Rebecca (1940): Shira's Take

Ahh, yes. Finally a best picture winner that I really, really loved. Rebecca was very slow, almost unnervingly so. Its gradually unveiling twists, characteristic of any great Hitchcock film, were matched by its subtle, skilled actors. What else can be expected with Laurence Olivier (Maxim de Winter) and Joan Fontaine (the second Mrs. de Winter) as the stars? And with an incredible supporting cast as well, featuring Judith Anderson as the creepy-as-hell Mrs. Danvers, this film left absolutely nothing to be desired. The most amazing thing, I think, that the film accomplished was to make Rebecca's essence the most powerful force in the film. In the scene in the cottage, where Maxim reveals his secrets to his wife for the first time, it seems as though Rebecca is more a concept to him than just his former wife. I think this was Hitchcock's greatest power--to make something small and unimportant seem the most terrifying thing in the world (note: I still can't ever look at birds the same way). Truly a remarkable movie. 10/10