Franz Waxman - Theme from Rebecca (1940)

One of the most haunting scores of all time, master film composer Franz Waxman wrote this chilling masterpiece for Alfred Hitchcock's only Best Picture Oscar winner, Rebecca (1940). Based off of Daphne DuMaurier's classic book, Rebecca is the story of the second Mrs. deWinter, a nameless young woman preceded in matrimony by the enchanting yet decieving Rebecca deWinter, and her struggle to live in a world that is perforated by the atmosphere of her predecessor.
Rebecca is one of my favorite films of all time.
Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock
Cast: Laurence Olivier, Joan Fontaine, George Sanders, Judith Anderson.
Based on the book Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier.

[@ascenbach1]

Who can ever forget the scene in which Judith Anderson stood with Joan Fontaine by the window, murmuring in her ear to coax her to commit suicide? What a movie! Although Hitchcock made many excellent movies, Rebecca is my personal favorite, too.

[@samosullivan1744]

This should have won Best Score at the 1940 Oscars!

[@maxwellross2594]

As a child I found this film thoroughly frightening. It does have an atmosphere of supernatural dread, and I thought it was actually a ghost story. The insipid young bride's constant state of terror add to this mood, as does Mrs. Danvers, the malevolent, insanely possessive housekeeper, who is fabulous.

[@chiluver1228]

One of my favorite movies from the 40's.

[@Lindanator09]

I adore Rebecca the cast and story are superb and the music fits the film absolutely

[@titanicfinatic]

There is a problem with some movies being better than the books or the books being better than the movies. I think that Rebecca is the exception where the book and the film go well together. A perfect book for a group discussion and perfect for a film club.

[@baltoman24]

Franz Waxman's scores are among the best- he was a brilliantly trained composer. This is one of the best- that slick theme for Rebecca helps bring her vividly to life even though you never see her! Really enjoyed your accompanying video. thank you

[@SweenysLover]

Very true. The film can stand on its own two feet, and the book is a great read in itself.

[@4023Essex]

Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.

[@tickledpink2U]

Quite simply the best book ever written and the best movie ever made. Love this music

[@Ssj7Crono]

I remember watching this movie for an English college project a couple years ago. I was impressed after watching it. Great movie!

[@yolorodriguez4794]

One of my absolute favorite movies of all time

[@vintagegirl7937]

Beautiful soundtrack

[@alanstacey1766]

Judith Anderson steals the show for me, What an actress. Daphnia Du Maurier is my favourite fiction writer and I've been to the book shop In Fowey. This film Frightened me as a child but it's my favourite film now.

[@brucekuehn4031]

Selznick brought Hitchcock to Hollywood and this is the first time Hitch had a full symphonic score at his disposal. Selznick/Hitchcock/Waxman followed up the next year with Suspicion. Franz Waxman also wrote the wonderful music for The Philadelphia Story in 1940.

[@Lindanator09]

I adore Rebecca the cast and the story are superb and the music fits it absolutely ,, the stills in the video make you want to watch it again

[@ruthjohn9771]

I must have watched it 50 times....I adore it! I think I was born in the wrong era! It was singularly responsible for making me love Houses, Interiors and Beautiful things

[@westernshipway3115]

Real class, real music!!!!

[@sirkkaalen5238]

LOVE this movie, and the book was really good, too. I like to watch this "once" more every now and then because this is absolutely chilling and great.

[@mariedewitt5506]

Franz Waxman's theme captured the essence of Rebecca. You can almost sense her presence

[@Spud773]

After finding this on KZbin i just had to buy the DVD and watch again! Love it! George Sanders is such a cad!!

[@MononokeRose91]

i love this music and the movie so much:)

[@B.H.56]

great movie, great score, thanks!

[@Timo20]

Thanks for this, love it!

[@richarddowney1972]

I believe Feanz Waxman the best of romantic film composers.

[@Disley74]

Superb score!

[@lewisedmundscomposer]

I wish this type of music was still in movies. It was the best era! Except for our lord John Williams, nobody can compare to this stuff.

[@chicolopes938]

Wonderful

[@Shabannie]

Yes, the music does seem mysterious and spookie. I enjoyed this! --------Ellen

[@mohammedakram4529]

Superb music.

[@koertos]

@phorsic That piece of Scriabin is wonderfull. Thank you for the tip.

[@juanjoseescrivasegui2185]

Best máster piece

[@oldmoviemusic]

@titanicfinatic That is a fantastic point. Indeed, the film and novel of Rebecca are equally atmospheric, unique and exceptional.

[@phorsic]

Reminds me of Scriabin Op. 11 No. 2...

[@drchunkybiscuit9973]

Joan Fontaine had an I.Q. of 160 when she was only 3 years old. Amazing!

[@jimrenes99]

Hollywood at its finest, just before WW II. I'm sure Laurence Olivier and Vivian Leigh are in Heaven with Scarlett O'Hara, Max DeWinter, Heathcliff, and Blanche Du Bois.... need I say more....

[@jimrick6632]

UPLOAD IN MP4 PLEASE....

[@elmozakuro]

Do they never show rebecca?

[@harrywetzel6368]

Hello, Suite Rebecca.

[@lourdesgarciamartin6477]

La película de Hitch está mucho mejor que el libro. Lo siento, Mrs. DuMaurier.

[@JohnCine]

First american Hitchcock movie

[@jimrick6632]

IS THIS FROM THE ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK, OR A RECORDING????????

[@mauricioexenberger6225]

Plagiarism - The story of "Rebecca" (from English Daphne Du Maurier) was released four years after the novel "A Sucessora/ The successor" (1934), by Brazilian writer Carolina Nabuco (1890-1981). According to Carolina herself, she translated "The Successor" into English hoping to see it published in the United States, and sent it to a literary agency in New York, with the request that she also make contact with agents in England. As soon as he read Rebecca, he wrote to the New York agent asking about the English contact, but the answer was that he had found none. Later, the New York Times Book Review publishes an article highlighting the similarities between the two novels. Television adaptation (1978), Alice = Rebecca ... kzbin.info/www/bejne/haeYgmp9qs-SlcU

[@duncann]

No. She dominates the story but there are no flashbacks to her. There's a story (that may or may not be true) that Hitchcock put a fee in for the actress playing that part to help get his budget up!

[@chuckbuckbobuck]

Boy that Joan Fontaine was a lookrt!

[@chuckbuckbobuck]

Looker!

[@heliopolis]

Daphnis and Chloe at the start anyone?

[@amyclarke41]

OK

[@rebeccawest1912]

It's so sad that Joan Fontaine and Olivier de Haviland were sisters and they were never friends, they were Hollywood rivals.

[@jillkjv3816]

Despite everything they loved each other. Olivia went to Joan for money after her divorce when she was really hard up and Joan gave her a huge sum of money, especially for those days.