REBECCA
UK, 2020, 121 minutes, Colour.
Lily James, Armie Hammer, Kristin Scott Thomas, Sam Riley, Tom Goodman- Hill, Briony Miller, Keeley Hawes, Jane Laportaire, Bill Paterson.
Directed by Ben Wheatley.
Rebecca is probably the most celebrated of Daphne du Maurier’s novels – a number of which were filmed: Jamaica Inn, My Cousin Rachel, The Birds. The first film version, by Alfred Hitchcock, won the Academy Award for the Best Film of 1940. It starred Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine as the central couple and Judith Anderson memorable as the housekeeper, sinister, Mrs Danvers.
It is always a risk to go back to the source material of a celebrated film. There had been two television versions of Rebecca. This present version was financed by Netflix.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, many of the immediate comments were very unfavourable, disappointed in the rendition of the novel, making comparisons with Hitchcock’s film, derogatory remarks about Lily James and Armie Hammer (although praised by many others) but a consensus about the striking performance by Kristin Scott Thomas as Mrs Danvers.
The setting is the 1930s, opening in Monte Carlo, wealthy society, class distinctions, and a snobby American matron played by Ann Dowd with Lily James as her maid and companion. She attracts the attention of British widower, Maxim de Winter, Armie Hammer. There is romance – and some sexual behaviour, more 21st century 20th century, and the two are married.
Rebecca is the name of Maxim de Winter’s first wife, now dead, hallowed in the memory of many people in the ways she is talked about, put on a pedestal by Mrs Danvers who had cared for her since she was a child, not talked about by her husband. Lily James’s character has no personal name but is the second Mrs de Winter.
The setting is Manderley in Cornwall, the vast property, mansion, grounds, going to cliffs and down to the beach and sea. Everything is seen from the perspective of the second Mrs de Winter. She has led a fairly sheltered life before travelling with the American, comes from a family of moderate means, is not savvy in this Manderley world. She is awkward in managing, is dependent in her learning, is curious, makes mistakes, and experiences the severity of Mrs Danvers’ memories of Rebecca and her treatment of the new wife. Busy about many things and business, her husband tends to neglect her.
A key event is the preparation of the traditional ball and Mrs Danvers getting her revenge, promising to help, advising the new young maid to suggest a dress for the wife – which is a disaster because, when the young woman comes down to the ball, everybody is aghast because that dress was one of the features for Rebecca’s presence.
In many ways, complications are resolved but further complications arise when the boat carrying Rebecca when she drowned comes ashore – revelations about Rebecca’s life, a visit to a doctor, a visit from a cousin who has had an affair with her (Sam Riley), suspicions that Max had murdered his wife. It is here that the young new wife comes into her own, rising to the occasion, taking initiatives, checking out information about Rebecca and visiting the doctor.
There is quite a melodramatic ending, melodramatically satisfying, involving fire and a climax with Mrs Danvers.
For those who have not read the book or seen the Hitchcock film, probably an enjoyable two hours of romance and melodrama. And, perhaps enjoyable, for those who try to avoid comparisons with the past.
1. The popularity of Daphne du Maurier’s novel? 80 years since Hitchcock’s Oscar-winning film? The timeliness of a new cinema interpretation?
2. The initial setting is in Monte Carlo, the 1930s, the lavish buildings, streets, interiors? The Mediterranean coast? The contrast with Cornwall, Manderley, the approach to the building, the facade, the lavish interiors? The hut on the sea? The ocean, the coast, the beach, the cliffs? The musical score?
3. The title? The dead Mrs de Winter? A presence despite her death, idealised, her reputation, the reality? The second Mrs de Winter, no personal name?
4. The young woman, in service, the dominating American, class distinctions, snobbery? Bribing the concierge? Max seeing her, his invitations to her, her initial reluctance, enjoying his company, the notes, the variety of meetings, outings, driving, letting her drive, the swim? Her lack of experience, lack of travel, a lack of savvy? Her boss, currying favour with Max, yet putting the young woman down? The saying goodbye to Max, his decision, marrying, the honeymoon, the return to England?
5. The framework, the opening lines of the novel, her memories, the strange experiences? The reprise at the end?
6. The arrival, the servants all out in front, her awkwardness, not used to dealing with a mansion, a household of servants, protocols and decorum? Frank and his friendly welcome? The butler and his supercilious approach? The range of servants, the young man and his standing on guard, Clarice, personal maid, the friendly approaches and the young woman’s reliance on her? Max asking Mrs Danvers to take on the tour of the house?
7. Mrs Danvers, Kristin Scott Thomas, her screen presence, her look, communicating and judgemental attitude? Her clothes, decorum? Her work in the house, the emerging information about Rebecca, her guarding her as a child, her growing up, coming to Manderley, allowing her to live a free life? The continued innuendo? Condemnation of the new wife?
8. Maxim, Armie Hammer and his screen personality, the attraction towards the young woman, the outings, the effect on him? No information about Rebecca? Reticence, the audience judgement on him?
9. At home, love for his wife, the intimacy? The contrast with his being busy, the estate? Going for walks, his not wanting her on the beach, discovering the hut, sending Frank to lock the hut? The young woman, the discovery of the man in the house? The pursuit of the dog, the rope?
10. The new wife trying to manage, wandering the house, curiosity, Rebecca’s rooms, searching her drawers for information, fashions in London? Her breaking the pottery – and
later held to account?
11. Max and his absences, further information about Rebecca? Her cupboards? The scene with the nightgown and Mrs Danvers and the young woman feeling the texture?
12. The decision about the ball? Max wary? The friendly visit of Max’s sister and her husband, his gaffes? The grandmother and her declaring this was not Max’s wife? The later held that the ball by Max’s sister, her kindness towards Rebecca?
13. Jack, the man about town, his visit, to Mrs Danvers, his cousin, the secrecy from Max, self-assured, taking the young woman for her first ride on a horse? The later revelations about him, the affair with Rebecca?
14. Preparing for the ball, the dress, Clarice and her advice, the dress like the portrait, the young woman coming down, everybody aghast, Max’s reaction, her hurrying to her room, the sister in law and her encouraging her to come down? Her coming down, mingling with the guests? Awkward in the servants’ quarters and warned away?
15. The bedroom, Max and his apology?
16. The decision to give notice to Mrs Danvers, their discussions, the appeal for help – and Mrs Danvers’ revenge with the dress and the humiliation?
17. The boat, the rescue, the discovery of Rebecca’s body in the boat, the holes in the boat? The issue of the previous body identified by Max as his wife?
18. The shift of atmosphere, the police and the investigation, Jack and his presence and taunts, the attempt to extort money from Max? Suspicions on Max? Max, the discussions with his wife, the issue of the gun, his wanting her to shoot him?
19. The young woman, finding courage and conviction, going to London, the address of the doctor, getting in, looking at the file, discovering the truth about Rebecca’s illness? Not pregnant? Cancer? The doctor and his testimony for the police? Max in prison, his being released, the taunts from Jack, the blackmail money?
20. In the court, testimonies, the crucial witness from Mrs Danvers and her lies?
21. The restoration of some kind of order, his wife forgiving Max and encouraging him?
22. The return, Manderley on fire, rescuing the staff, the wife going down to the hut, Mrs Danvers on the cliff, her final speech, dooming the wife, falling to her death?
23. Old-fashioned melodrama, the early 20th century origins, the 21st-century treatment?
24. The adverse criticism, comparisons with the book, comparisons with Hitchcock’s version? The contrast with the main characters, but the praise for Kristin Scott Thomas?
