1940: Rebecca - Hitchcock's obsessions... Love, Violence and the Psycho-sexual

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Alfred Hitchcock is maybe the greatest and most well-known directors in all of cinema. His towering body of work includes such masterpieces as Psycho, Vertigo, North by Northwest. But interwoven into his work an ideological through-line that threads between love, sex, and violence. Relationships in the work of Hitchcock are more than just two people coming together, they are demonstrations of power.
Rebecca from 1940 tells the story of a young woman struggling to escape the shadow of her husband's first wife, and it's also a fantastic example of the kinds of relationships found throughout Hitchcock's work. ones where power and domination inevitably lead to violence.
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[@karlkarlos3545]

Interesting observation: Did anyone notice that the real name of the protagonist (played by Joan Fontaine) is never revealed? Throughout the film her identity is always suppressed by the overbearing shadow of her predecessor.

[@bernardoabreu4605]

Yes! She's just the new Mrs. De Winter

[@nanasshi0711]

oof i didn't realize that too

[@jaymesguy239]

That was in the book, too. She was merely introduced as 'I, Mrs. De Winter.

[@akikolehmainen88]

The novel Rebecca starts, "Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again", as told by the unnamed protagonist. Now whose dream might that be, and were there ever more than one Mrs De Winter? ; )

[@tricivenola8164]

That's a big factor in both book and movie. Her name is "unusual and beautiful," like her father who named her, but it remains a mystery. Hitchcock carried this over into the film.

[@fionahurley5546]

The film Rebecca stuck fairly closely to the original book by Daphne du Maurier, so the ideas are more du Maurier's obsessions rather than Hitchcock's.

[@otherpill7008]

Exactly

[@otherpill7008]

Fiona Hurley Exactly

[@silentwitness536]

Well .. Hitchcock CHOSE to direct a book about that obsession, so there's that.

[@architectonic99]

Exactly, Hitchcock says so as well in his interview to Francois Truffaut

[@silentwitness536]

@@architectonic99 oh

[@MD-ev9hs]

I watched REBECCA first, at 11 or 12 years of age, on a reruns of old black and white movies, in South America. Unbelievable, but this movie (after more than 40 years, since I first watched it), still holds me 100% SPELLBOUND...

[@lathanandrews417]

I like how you reference Spellbound, another awesome Hitchcock film!!

[@ElliotCoen]

Incredible video! I'm in love with Rebecca. I'm so glad to have the Criterion blu-ray in my collection!

[@vicenteortegarubilar9418]

This channel has done it again. A great video about an underrated classic.

[@theduckczar6051]

I wouldn't say it's quite underrated, as it is very highly acclaimed, but I do agree it should be more talked about.

[@devonhayes2209]

Underrated? It won an Oscar

[@veda6907]

@@devonhayes2209 in addition, it won Best Picture and had 11 nominations. totally not underrated.

[@nanasshi0711]

i just finished watching this movie. what a satisfying ending and great acting. i started clapping as soon as the movie finished

[@chriscann7627]

She may be unmarried, but the Housekeeper is MRS Danvers, not Miss, let alone Ms! In the period, the title "Mrs" conveyed higher social standing and authority than "Miss", and so senior female servants, chiefly housekeepers and cooks used "Mrs" as an honorific title - think of those most celebrated TV cooks, Mrs Bridges (Upstairs Downstairs) and Mrs Patmore (Downton Abbey).

[@h.calvert3165]

Nor is it Mandalay, but rather Manderley. 🏰

[@alg11297]

I personally can't think of a single dramatic movie that didn't combine sex and violence. Even film noir uses it all too much. It should be noted that Rebecca was a very popular book at the time and Hitch was told not to leave too much out as the female audience would be upset. If it's about dominance and subordination - well that's about it. The actress was picked because of her nervous look (according to Hitch) and there doesn't seem to be any scenes where she isn't scared, or falling apart. It's also a Cinderella story where a poor girl becomes the wife of the very wealthy man for no particular reason.

[@tricivenola8164]

You underestimate the nameless heroine of Rebecca. She makes a very definite turn, takes control of the situation, and deals with Mrs Danvers and the potential disaster for her husband in a strong decisive manner.

[@sampuatisamuel9785]

Maxim wanted a quiet mannered wife who would adore him and be loyal to him

[@ChildOfTheFlower]

Rebecca is my favorite film, so glad and surprised you picked it out for the 1940 segment.

[@sumoni]

Hitchcock's Rebecca is the best adaptation so far. The latest adaptation (2019 or 2020) of Rebecca is actually not bad. Better than the one before. But I always recommend Hitchcock's version.

[@fsss9666]

I just discovered your channel and it's amazing, I'm doing a marathon of all the videos. Congratulations!

[@andreheizer]

Wow I love this reading of the film!

[@laHagans]

Great video! I’m definitely going to give this film a rewatch.

[@tricivenola8164]

Thanks for this. I just watched the remake and needed to detox.

[@pavelpavel7217]

Great video!

[@alessandroyuriAlegrette]

Very good analysis about Hitchcocok's classic movies. Congratulations!

[@spiritualops249]

wow! just saw you video on Hitchcock after making my comment below! Fantastic!!!! I just subscribed. Never seen your videos before. I got a youtube alert that M. How commented on something I said on another channel about John Mc Cain! maybe it wasn’t you! But here I am, and Im all the better for it! thank you! Cheers, again! 😂🌟😊

[@huntspoint]

Grindhouse cinema gets my vote! Another great video. Keep it up!

[@francescomanzo3939]

A very underrated Hitchcock classic.

[@TheRealGSmith]

Underrated by whom?

[@cinecriticacrack8591]

Please make one of “Gone with the Wind”

[@karlkarlos3545]

Wasn't that 1939? I was wondering why he left it out.

[@pony7653]

Yes! I know 1939 is packed but I'd love to hear your thoughts on "Gone with the Wind"!

[@alondraperez-ramirez8363]

Any chance for some Frank Capra film reviews? I'd like to see some of his less discussed films like 'The Power Of The Press' or 'Mr. Deeds Goes to Town'.

[@kriitikko]

Lovely video, as usual. :-) History of Italian Horror, please.

[@TheRealGSmith]

Well, Mrs. Danvers doesn't trick the new Mrs. De Winter into dressing as the former one. And Mrs. Danvers doesn't find out that Max killed his wife but rather that she committed suicide. But other than that ... yes, I guess.

[@ricicornielf.2140]

muy muy muy bueno!! gracias!!!

[@arnepianocanada]

Mr Karlos below: as with Marilyn Monroe's nameless character in The Seven Year Itch, it's an intentional touch to deepen the feel of fantasy, altered reality.

[@harsyakiarraathallah2222]

I Have been that Kid who is Always wanted to make a Movie like Hitchcock with Batman.

[@enriqueprieto2922]

Awesome video Charlie. By the way, do you use letterboxd? I would love to follow you there.

[@beechnut8779]

One of my favorite movies, and definitely at the top of my list of favorite books. I highly recommend reading the book as well as watching the movie. The book has one huge revelation about Maxim DeWinter that Hitchcock wasn't allowed to use in the film, and so the ultimate power of the story was diluted because of it.

[@bobvanilla7903]

Could you explain what that revelation was?

[@beechnut8779]

@@bobvanilla7903 That would be a spoiler, so I recommend the book! But it has to do with how Rebecca died...

[@scronx]

Some good insights here. Hitch was a very sick man and some very sick productions happened under his name. His best work is immortal, yes including ,Rebecca'.

[@FlippytheMasterofPie]

History of grindhouse please!

[@PatrickWDunne]

Holy crap, this channel is so impressive. I'm so glad I discovered it.

[@GiantBrother]

We're soon entering the early 40s, the world war 2 era. Please do a video about war propaganda movies.

[@francisdonner8306]

Rebecca one of my all time favorites. Modern take on Mrs. Danvers and lesbian relationship with Rebecca? I just thought it was maternal affection. She had come with Rebecca so maybe this evil woman raised Rebecca and instilled her selfish qualities in Rebecca since childhood.

[@TheRealGSmith]

I'd say the sexual interpretation is a bit unfounded but not too far fetched either. I'm not familiar with the book, but in the stage musical version, Mrs. Danvers is obsessed with what a strong woman Rebecca was - everybody loved her but she had no love for anyone.

[@janelle144]

Sex and violins. According to Tippi Hedren Hitchcock harrassed her and she really didn't have much of a career after he stopped other directors from hiring her.

[@tricivenola8164]

Hedren was the only one to grouse about Htichcock. She was doing commercials when he made her a star, and her limited talent couldn't carry her past him.

[@janelle144]

@@tricivenola8164 That is probably true. Or she did not want to do B movies where that would take her.

[@Dabhach1]

It's MRS Danvers.

[@eliasilustrado]

Not a single mention to Daphne du Maurier. Not surprised.

[@deanglass1688]

Manderley and Mandalay are more than one place.

[@brett7y7]

Wow! He must have been sexually frustrated. No wonder his movies tended to be so dark and creepy.

[@Xeronimo74]

Another great essay! I had to watch it at 1.25x though ...

[@susanb2015]

Did you get Peter Lawford's grandson to do the narration?

[@brucekemp2578]

There are many "Subtexts" in this film. Someone who is just relaxing and watching a film made in another generaton would miss many of the subtle themes that are presented in this fim. There seems to be a lot going on below the surface of this film.

[@bartvanruiten4571]

Grindhouse!

[@devonhayes2209]

We are years away but yea we need that for 2007

[@oobrocks]

This movie won the Oscar for best picture...but Not Hitch! In fact he never won an Oscar

[@arnepianocanada]

Such insight and yet you mis-speak the actual 'villain' moniker! *Mrs* ("Misses") Danvers, not Ms; seems inobservant and disrespectful to get main-character address wrong. Care so much? Get it right.

[@deathcrist2000]

A History of Grindhouse

[@rixx46]

It’s worth noting that Max killed Rebecca as part of her final desire to destroy him. She could have killed herself (knowing she had terminal cancer) instead, she lied and told Max she was pregnant with her lover’s child, pushing him to strike out.

[@TheRealGSmith]

It was basically assisted suicide with an unknowing assistant.

[@sirlordhenrymortimer6620]

Italian horror especially movies by Dario Argento and mario brava

[@allegory6393]

As for Hitchcock 'the man', the current cliche maintains that he dominated his women protagonists, etc. Apart from Tipi Hedren -who was a special case, for Hitchcock really made her into an actress, she had no prior experience (or talent) and her work was in advertising toothpaste or something. Because he considered her his own creation, he developed a demented, pathetic Pygmalion-like obsession with her, and only bad things could come out of it- what other female protagonist of his has ever spoken badly of him? Kim Novak (and this was after Hitchcock's death when she did not have to be gracious) has always maintained that he was wonderful to her and that she, for the first time in her career, felt free to explore a character as Hitchcock put all his trust in her. Ingrid Bergman simply loved him, despite their disagreements on set. Grace Kelly had great affection for him. Doris Day had only good things to say about him, ditto Janet Leigh. The difference is that all these female protagonists were actresses and had a career in film before (and after) Hitchcock, and whatever 'obsession' he MAY HAVE felt for each one of them, it was never manifested. I think he gave us remarkable female characters, complex, profound and dark (and brave), and in a world where most viewers are after hagiographies and identity affirmations and (fake) 'positive role models', his films still shine and disturb.

[@nicholasreid1836]

A very good analysis, but I think it was obvious to the audience (and certainly the better critics) even in 1940 that Mrs Danvers is lesbian, and (in movies I mean) the Australian actress playing the role acquired the same sort of persona as Agnes Moorehead. My only regret is that you did not give this critique of Hitchcock to one of his better films - like "Strangers on a Train", "Vertigo", "Psycho" or even "Notorious", if you want to go back to the 1940s. For when all is said and done, and despite its subtleties, "Rebecca" is essentially gothic melodrama.

[@NathanieldeBell]

A History of Italian Horror.

[@Blaagon]

Another great video. Would love to see the history of italian horror.

[@arnesahlen2704]

Maxim DID NOT kill Rebecca. Did you watch? Mrs Danvers finds that he *didn't* (censors would insist on punishment if he did, as in the book). Mrs D refuses them happiness in "Rebecca's" manor.

[@TheFiown]

WHY do people keep saying 'Mandalay' when discussing Rebecca ? It is 'Manderley' not Mandalay.

[@richardbachman8344]

Grindhouse

[@Cinemallennials]

Listen to the NEW episode of #CINEMALLENNIALS podcast to hear our thoughts on Netflix's #REBECCA and how it relates to the 1940 Hitchcock classic. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jXSZmWaBr9mtmrM

[@keithnaylor1981]

Good narration but it reveals too much about the movie plot. Had to switch off, but not before I was stunned by the clarity of the HD.

[@rockhourglass4461]

No gone with the wind? Dislike

[@goldendreams3437]

Now to wait for 1941! Yay baby! Which film will it be for 1941

[@karlkarlos3545]

I would give my old childhood sled if i knew which one is next.

[@goldendreams3437]

@@karlkarlos3545 rosebud

[@JoyTheNetflixAddict]

If ur referencing other films pls give a spoiler warning geez

[@chayyim]

History of Italian Horror!

[@arnepianocanada]

Mrs D *did not learn* Maxim killed Rebecca (as in the book.) 'Hayes Code' would not have let him off. Mrs D learnt of her CANCER; burned ManderLEY not LAY so Maxim could not be there with wife 2.

[@shermansav]

history of Italian.

[@shermansav]

and Well done Charlie

[@TakeMeToYourCinema]

Italian Horror, easily.

[@garjo7131]

A history of Italian Horror

[@USAFmedicVET]

One of my favorite films! Hitchcock was a genius director, but as a man, he was an abusive, manipulative, sexist PIG enabled by his wife! She knew he sexually assaulted and abused Tippi Hedren and did nothing to stop it, even after tearful pleas by Hedren. His treatment of "his blonds" was abominable and well-documented, but he was obsessed with Tippi Hedren was the worst! When she rebuffed his attempted rape during the filming of "The Birds", he extended the attic scene where she's attacked by maniacal birds, from one day to five days, and instead of mechanical birds, used dozens of real birds! So the bloody pecks on Tippi's beautiful face are real and Hitch was likely an undiagnosed sociopath! Great movies though..so there's that!

[@candide1065]

you should definitely seek help

[@USAFmedicVET]

@@candide1065 From your therapist?

[@francescomanzo3939]

History of Italian Horror.

[@user-tj3ym8bk7t]

MUBI has to be a waste of money if they sponsor this ill informed auto writer.

[@nickthestick8963]

Italian horror!

[@TheSouthpaw217]

Italian horror.