Rebecca 

A British gentleman's innocent bride grapples with intrusive reminders of his deceased wife.

Stars:

Charles Dance, Diana Rigg, Geraldine James

Won 1 Primetime Emmy.

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
Charles Dance	...	Maxim de Winter 2 episodes, 1997
Diana Rigg	...	Mrs. Danvers 2 episodes, 1997
Geraldine James	...	Beatrice 2 episodes, 1997
Jonathan Cake	...	Favell 2 episodes, 1997
Emilia Fox	...	The Second Mrs de Winter 2 episodes, 1997
Tom Chadbon	...	Crawley 2 episodes, 1997
Denis Lill	...	Giles 2 episodes, 1997
John Branwell	...	Ben 2 episodes, 1997
Lucy Cohu	...	Rebecca 2 episodes, 1997
John Horsley	...	Frith 2 episodes, 1997
Jonathan Stokes	...	Robert 2 episodes, 1997
Kelly Reilly	...	Clarice 2 episodes, 1997

Storyline

Based on the Gothic romance novel by Daphne Du Maurier, Rebecca is a classic tale of love and hate. Maxim de Winter (Charles Dance) marries a woman (Emilia Fox) half his age, only a year after his first wife, the beautiful and accomplished Rebecca (Lucy Cohu), dies. She finds herself in an aristocratic social world for which her middle class upbringing did not prepare her, and housekeeper Mrs. Danvers (Dame Diana Rigg) despises her for taking her darling Rebecca's place. But these are not the only problems to face.

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Plot Keywords:

female nudity | topless female nudity | character name as series title | one word series title | forename as series title | 

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Romance | Thriller

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

Emilia Fox's mother, Joanna David, played the same role (Mrs. de Winter) in Rebecca (1979).

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Goofs

Emilia Fox has both ears pierced, twice, in each ear lobe, and this was clearly visible while portraying the character of the second Mrs de Winter, even though she only had one pair of earrings in at a time. In the 1920s piercing the ear multiple times was unheard of, and did not come into fashion until the 1980s.

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Quotes

Ben: You've got angel eyes! Not like the other one... she had snake eyes...

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Alternate Versions

Version aired on PBS and subsequently released to home video in the USA has 13 minutes cut from episode one. Cut scenes: Max and Mrs de Winter are shown spending another afternoon together, in between Mrs Van Hopper's party and her making plans to leave for New York. (2 min.) Mrs de Winter and Max in the hotel lobby after the proposal. (30 sec.). Max and Mrs de Winter on board a cruise ship before returning to England -- includes a bedroom scene and Mrs de Winter getting a makeover that displeases Max. (4 min.) Various scenes of scenery around Manderley, and Mrs de Winter walking around the house and gardens. (2 min.) Beatrice and Mrs de Winter lunching with Max's senile grandmother (Jean Anderson). (4 min.) While in the garden, Mrs de Winter sees Mrs Danvers and Jack at the window. (30 sec.) Episode two has approx. 10 seconds edited out of the scene when Mrs de Winter and Max are talking while lying in bed. Although all the dialogue still remains, the nudity was censored. Note: As of 2017, the longer uncut version is available on streaming video and some later DVD publications in the USA.

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Connections

Version of ITV Play of the Week: Rebecca (1956)

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Soundtracks

Charleston
(uncredited)
Music by James P. Johnson

User Reviews

Excellent

This is a terrific adaptation of Daphne du Maurier's 1938 novel. The period detail, costume and scenery are all spot-on, and the acting is good, especially among the principals. Generally, this television version is more faithful to the book, both in spirit and in plot, than the 1940 Hitchcock version with Laurence Oliver and Joan Fontaine. I found Charles Dance to be a much more believable Maxim de Winter, with some definite sex appeal that was lacking in Olivier's portrayal. Emilia Fox was perfectly charming as the 2nd Mrs. de Winter, managing to come across as shy and unsure of herself without appearing too passive or neurotic. As has been stated in other reviews, the romance between the two was far more believable and realistic in this version.

Diana Rigg gives quite a different portrayal of the creepy Mrs. Danvers than Judith Anderson did, and I found Rigg's more humane and pathetic (although still sinister) housekeeper more three-dimensional. The supporting characters are also good, and I even enjoyed Jonathan Cake's scenery-chewing portrayal of Jack Favell.

All in all, a great effort, well worth watching.

Details

Official Sites:

PBS [United States]

Country:

UK Germany USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 April 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

Rebecca

Filming Locations:

Charlestown, Cornwall, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$10,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Carlton Television, Portman Productions, WGBH

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min (1 Episode) 93 min (1 Episode)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1