Netflix REBECCA Remake 2020 vs Classic Hitchcock REBECCA 1940

by Le Anne Lindsay, Editor – Originally published Oct. 28, 2020

Manderley Revisited with the gang from the Large Association of Movie Blogs (aka the LAMb) We discuss my beloved, classic, Academy Award winning REBECCA dir by Alfred Hitchcock Produced by David O. Selznick, starring Joan Fontaine, Laurence Olivier & Judith Anderson. Then we go into REBECCA the remake by Ben Wheatley currently on Netflix starring Lily James, Armie Hammer & Kristen Scott Thomas check out the Podcast:

If you want to come back to listen to the podcast featuring us 6 LAMB Members, but just want highlights from me right now 🙂 below are my talking points: (click the arrows in the upper rt hand to enlarge)

Original Post 9/1/2020

“It’s not, in any sense, a remake of the Hitchcock film,” the director, Ben Wheatley told Empire. “Firmly not. Remaking a film is not that interesting to me, but the original source material is. I watched all the adaptations. It’s important to see what’s gone before, but that’s certainly not the focus.” Wheatley also explained what drew him to the project, since it’s not exactly in line with previous films he made, such as Kill List and High-Rise: “I wanted to make something that had more love in it. It’s part of trying to investigate other parts of being human. Rebecca has dark elements, and it has a psychological, haunting story within it, but it’s also about these two people in love. That was the main thing.”

I certainly hope this is true.  I am not a fan of the idea of trying to recreate something that is so perfect and timeless.  For those that don’t know, when asked what movie do I place above all others, I’ve named Alfred Hitchcock’s REBECCA for the last 35 years of my life.  There are many, many that come close, but I’ve yet to find one to replace this as #1.  See more below.  

I will say, in terms of casting for the new Netflix version they couldn’t have chosen better than Lily James and Armie Hammer, well, in terms of the fact that I truly enjoy both of these actors, and since this is not a remake, they should bring a lot to the screen together.  If it were a remake, then I’d say James exudes too much confidence and Hammer’s not Trans-Atlantic enough. In terms of Kristen Scott Thomas as Mrs. Danvers, this should work as KST does exude intensity when called for. 

I’m both anxious and apprehensive to see this new Rebecca.  I’ve also requested to be on the LAMB podcast for the comparison episode coming up Oct 25th.  Stay Tuned!

POSTED TO FACEBOOK/IG 7/5/2017

Got to see my favorite movie of all time on the big screen tonight – REBECCA! Based on a novel by Daphne du Maurier, directed by Alfred Hitchcock, a David O. Selznick picture (1940)

Part of  Bryn Mawr Film Institute  Classic Cinema Seminars

I enjoyed it, but I don’t feel we got enough discussion time, especially since the lecture price was $30.

I appreciated Christopher Long“s behind the scenes tidbits, but too much of it I already knew.

I wanted to talk about the themes of the movie, how it’s a movie based on the idea of identity and misconception of identity and claiming identity. But not as a farce, rather how it relates to character development.

I wanted to go into detail about the three-act structure of the movie.

I wanted to talk about why the movie still resonates with people 77 years later and what the Academy loved about it to give it 11 Oscar nominations and win for best picture that year.

Although, actually, my reasons for loving “Rebecca” for the last 30 years of my life is not about anything technical or film related, it’s about the romanticism, it’s because I’ve always seen myself as a lady of the manor, living in a place as grand and majestic as Manderley. And I always like to think that I too would fight for my place as “Maxim’s” wife despite not being of the manor born.

So every time I watch the movie no matter how much heartache she goes through, I live vicariously, wishing someone would say to me “I’m asking you to marry me you little fool”

#Rebecca #favoritefilm #BMFI #Hitchcock #filmdiscussion #thingstodoinphilly #PhillyCalendar

Posted October 17, 2015

Please don’t go into Crimson Peak looking for a Blumhouse Productions type horror movie, cause you won’t find it, you’ll be disappointed and you’ll want to mock this film, which won’t be fair.  Crimson Peak is being categorized as a Gothic Romance and that’s what you’ll find. Which suits me perfectly, as the film pays a bit of homage to my very favorite movie of all time –  Alfred Hitchcock’s REBECCA (1940) based on a novel by Daphne Du Maurier, starring Joan Fontaine and Laurence Olivier. I’ve watched the movie at least a dozen times and the poster has adorned a wall somewhere where ever I live for over 20 years.

Why do I love the film so much? That’s almost like asking why you can lose hours staring at the ocean, it almost inexplicable.  But I can say, I do so love the movies voice over opening… READ MORE