Rebecca

Rebecca

Year: 1940

Runtime: 130 min

Language: English

Director: Alfred Hitchcock

DramaMysteryThrillerRomance

A young woman marries the wealthy Max De Winter and finds herself living in the imposing estate of Manderley, overshadowed by his deceased first wife, Rebecca. She struggles to escape Rebecca’s lingering presence and the controlling influence of the housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers, as she uncovers disturbing secrets about the De Winter family and the circumstances surrounding Rebecca’s death. Navigating a web of mystery and manipulation, she must confront the past to forge her own future.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Rebecca (1940)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Rebecca (1940). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

The story unfolds in an undefined time period, blending elements of classic romance and gothic suspense. This lack of specificity contributes to the timelessness of the themes explored, such as love, jealousy, and identity.

Location

Manderley, Monte Carlo, Cornwall, England

Manderley is a grand country estate in Cornwall, known for its haunting beauty and dark secrets. It serves as the backdrop for the complicated relationship between Maxim and his new bride. Monte Carlo provides a glamorous, yet superficial, setting for their initial romance amid wealth and social status.

🏰 Manderley 🌴 Monte Carlo 🇬🇧 Cornwall

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:07

Main Characters – Rebecca (1940)

Meet the key characters of Rebecca (1940), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Mrs. de Winter (Joan Fontaine)

A young and nameless woman, the new Mrs. de Winter is characterized by her innocence and vulnerability. Throughout the film, she faces immense pressure to live up to the legacy of Rebecca, struggling with self-doubt and insecurity in her marriage. Her journey is marked by personal growth as she learns to assert herself amidst the oppressive atmosphere of Manderley.

👰 New Bride 😟 Insecure 🌹 Romantic

Maxim de Winter (Laurence Olivier)

Maxim is a complex character, depicted as a wealthy widower haunted by the memories of his first wife, Rebecca. Initially charming, he reveals layers of anguish and guilt that create tension in his relationship with his new bride. His actions are driven by a desire to protect his wife, yet his secrets ultimately threaten their marriage.

🕴️ Aristocrat 😔 Grief-Stricken 🔒 Secretive

Mrs. Danvers (Judith Anderson)

The housekeeper of Manderley, Mrs. Danvers embodies obsession and malice. She is deeply devoted to the memory of Rebecca, viewing the new Mrs. de Winter as a rival. Her manipulative tactics and chilling demeanor create an unsettling atmosphere, making her a formidable antagonist in the story.

👵 Housekeeper 😈 Manipulative 🎭 Obsessive

Jack Favell (George Sanders)

Jack Favell is Rebecca's unscrupulous cousin, characterized by his charm and deceit. He serves as a catalyst for trouble, leveraging Rebecca's memory to manipulate others for his own gain. His selfish motives lead to a dramatic climax, revealing the dark undercurrents of the story.

👨‍🦰 Cousin 💼 Opportunistic 🎭 Devious

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:07

Major Themes – Rebecca (1940)

Explore the central themes of Rebecca (1940), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕵️‍♀️ Mystery

The movie explores an air of mystery surrounding the legacy of Rebecca and the true nature of her demise. Secrets linger in the shadowy corners of Manderley, creating an underlying tension that drives the plot forward. The protagonist's uncertainty and the oppressive presence of Mrs. Danvers amplify the film's enigmatic atmosphere.

❤️ Love and Jealousy

Love is a central theme, illustrated through the rapid romance between the protagonist and Maxim. However, jealousy complicates their relationship, stemming from the deceased Rebecca's lingering influence. The new Mrs. de Winter struggles with feelings of inadequacy and fear of losing Maxim to the memory of his first wife.

🔥 Destruction

Destruction is both literal and metaphorical within the film, culminating in the fiery end of Manderley. This act, driven by Mrs. Danvers's madness, symbolizes the collapse of the illusions surrounding Rebecca and the new Mrs. de Winter. As the past burns away, the characters must confront the consequences of their actions and choices.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:07

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Gothic psychological hauntings like in Rebecca

Stories where a sinister past and a foreboding location prey on the protagonist's mind.For viewers who enjoyed the chilling atmosphere of Rebecca, this collection features movies like it, where secrets of the past psychologically haunt the present. Discover similar gothic thrillers and mystery dramas with a focus on eerie settings, gaslighting, and characters overshadowed by a sinister history.

gothicoppressiveeerieanxiousclaustrophobicmelancholicsuspensefulpsychological

Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread typically involve a protagonist, often an outsider, entering a confined and atmospheric space (like a mansion or estate) dominated by the memory or secret of a previous occupant. The narrative unfolds as a slow unraveling of a dark truth, with the setting itself acting as an antagonist that amplifies psychological manipulation and suspense.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared use of a gothic atmosphere to explore psychological terror. They prioritize mood over action, building a deep sense of unease through oppressive settings, themes of gaslighting, and the haunting weight of history on the present.

Slow burn domestic dread like in Rebecca

A creeping sense of danger and manipulation within a relationship or home.If you liked the slow-building tension and psychological manipulation in Rebecca, explore these movies with a similar vibe. This list features thrillers and dramas about unsettling relationships, secrets within marriages, and a pervasive sense of dread that grows from within the home.

slow burnanxiousclaustrophobicunsettlingsuspensefuloppressivepsychologicaltense

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a character, often in a new relationship or home, gradually discovering that their situation is not what it seems. The story focuses on the subtle accumulation of unsettling details and psychological pressure, leading to a climax where a deeply buried secret is exposed, irrevocably changing the protagonist's world.

Why These Movies?

These movies are united by their masterful use of slow pacing to cultivate a deeply anxious and claustrophobic mood. They share a focus on domestic settings as sources of threat, exploring themes of obsession, manipulation, and the corrosive nature of secrets within intimate relationships.

Unlock the Full Story of Rebecca

Don't stop at just watching — explore Rebecca in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Rebecca is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Rebecca Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Rebecca, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Rebecca Summary

Rebecca Timeline

Track the full timeline of Rebecca with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Rebecca Timeline

Rebecca Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Rebecca that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Rebecca Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Rebecca

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Rebecca: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Rebecca

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