Maddyclassicfilms This TV version of Rebecca is directed by Jim O'Brian, is based on the novel by Daphne Du Maurier and stars Charles Dance, Emilia Fox, Diana Rigg, Jonathan Cake and Faye Dunaway.Monte Carlo 1927,shy, young British girl(Emilia Fox)is travelling as companion to the eccentric wealthy Mrs.Van Hopper(Faye Dunaway).In Monte Carlo they meet lonely and mysterious widower Maxim De Winter(Charles Dance)who is on holiday after the death of his wife Rebecca.Maxim befriends and falls in love with the young woman and marries her.After arriving back in Britain she meets his staff and family at Manderlay.After a few weeks she realises there are strange goings on at the house.The creepy housekeeper Mrs.Danvers(Diana Rigg)was Rebecca's maid for years and loved her as well and has become obsessed with her.She tries to convince the new Mrs De Winter that she is worthless compared to her dead mistress.What follows is a dark tale of love,possession,desire and the danger of prying into hidden family secrets.Sticking closely to Daphne Du Maurier's novel you really feel the love that Maxim has for his new wife(who's never named by the way).And there's strong similarities in this to Jane Eyre.Charles is superb as Maxim and he and Emilia have good chemistry.There's fine support from Jonathan Cake as the suave Jack Favell,Rebecca's cousin, Geraldine James as Maxim's haughty sister Beatrice and Timothy West as a doctor who has a secret to tell about Rebecca.Moving,gripping and filled with gorgeous costumes and beautiful location work, this is perfect to watch on a rainy day.

jhsteel I have always found Lawrence Olivier's portrayal of Maxim de Winter to be distant and forbidding, which detracted from the Hitchcock version of Rebecca, although that film has so much to recommend it. This lovely, warm adaptation is blessed by Charles Dance who makes Maxim a much more attractive man worth fighting for and Emilia Fox is a wonderful actress, even at this young age. The difference in their ages is important to the story and the casting here is so convincing that the book is really brought to life. I am glad it lacks the sinister quality of Hitchcock because it's refreshing to see a different approach and in some ways a more modern take on the story, even though it is set in the correct period. Although I knew the story well, I was still gripped by it, and was surprised by some twists. I saw this when it was originally shown on TV in 1997, and have just seen it again - I think I liked it better this time. Well worth 4 hours of anyone's time, to do justice to such a great novel.

didi-5 I thought this was marvellous, and that Charles Dance as Maxim, Emilia Fox as The Second Mrs De Winter, and Diana Rigg as Mrs Danvers, were note perfect - but that's before I saw the 1970s version with Jeremy Brett, Fox's mother Joanna David, and Anna Massey.However, this 1990s version runs a close second. It isn't as involving to watch, and Dance has a certain dryness that perhaps does not work all through the piece - but the cast do well (including Faye Dunaway as Fox's chaperone). Set pieces are excellent, there's beautiful scenery, and a tight script, and all this is good.You rarely see watchable literacy adaptations of this quality, and this version of 'Rebecca' does not really disappoint. It's just that it has already been done better before - and it is a shame that the 1997 version is the only one now widely available for viewing.Watch it by all means - but try to seek out other versions as well.

classicera First of all, I enjoyed the old classic version of the 1940s REBECCA with Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine and I have seen it over 100 times in my lifetime. However, I find myself very captivated by this 1997 version by Masterpiece Theatre and with its great actors, the assemble cast, the music score, the filming location and the more detailed storyline, which is simply superb and very well done. I believe the 1997 version is the best version of Rebecca, second to the book. Further, I have seen ALL the versions of Rebecca and have read the book by Daphne Du Maurier and can actually comment in good faith that this is simply the best adaptation with more details about the characters that you don't see in the 1940s version. With this superb 1997 adaptation, you are able to see a more deeper version of both Max and the second Mrs. DeWinter's characters played by Charles Dance and Emilia Fox. You see that they are in love in this version whereas in the Hitchcock version, it's not so obvious. You also get a better sense of Mrs. Danvers' character who you almost feel sorry for in this adaptation. Additionally, you'll see a few glimpses of what the beautiful Rebecca might look like.I believe this 1997 version of Rebecca stands alone as a great love story and great mystery that will keep you captivated.