Characteristics Found In Films - Rebecca

Rebecca (Alfred Hitchcock, 1940)

This film is about Mrs. de WinterIva Archer a naïve young woman who marry to a rich widower 'Maxim' de Winter. Maxim thought he is the one who kill his wife. But it is not true. It was just an accident. 

This film begins with the flashback of “The Strange Days”. This is one of the film techniques of film noir. 

The narrative that start at the beginning of the film. Rebecca (1940)

The narrative that start at the beginning of the film. Rebecca (1940) 

Determine the natural investigate of the film

The film starts with a narrative. Talking about the dream she dreamt about and describing the road that she always take. The audience will question who is the person that gives this story, why she has such a dream? Why does she and another person could not go back to Manderley?

'Maxim' de Winter is the male protagonist in this film. He feels angry when Mrs. de WinterIva Archer shouts at him at the beginning of the film. He is happy and a little uncertain man. He born at Manderley but because of some reason, he could not go back to there again. His ex-wife, Rebecca drown in the pool when she was sailing near Manderley. He always avoids talking about his wife because he thought that he kills his wife (commit crime). But actually is his wife make the decision to let Mr. Maxim to kill her because she had cancer. He has make the decision to marry Mrs. De WinterIva Archer as his second wife.

Mrs. de WinterIva Archer

Mrs. de WinterIva Archer the “good woman” from the film. Rebecca (1940) 

Mrs. de WinterIva Archer, she is a very soft, shy, and naïve person. At first she thought that Mr. Maxim want to kill himself so she shouts at him to stop him from doing that. She falls in love with Mr. Maxim when she first saw him. She lies to Ms. Van Hopper that she went to play tennis but actually she go out to date with Mr. Maxim de Winter. She listens to Mrs. Danvers to wear the outfit that exactly same with the picture on the wall because she thinks Mr. Maxim will like it. 

Mrs. Danvers

The femma fetale from the film. Rebecca (1940)

Mrs. Danvers does not like the other femme fatale in film noir. This is because she does not flirt with the male protagonist in the film. 
Mrs. Danvers is the femme fatale in this film is because of some reasons. She does not really like Mrs. de WinterIva Archer because she despises Mrs Archer for taking her mistress's place. Next she asks Mrs. De WinterIva Archer to wear the same outfit just like the one in the painting/photo that on the wall. This make Mr. Maxim feels angry toward Mrs. Archer. She also wants to insult Mrs. Archer to jump down from the room. At last she burn Manderley because she doesn't want to see Mr. Maxim and his second wife live happily at there. 

Mrs. de WinterIva Archer wear the outfit that exactly same with the picture on the wall. Rebecca (1940) 

The picture on the wall (Ex-wife of Mr. Maxim). Rebecca (1940) 

Props used in the house - thing with the letter "R" on it.

This is to show those things are belong to Rebecca. Even she already dead but the things she used before are still keep in the same place in the mansion. This is to show Mr. Maxim and Mrs. Davers could not forget about her. This also let the audience to feel curious about the reason why Rebecca died. Who is the one who kill her? Or did she kill herself? Furthermore, the “R” always appears at the bright and another side of it always dark. This is to make the “R” letter more outstanding. 

Things that Rebecca used before she died. Rebecca (1940)

The Gothic Exterior of the building (English mansion that belong to Mr. Maxim)

English mansion that belong to Mr. Maxim at Manderley. Rebecca (1940)

The shadow keep repeating irregular at the wall of the mansion is to show the conflict and things that happen at the mansion. This type of technique also regular used in German Expressionism film. 

The Shadow

Mrs. de WinterIva Archer is sleeping and dreamt of what she heard from Mrs. Van Hopper. Rebecca (1940)

In this scene, Mrs. de WinterIva Archer is sleeping and dreamt of what she heard from Mrs. Van Hopper, which is about Mr. Maxim and his ex-wife Rebecca. Retrieved from the film that Mrs. Van Hopper's voice over saying: "She was the beautiful Rebecca Hildreth, you know. They say he simply adored her. She was the beautiful Rebecca Hildreth, you know. I suppose he just can't get over his wife's death. She was the beautiful Rebecca Hildreth, you know. But he's a broken man." This dialogue keep repeating "She was the beautiful Rebecca Hildreth, you know." in this scene it shows that Mrs. de WinterIva was trapped in this dialogue where saying Mr. Maxim's wife is beautiful.

The film techniques being applied is the titled shadow which believed is from the window of the room, just like the oblique vertical and horizontal lines that being utilized for German Expressionism. It has formed a jailed-shape shadow and reflected on Mrs. de WinterIva Archer. The jailed-shaped shadow could be defined as she is being trapped by the words from Mrs. Van Hopper, and being pressured as she has been fall in love with Mr. Maxim.

Other than that, the mise-en-scene in the film - Lighting is to show conflict and argument between characters, for instance, there is a lot of shadow reflex on the wall.

Conflict between Mrs. de WinterIva Archer and Mrs Van Hopper when Ms Hoppper know she going to marry to Mr. Maxim. Rebecca (1940)

Mr. Maxim arguing with Mrs. de WinterIva Archer. Rebecca (1940)