Prismark10 This version of Rebecca was meant to be Gothic and warped, instead it came out as lethargic and overlong with a disappointing first episode the moved at a snail's pace. Only Faye Dunaway's fruity acting as Mrs Van Hopper kept you awake.Charles Dance looks too old as Maxim de Winter, almost a cradle snatcher as he woos young, inexperienced and rather plain Emilia Fox and swiftly marries her, only months after the death of the first Mrs de Winter.When he brings his new bride to his mansion, Manderley, she is overburdened by the hovering spectre of his late wife who was beautiful and well liked especially by the demented housekeeper Mrs Danvers (Diana Rigg) who adored her.Max just sulks in the background as the new, young Mrs de Winter can do no right. However the truth about the first Mrs de Winter soon comes to light and Max has to reveal his dark secret.The second episode was much better than the first as we gets to the kernel of Daphne Du Maurier's story but then it is also Jonathan Cake's turn to ham it up.Dance and Fox have very little chemistry together and the whole thing looks a little too old fashioned even for 1997.

a_baron This TV film is adapted from a well-known Gothic novel. Gothic? Well, that's what some people call it; this is not the first such adaptation of course, and it would be difficult for it to be worse than anything directed by Alfred Hitchcock, having said that, it makes a full-blooded attempt. Its saving grace is an early appearance by the gorgeous Emilia Fox as the ingénue. When you've said that, you've said it all. Not having read the book and not intending to ever, I can say only that any allusions to lesbianism in a mainstream novel of the day published in either the US or the UK would have been veiled, to put it mildly, promiscuity was frowned upon in the cinema too under the Hays Code in the US and even more stringent censorship in the UK. No, "Rebecca" misses the boat, and would even the dumbest of blondes be quite so blindingly loyal to a wealthy husband she suspected of murdering his first wife?

TheLittleSongbird I do see that this TV version of the wonderful Daphne Du Mourier book has those who both love and hate it. I personally did love it. I do prefer Hitchcock's film(one of my all-time favourite films) and the 1979 series, but this stands on its own. The story is more faithful(if not entirely) in tone to the Hitchcock film and the romance possibly broader, and is dealt with in an atmospheric manner and is just as suspenseful as the previous two versions. It looks wonderful visually, Manderly is imposing, the scenery is beautiful and the photography is remarkably good. There is also a haunting, emotional score(especially the cello and orchestra theme) by Christopher Gunning, a tight script, a lot of interesting characters lead and supporting and, while slow, fluid pacing. The acting was mostly fine to me. Charles Dance might be too old for Maxim and I did find Jeremy Brett more believable, but I did in a way find him attractive and thought he captured the darkness and angst of the character quite well. I actually found the weak link to be Emilia Fox, I do have huge affection for Joan Fontaine in Hitchcock's film and I also much prefer her mother Joanna David as an actress so I may be biased, but Fox for a character as shy as the second Mrs De Winter seemed too beautiful, elegant and dare I say wan. The supporting cast are even better, Faye Dunnaway is always a pleasure to watch, and Jonathan Cake is a suitably smarmy Jack, but top honours go to Diana Rigg as a sinister yet also humane Mrs Danvers. Other than Fox, my other complaint was the flashbacks with Rebecca. I can understand why they were included and they were interesting enough, but I much prefer it when Rebecca is mysterious and just omnipresent, it is more suspenseful that way. Overall, I loved it but I do prefer Hitchcock's and the 1979 series. 9/10 Bethany Cox

E. M. After reading the book I was interested in seeing the different versions of Rebecca. This version boasts a line of brilliant actors (although some of them were slightly oddley cast. Charles Dance is a brilliant actor but one is forced to wonder who on earth cast him as a romantic lead?)I was expecting a good film, but this movie was disappointing in every aspect.The characterisation was poor and the writing was dull. The original book was full of suspense and one felt so involved in the fate of the characters, but this film failed in both those respects. The film was not able to capture the warmth, romance or intrigue of other versions.