Return to Manderley: A Rebecca Movie Comparison

Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier is one of my all-time favorite novels. I was thrilled when I discovered Netflix was creating a Rebecca remake if a bit dubious. Could anything ever compare to the ultimate Rebecca by Hitchcock? Could anyone ever reprise the incredible portrayal of Mrs. Danvers???

Here’s my take on the original Hitchcock Rebecca and a couple of the more famous Rebecca movie remakes. Join me on my (un-comprehensive, brief, totally self-indulgent) little stroll down movie history lane and back to Manderley…

Rebecca Movie Character Max de Winter: Who played him better?

Rebecca Movie 1940 - Laurence Olivier

I once read that Vivien Leigh wanted to play the part of the timid young bride in Rebecca. Hitchcock said no, she was simply too pretty. I agree. Vivien Leigh was anything but plain and timid. But it would have been an interesting arrangement, considering her real-life romance with the lead star, Laurence Olivier.

But with or without his beautiful fiancee starring opposite, Olivier delivers. To me, there is simply no comparison for Laurence Olivier’s portrayal of Maxim de Winter. The scene where he finally reveals the truth about Rebecca and declares, “You thought I loved her? You thought that!? I hated her!” is followed by one of my very favorite monologues in all of movie history. Not only did Olivier make Maxim de Winter likable, he made him utterly believable… and debonaire.

Rebecca Movie 1997 - Charles Dance

I wanted to be fair to Charles Dance. After all, my generation knows him as Tywin Lannister and that’s hardly a good setup for seeing him as a romantic lead. Unfortunately, Rebecca 1997 doesn’t do much to help his case. It presents the most unlikeable version of Max de Winter. Part of it is the age difference between Maxim and his new bride. Part of it might be his interactions with Mrs. Danvers. None of it seems believable. And the way this version is scripted, he comes across like a complete jerk. You have no idea why any woman would stick around for his nonsense.

Rebecca Movie 2020 - Armie Hammer

The thing about Armie Hammer is he is very attractive. He’s got a little bit of that Ewan McGregor look to him, even. This made him a much more believable Maxim de Winter than the Maxim of the 1997 Rebecca remake. Overall, I found him more sympathetic, partly due to the scripting. And admittedly, the chemistry between him and Lily James is pretty dang strong. Their kissing scenes didn’t ooze with awkwardness, nor did they have that buttoned-up black-and-white classic movie thing going on. There was actually a bit of sizzle there.

Rebecca, the Movie’s Mysterious Villain

Mrs. Danvers a fantastic villain. But Rebecca is the true villain. I have always pictured her as a Vivien Leigh type, or perhaps even a Rachel Weisz. But how did these various films envision Rebecca?

Rebecca Movie 1940 - unseen

Rebecca, by Hitchcock’s estimation, should never be seen. And she never is. Not her face, not her eyes, nothing. And honestly, to me, this imaginary version of Rebecca does the best job.

Rebecca Movie 1997 - partly shown

I was surprised when the 1997 Rebecca movie chose to show a glimpse of its namesake villain fairly early on. We get a glimpse of her eyes. I was okay with it, thought, because those eyes looked a lot like Vivien Leigh (the part was played by Lucy Cohu, you can check out her beautiful eyes here). When the film ruined it for me was when it showed more parts of her face, and it REALLY ruined it for me when we heard her voice. I am not saying the actress was at fault. This was just one of those things where Rebecca is best left up to our imagination. You know, kinda like the Creature from the Black Lagoon. The monster was more mysterious before we saw it.

Rebecca Movie 2020 - fleeting glances

Netflix’s Rebecca directed Ben Wheatley made an interesting choice in portraying his central character. He didn’t go straight Hitchock, but he didn’t ruin the effect either, choosing instead to film minimal glimpses of a dark-haired girl in a red dress from behind. We barely see enough of her to get any idea of what she looks like. Very mysterious. I appreciate that he decided to leave most of it to our imagination.

Mrs. Danvers, Manderley’s Creepy Housekeeper

Mrs. Danvers is one of my favorite characters in all of literature. You have to admire the kind of love and devotion/creepy obsession she had for her best friend. And she was really good at folding lace nightgowns, or, and at pyrotechnics.

Rebecca Movie 1940 - Judith Anderson

Mrs. Danvers in Hitchcock’s Rebecca is the most memorable of the three choices, if not the most realistic. Even though her performance is a bit over-the-top, I still like it best. Her flair for the dramatic and her almost baritone voice are in perfect keeping with the Gothic horror of it all.

Rebecca Movie 1997 - Diana Rigg

Diana Rigg had some tough shoes to fill. I like the way she chose to perform Mrs. Danvers. She went about it in a more realistic way. When you meet Judith Anderson’s Mrs. Danvers for the first time you know immediately something is wrong with this chick. Diana Rigg’s performance is more subtle, and there’s something to be said for that.

Rebecca Movie 2020 - Kristin Scott Thomas

I have to admit, I was impressed by Kristin Scott Thomas. Of the three, she was the most sympathetic Mrs. Danvers. Even when she is trying to gain the new Mrs. DeWinter’s sympathy so that she won’t get fired (she succeeds in doing so too) you do detect a bit of sincerity underneath all of that conniving. Perhaps she really is just a lost soul, so sad because her dead idol is no longer around to take care of. What is her identity, if it isn’t taking care of Rebecca, who she says, was, “her life.”

Rebecca Movie Remakes

So that’s it, that’s my take on the two versions of Rebecca remakes I have seen. What did you think of them? Who played Maxim best? Do you have an actress you imagine as the book’s central villain? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

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