society friends. Amazingly, the viewer never learns the name of the second Mrs. de Winter who is played by Emilia Fox. The second Mrs. de Winter is a charming, quiet and well educated young lady in her early twenties who had a job as companion to Mrs. Van Hopper, a spoiled rich elderly woman who loves to engage in gossip and socialize with members of her social set. The drama and mystery of the novel unfolds after the couple returns to England to Manderley, the magnificent old mansion where the de Winters reside ...

The new Mrs. de Winter settles into her role as the mistress of Manderley. She gradually learns household routines and her duties as Maxim's wife and explores the great mansion and lovely natural surroundings, plus the nearby coast. A palpable tension exists between Maxim's second wife and Mrs. Danvers the head housekeeper. Mrs. Danvers took great pride in her special relationship with Rebecca, Maxim's first wife. She has not emotionally accepted Rebecca's death and behaves in a sinister, haunting manner. Diana Rigg does an outstanding performance in depicting the deep dark churning emotions within this character. The new Mrs. de Winter creates a picture of Rebecca in idealistic terms, as the beautiful and perfect wife for Maxim. She feels inadequate in measuring up to this unrealistic ideal image. When she attempts to share these feelings with Max, he reassures her but also dismisses her feelings as something which can be overcome with time and effort. It is as if the ghost of Rebecca hovers within Manderley and is haunting the second Mrs. de Winter.

When Rebecca's boat is discovered not far from the harbor along with her body on board, the novel becomes more complex and intense. Daphne du Maurier creates dense drama which gradually uncovers well kept secrets hidden within the ancient walls of Manderley. Social appearances were deceiving, it turns out Max and Rebecca were not the ideal couple they portrayed themselves to be. The mysterious drowning death of Rebecca holds many clues but the viewer needs to see this film or read the book to understand just how great a writer Daphne du Maurier really is. The manner in which the author gradually peels away the layers of the complex problems which affects the lives of this married couple is outstanding. She manages to hold the reader's attention throughout the book by playing upon reader's emotions regarding the mystery and intrigue of the relationship between Max and Rebecca. If their closely guarded secret was revealed, it could result in the ruin the marriage of the new Mrs. de Winter and her husband and create a huge scandal. This film adaptation of the book does a superb job in providing a colorful visual tapestry which ties together many mysteries revealed at the end of the book. The casting of roles was outstanding. I read the book many years ago and this film elegantly and dramatically reveals the deep hidden secrets of the past. Erika Borsos [pepper flower]