Subscribe RSS
Comment RSSAnother Hitchcock Remake Anyone?
12.02.12 # Remake # 5 Comments
Dreamworks and Working Title are inviting us to visit Manderley again, with a remake of Rebecca.
The classic gothic story, penned by Daphne du Maurier in 1938, sees a naive, nameless heroine marry the recently widowed and enigmatic Maxim de Winter, but she is haunted by the presence of Rebecca, Maxim’s adored former wife.
Those involved in this new adaptation will have a daunting silhouette to fill. Master of suspense Alfred Hitchcock adapted the story in 1941 as his first Hollywood film and it won him Best Picture, his only Oscar triumph. Back then handsome thespian Sir Laurence Olivier played Maxim, Joan Fontaine was the vulnerable heroine, and Judith Anderson portrayed the scary and psychotic Mrs Danvers.
The only sense of dread Gus Van Sant’s remake of Psycho produced was when it was announced. And so it might be here, but there are glimmers of hope. This contemporary version is in the hands of Oscar-nominated writer Steven Knight (Eastern Promises, the superb Dirty Pretty Things) and veteran producers Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner (Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy). Let’s hope the casting is as favourable.
Here’s a clip from the original -
I’d like to see a modern adaptation of The Birds
Me too. Unfortunately Michael Bay’s Platinum Dunes was prepping it for a while, before it got stuck in development hell. Let someone like Alfonso Cuarón do it.
I remember watching the Hitchcock version a few years ago when it was on TV. It was the first B&W film I’d properly watched & I presumed it would be too dated to enjoy.
I have a feeling some of the charm may disappear in a remake but a good story always has a good chance of being a success. I read that this remake will be focussed on the original story rather than the earlier film.
Here’s my short review I wrote at the time
——————–
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a film this old all the way through but this story kept me gripped. You really feel for the leading lady having to live in the shadow of her husband’s first wife. This is quite different in style to later Hitchcock films, there’s no horror element. It has great style and although the language used is quite dated it makes it all the more enjoyable.
Thom, you’re back!
I think their hype is that it will be closer to the novel (used as a partial justification for a remake these days) but in actual fact the Hitchcock movie stuck very closely to the book, except for one plot twist. Also this one will inevitably be further away from the novel because it is set in the modern day, which will necessitate a load of changes. That said I have no problem with them remaking it.
Did anyone view the PBS remake with Diana Rigg as Mrs Danvers? Worth the watching.
Leave A Comment
Author Notes
Post By Emma Booth
12th Feb
Recent Posts
Featured Posts
New Comments
Search
Sequel Updates
Remake Updates
Popular Posts
Popular Top Tens
...more
Theme by M.Hutagalung|Due to the amount of speculation and hearsay, site should be read for entertainment purposes only