Rebecca (The Criterion Collection) [DVD]

Love this movie. Very clean remastered viewing. I haven't watched the 2nd disc, but the movie was great!

PHOTO 1 = MGM Blu-Ray issued in 2011:  Rebecca [Blu-ray ]PHOTO 2 = Hitchcock's cameo @ 2:06:57 (MGM) or 2:07:01 (Criterion) - Hitchcock walking in the background.PHOTO 3 = NOT Hitchcock's cameo - this is a still photo taken on the set.The new 2017 Criterion Collection blu-ray of ‘Rebecca’ comes into direct competition with the 2011 MGM blu-rayThe Criterion blu-ray has the magical words “4K digital restoration”, giving it a theoretical advantage over MGM’s ten-year-old 2-K (?) digital restoration,but the actual improvement is not dramatic, at least on my 40 inch, five year-old JVC TV.Both blu-rays look quite good.Of course, if you own a state-of-the-art 70 inch 4-K television (or plan to), the choice is obvious.Making the choice easier, the price of the old MGM blu-ray is twice that of the new Criterion blu-ray (apparently the MGM is out-of-print).COMMON TO CRITERION AND MGM BLU-RAYs-- The Making of Rebecca: (28 minutes)-- Isolated music and effects track.-- Three radio adaptations of Rebecca:----- 1938: Margaret Sullavan & Orson Welles----- 1941: Ida Lupino & Ronald Colman----- 1950: Vivien Leigh & Lawrence Olivier-- Theatrical re-release trailer from the late Forties (MGM misidentifies it as the “original release trailer”)-- English SDH subtitles.UNIQUE TO MGM BLU-RAY-- Audio commentary with film scholar Richard Schickel.-- The Gothic World of Daphne du Maurier (18 minutes)-- Hitchcock/Bogdanovich interview.-- Hitchcock/Truffaut interview.UNOQUE TO CRITERION BLU-RAY:-- 4K digital restoration with uncompressed monaural soundtrack.-- Featurette on the visual effects in Rebecca (17 minutes).-- French TV production from 2016: Daphne du Maurier: In the Footsteps of Rebecca with English subtitles (55 minutes).-- Conversation between film critic Molly Haskell and scholar Patricia White about the role of women in Hitchcock films (25 minutes)-- Audio commentary with film scholar Leonard J. Leff. *-- Screen tests with Anne Baxter, Vivien Leigh, Margaret Sullavan, Loretta Young and Joan Fontaine (only Vivien Leigh and Margaret Sullavan were on MGM).*-- Hair and makeup tests with Anne Baxter, Vivien Leigh and Margaret Sullavan. *-- Costume tests with Joan Fontaine. *-- 38 page booklet with selected production correspondence, including letters between Hitchcock and Selznick. *-- “The Tomorrow Show with Tom Snyder” - this followed the Tonight Show on NBC:----- 1973: Alfred Hitchcock (45 minutes). *----- 1980: Joan Fontaine (17 minutes). *-- Audio interviews from 1986 with Judith Anderson and Joan Fontaine. ** Carried over from the 2001 Criterion DVDALFRED HITCHCOCK FILMOGRAPHY:Alfred Hitchcock directed 56 feature films (not counting short subjects).---- 'The Mountain Eagle' (1927) is a lost film.---- 'Blackmail' (1929) is counted twice - it was Hitchcock's final silent film, and was also filmed as his first talkie.---- 'Aventure Malgache' and 'Bon Voyage' (1944) are not feature films. These were French-language propaganda shorts (combined running time: 57 minutes) produced during World War II. Available on DVD  Alfred Hitchcock's Bon Voyage & Aventure Malgache  or Amazon Prime Video.For a complete list, along with links to these films on Amazon, see Comment Three (click on “Sort by Oldest”).

I had never seen the first and original version of Rebecca until I purchased this blu-ray based upon reviews on Amazon. The reviews are correct - this is a great movie, better than all the other versions in my opinion. After all Hitchcock directed this version! As far as quality of the Blu-ray dvd - Excellent.

Alfred Hitchcock brings Daphne de Maurier's classic 1938 thrilling novel. Joan Fontaine plays the young woman who falls in love with and marries the brooding Mr. Maxim de Winter (Laurence Olivier). The suspense begins when he takes her to his mansion, Manderlay which is under the control of Mrs. Danvers (Judith Anderson). It seems Mrs. Danvers has held the memory of Rebbeca, the first Mrs. de Winter. George Sanders plays Rebecca's lover and cousin, Jack Favel; Reginald Denny is Frank Crawley, Maxim's estate manager of Manderley and friend; Gladys Cooper plays Beatrice Lacy, Maxim's sister; C. Aubrey Smith plays Colonel Julyan; and Nigel Bruce plays Major Giles Lacy, Beatrice's husband This gothicB & W tale will take you in and play with your sanity.

Alfred Hitchcock directed Rebecca (1940) with an eye for gorgeous shots down long hallways in that Manderly mansion. His direction is filled with intriguing shots in shadows and faces lit in dim light just so beautifully. I love the few close up shots Hitchcock used for emphasis and emotion.Daphne du Maurier's story is an intricate tale of romance and love lost like an even sadder version of Jane Eyre. Hitchcock takes the pace evenly to keep you guessing in suspense at all times. The themes of love, unhappiness, dejection, despair, kindness, and forgiveness are all at the heart of Rebecca.Hitchcock sets up Rebecca more as a mystery as to who this Rebecca is or was in earnest. You hear her name echoed at all times, but never get to hear the main character's name as anything other than Mrs. de Winter. It's a fascinating narrative with the unique storytelling device of other character's hearsay is all you learn about Rebecca. The finale is quite shocking as everything unfolds in style. Hitchcock's style is already present in this early movie of his. I think he got better as a director, but Rebecca is easily of his finest films.Joan Fontaine is absolutely precious as Mrs. de Winter. She endears herself to you as you just want her to be happy as everyone is so cruel to her. Sir Laurence Olivier is intense as the mean Mr. Maxim de Winter. He is more somber and sullen than his usual roles, but Olivier kills it as a dour widower ordering around his new bride. He is so shrill and rages often with a surprising duplicity. I like Olivier for this role quite a bit. Lastly, I must mention Judith Anderson's excellent performance as the cruel head maid Mrs. Danvers. Her cold and backhanded comments are a joy to witness.Overall, Rebecca is not an exciting thriller like many of Hitchcock's later films, but it is a beautiful drama filled with curious clues and odd mysteries. I would give it a chance if you can find a copy.

This classic has it all, love, fear, don’t know what to expect, a day dream, loved it for years can’t watch it enough!

My mom's a big Hitchcock fan, so I bought this as a Mother's day gift. It had great audio and sound quality and it arrived in good condition.

Came as expected

Intéressant de découvrir Rebecca après avoir vu des grands classiques d'Hitchcock comme Vertigo, Psychose ou les Oiseaux. Tout y est déjà, le climat rendu, le sentiment de malaise difficile à cerner. Film à grand budget, les décors sont encore plus somptueux que ceux que suggéraient Daphné Du Maurier. L'adaptation du roman est fidèle sans être servile et certains ajouts comme la projection de films de voyage de noce sont bien pensés. De plus, les personnages secondaires sont élagués et l'intrigue y gagne en rythme. Le jeu de Laurence Olivier est excellent, celui de Joan Fontaine parfois fatiguant, mais c'est finalement la musique qui passe le moins bien le test du temps.

Me entristece que llegó un poco maltratado el producto. El embalaje no fue el mejor... Ojala tengan más suerte otros. La película es muy buena; personalmente es de mis favoritas de Hitchcock.Los extras no están subtitulados, la película sólo trae sub. en inglés...

I was so excited to receive this movie and was thrilled when it came. Some of my favourite actors and Hitchcock directing always leaves a surprise or two. It also came with a pamphlet telling some interesting facts about the making of Rebecca. Not sure if the country code is mentioned but it plays in US and Canada.

Criterion should have made a better case for this classic film. This movie hasn't been printed in years and they release it as one of those obnoxious two-discs in one sleeve cases. Wait for this to go on sale if you are a collector.

There is a green and red band of colour at the top of the screen. I realize it is remastered but why colour on a black and white movie?Still a good movie if you sre a Hitchcock fan.