Rebecca Blu-ray Joan Fontaine

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

U.S. 1940

Romance becomes psychodrama in the elegantly crafted Rebecca, Alfred Hitchcock’s first foray into Hollywood filmmaking. A dreamlike adaptation of Daphne du Maurier’s 1938 novel, the film stars the enchanting Joan Fontaine as a young woman who believes she has found her heart’s desire when she marries the dashing aristocratic widower Maxim de Winter (played with cunning vulnerability by Laurence Olivier). But upon moving to Manderley—her groom’s baroque ancestral mansion—she soon learns that his deceased wife haunts not only the estate but the temperamental, brooding Maxim as well. The start of Hitchcock’s legendary collaboration with producer David O. Selznick, this elegiac gothic vision, captured in stunning black and white by George Barnes, took home the Academy Awards for best picture and best cinematography.

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Well, it's not a Hitchcock picture," Alfred Hitchcock once told François Truffaut when asked about Rebecca, his first American film and the first in a series made for producer David O. Selznick (Gone With The Wind, A Star Is Born). Though Hitchcock explained that Rebecca's source material (Daphne Du Maurier's best-selling book) kept it outside the sphere of a typical Hitchcock movie, he could also have been referring to any number of factors. Most of them would have been tied to Selznick, whose insistence on being closely involved with the book and producing a faithful adaptation forced Hitchcock to deliver a film that broke the mold of his British thrillers. An excellent new two-disc DVD version unpacks Rebecca's tumultuous production history through an incisive commentary, a set of Selznick's legendary and unsparing memos, exit polls from a test screening, and other material. Though the final cut of the film often supports Hitchcock's statement, the compromise seems to have kick-started the director's development, forcing him to rely less on tricks perfected in his past work, and to immerse himself in the piece's tortured psychology.

Excerpt of Keith Phipps review at the Onion AV located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release Date: April 12th, 1940

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Comparison:

Anchor Bay - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC vs. MGM - Region 1 - NTSC vs. MGM - Region FREE - Blu-ray vs. Criterion (4K Restored) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

1) Anchor Bay Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT

2) Criterion Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND

3) MGM - Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD

4) MGM - Region FREE - Blu-ray - FOURTH

5) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - RIGHT

Box Covers

Distribution	Anchor Bay Entertainment Region 0 - NTSC	Criterion Collection Spine # 135 Region 1 - NTSC	MGM Region 1 - NTSC	MGM Region FREE - Blu-ray	Criterion - Spine # 135 Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime	2:10:16	2:10:52	2:10:20	2:10:41.875	2:10:40.833
Video	1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 4.28 mb/s NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s	1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 7.84 NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s	1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 4.86 NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s	1080P / 23.976 fps Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 48,492,427,252 bytes Feature: 41,127,862,272 bytes Video Bitrate: 37.39 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video	1080P / 23.976 fps Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 48,561,343,317 bytes Feature: 39,536,480,256 bytes Video Bitrate: 35.69 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: Anchor Bay
Bitrate: Criterion
Bitrate: MGM
Bitrate: MGM Blu-ray
Bitrate: Criterion Blu-ray
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)	English (Dolby Digital Mono)	English (Dolby Digital mono)	DTS-HD Master Audio English 2025 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2025 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit / DN -4dB) Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -4dB Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -4dB	LPCM Audio English 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit Commentary: Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps Isolated Score: Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps
Subtitles	None	English, and none	English, Spanish, French and none	English (SDH), none	English (SDH), none
Features	Release Information: Studio: Anchor Bay Entertainment Aspect Ratio: Full Screen (Standard) - 1.33:1 Edition Details: • 4.5" x 7' original theatrical poster replica DVD Release Date: September 7, 1999 Keep Case Chapters 19	Release Information: Studio: Criterion Aspect Ratio: Full Screen (Standard) - 1.33:1 Edition Details: • Commentary by film scholar Leonard J. Leff, author of Hitchcock and Selznick: The Rich and Strange Collaboration of Alfred Hitchcock and David O. Selznick in Hollywood • Isolated music and effects track • Rare screen, hair, makeup, and costume tests including Vivien Leigh, Anne Baxter, Loretta Young, Margaret Sullavan, and Joan Fontaine • Footage from the 1940 Annual Academy Awards ceremony, at which Rebecca won Best Picture and Best Cinematography Oscars • Hundreds of behind-the-scenes photos chronicling the film's production from location scouting, set photos, and wardrobe continuity to ads, posters, lobby cards, and promotional memorabilia • Illustrated essay on Daphne du Maurier, author of the book on which Rebecca is based • Hitchcock on Rebecca: excerpts from the director's conversations with filmmaker Francois Truffaut • Phone interviews with star Joan Fontaine and Dame Judith Anderson from 1986 • Hitchcock's casting notes • Reissue trailer • Production correspondence and casting notes • 1939 test screening questionnaire • Complete broadcast of the 1938 Campbell Playhouse radio adaptation, starring Orson Welles and the Mercury Theatre players, including an interview with Daphne du Maurier • 1941 Lux Radio Theatre broadcast starring Ronald Colman & Ida Lupino, including and an interview with David O. Selznick • 1950 Lux Radio Theatre broadcast starring Laurence Olivier & Vivian Leigh • Liner notes by Robin Wood, author of the groundbreaking book Hitchcock's Film and Hitchcock's Film Revisited in a 22-page booklet DVD Release Date: November 20, 2001 Keep Case Chapters 27	Release Information: Studio: MGM Aspect Ratio: Full Screen (Standard) - 1.33:1 Edition Details: • Commentary with critic Richard Schickel • Isolated music and effects track • Rare screen, hair, makeup, and costume tests including Margaret Sullavan, Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine (9:11) • The Making of Rebecca featurette (28:05) • The Gothic World of Daphne du Maurier featurette (19:01) • 3 X 1 hour Radio Plays • Hitchcock on Rebecca: excerpts from the director's conversations with filmmaker Francois Truffaut (9:19) and Peter Bogdanovich (4:26) • Trailer • Stills Gallery (Posters, Portraits, Behind the Scenes) DVD Release Date: October 14th, 2008 Keep Case Chapters 28	Release Information: Studio: MGM Aspect Ratio: Full Screen (Standard) - 1.33:1 1080P / 23.976 fps Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 48,492,427,252 bytes Feature: 41,127,862,272 bytes Video Bitrate: 37.39 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • Commentary with critic Richard Schickel • Isolated music and effects track • Rare screen, hair, makeup, and costume tests including Margaret Sullavan, Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine (9:07 in 480i) • The Making of Rebecca featurette (28:08 in 480i) • The Gothic World of Daphne du Maurier featurette (19:02 in 480i) • 3 X 1 hour Radio Plays • Hitchcock on Rebecca: excerpts from the director's conversations with filmmaker Francois Truffaut (9:15) and Peter Bogdanovich (4:20) • Theatrical Trailer (2:22) Blu-ray Release Date: January 24th, 2012 Standard Blu-ray Case Chapters 28	Release Information: Studio: Criterion 1080P / 23.976 fps Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 48,561,343,317 bytes Feature: 39,536,480,256 bytes Video Bitrate: 35.69 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • Audio commentary from 1990 featuring film scholar Leonard J. Leff • Isolated music and effects track • New conversation between film critic and author Molly Haskell and scholar Patricia White (24:39) • 2008 Making of (28:02) • Theatrical rerelease trailer (2:23) Blu-ray 2 • New interview with film historian Craig Barron on Rebecca’s visual effects (17:28) • Daphne du Maurier: In the Footsteps of “Rebecca,” a 2016 French television documentary (55:03) • Making-of documentary from 2007 Footage of screen, hair, makeup (3:14), and costume (2:57) tests for actors Joan Fontaine (7:57), Anne Baxter (11:48), Vivien Leigh (with Alan Marshall - 4:02, with Olivier - 5:03), Margaret Sullavan (7:52), and Loretta Young (4:45) • Casting gallery with notes by director Alfred Hitchcock and producer David O. Selznick • Hitchcock interviewed by Tom Snyder on a 1973 episode of NBC’s Tomorrow (44:03) • Tomorrow interview with Fontaine from 1980 (17:11 ) • Audio interviews from 1986 with actor Judith Anderson and Fontaine ( Audio - 20:15 , Andersen audio - 10:42 • Three radio versions of Rebecca, from 1938 (59:54), 1941 (59:00), and 1950 (1:00:35), including Orson Welles’s adaptation of the novel for the Mercury Theatre • PLUS: An essay by critic and Selznick biographer David Thomson and selected Selznick production correspondence, including with Hitchcock Blu-ray Release Date: September 5th, 2017 Transparent Blu-ray Case Chapters 16

Comments:

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Criterion (4K Restored) - Region 'A' Blu-ray - August 2017: The Criterion Blu-ray is cited as having a "new 4K digital restoration". Like their 2001 SD - the image is darker than the other digital release. From our experience and comments from transfer specialists; "Darker' is usually more accurate to the theatrical presentation. There are some other notable differences between the MGM and Criterion Blu-ray releases. I've watched them both today but you can see from the screen captures that the Criterion shows less information in the frame. Mostly this is noticeable on the side edges of the frame but the Criterion actually shows more on the top. One big difference is that in the side-by-side comparison the MGM looks vertically stretched (or the Criterion is horizontally stretched!) It is not as flagrant as in our recent You Only Live Once review but it is definitely there. In-motion the Criterion definitely looks the most film-like. It is sturdy, very stable where the MGM has instances that look falsely bright or minutely boosted and the flickering contrast - notable on the MGM 1080P (see below). I don't doubt the 4K-restored Criterion Blu-ray is the most accurate and many may notice its greatest benefits when viewing the full presentation (as aside from the static screen captures.)

Criterion use a more authentic linear PCM mono track (24-bit) for the audio. It sounds flawless exporting the impacting Franz Waxman (Dark Passage, Bride of Frankenstein, Rear Window, Sunset Boulevard) score which adds a further layer to the film's pervasive atmosphere and sense of foreboding suspense. Rich and beautiful. There are optional English (SDH) subtitles and the Criterion Blu-rays are both Region 'A'-locked.

Criterion have two Blu-ray discs with many new, and repeat, extras. They include the same audio commentary from 1990 featuring film scholar Leonard J. Leff author of Hitchcock and Selznick: The Rich and Strange Collaboration of Alfred Hitchcock and David O. Selznick in Hollywood. We also get most of the supplements from their 2001, 2-disc, DVD release, and a few found on the 2012 MGM Blu-ray, with the ability to access an isolated music and effects track (lossy Dolby only), audio interviews from 1986 with actor Judith Anderson and Fontaine (Fontaine - 20:15 , Andersen audio - 10:42), the three radio versions of Rebecca, from 1938 (59:54), 1941 (59:00), and 1950 (1:00:35), including Orson Welles’s adaptation of the novel for the Mercury Theatre, footage of screen, hair, makeup (3:14), and costume (2:57) tests for actors Joan Fontaine (7:57), Anne Baxter (11:48), Vivien Leigh (with Alan Marshall - 4:02, with Olivier - 5:03), Margaret Sullavan (7:52), and Loretta Young (4:45), a casting gallery with notes by director Alfred Hitchcock and producer David O. Selznick. there is a new - Criterion produced, 25-minute conversation between film critic and author Molly Haskell and scholar Patricia White. There is also a new, 18-minute, interview with film historian Craig Barron on Rebecca’s visual effects, a 45-minute Hitchcock interview by Tom Snyder on a 1973 episode of NBC’s Tomorrow, and also an 18-minute, Tomorrow interview with Fontaine from 1980. Daphne du Maurier: In the Footsteps of “Rebecca,” is a, 66-minute, 2016 French television documentary There is a 28-minute, making of, from 2008 and a theatrical rerelease trailer. The package has a liner notes booklet with an essay by critic and Selznick biographer David Thomson and selected Selznick production correspondence, including with Hitchcock.

Essential film ( a 'Desert Island Disc'!) - one of the The Master's greatest. As well as a strong 4k-restored image, authentically flat audio - there are a plethora of new, and old, extras. The 2-disc Criterion Blu-ray package is a must-own.

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ADDITION: MGM - Region FREE Blu-ray - January 12': The story on the MGM Blu-ray is the grain. This dual-layered transfer with a high bitrate really supports the film's inherent textures. It looks fabulous. Even some of the noise morphs into a grain-like appearance. None of the SD visual appearances can compare. This is a categorical difference between a soft, flat video-look and a solid representation of film. Contrast improves, there is a touch of depth in a few scenes but the major issue is the grain. Detail doesn't dramatically improve but there is more information in the frame than any of the DVD editions. My only complaints would be some flickering contrast in the opening - also the image shook a little. This dissipates after the first 3 minutes. If my memory serves this occurred on the MGM DVD as well.

MGM (actually the Fox logo precedes the Blu-ray presentation - followed the film starting with the Selznick Studio 'white house') have given this lossless DTS-HD Master 2.0 stereo at 2025 kbps. It sounds very good. Franz Waxman's original score sounds wonderful via uncompressed and is accessible through an isolated music track (as offered on the last DVD). There are optional English (SDH) subtitles - see sample below - and the disc is Region FREE.

Supplements duplicate the 2008 MGM DVD minus the Stills Galleries. We get the excellent commentary by Richard Schickel, screen tests, Hitch conversations with Francois Truffaut and Bogdanovich, the 30 minute 'making of...' , 3 hours worth of radio plays - one by Orson Welles - etc.

This is such an easy recommendation for the price offered. It amounts to a must-own - especially for those keen on a thicker, grainer, image and bodes well for the coming Notorious [Blu-ray] and Spellbound [Blu-ray] packages.

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NOTE: Defective MGM Hitchcock Premiere DVD Collection
Reports are coming in by the droves about the MGM Hitchcock Premiere Collection. We do not yet own the entire set and have only covered Notorious and Rebecca which played without issue on my Malata - but we understand many individual's players are having problems with all, or selective transfers from the set. These represent faults such as the disc wobbling in the tray, unsubstantiated noise in playback, freezing and chapter skips. MGM must recall this set immediately. If you own the set please verify if you too have these problems and report them to the outlet you purchased them or MGM directly. If we find an email to use we will post it here.

ADDITION: MGM - Region 1 - NTSC - October 08': The image on this new MGM DVD, described as 'remastered' and 'restored', may be marginally superior to the Criterion. It has a tendency to look a bit thin at times and I suspect some black level boosting. While it may look minutely sharper - it also appears to have a few more artifacts. I seriously doubt though that anyone would make issue - adamantly preferring one transfer over the other. Without the credit sequence differences it may be hard to tell them apart on most systems. This is probably as close as we will get to perfection on SD-DVD for Rebecca. I do think that the MGM could have looked better, with improved compression, if it hadn't stacked the dual-layered disc with so many extras but instead put them on a second DVD (see the low bitrate of the MGM above). Either/or - the MGM image looks fine to me - still some noise in blackness and a few artifacts visible around brighter edges. I still greatly look forward to this classic in 1080p resolution.

The mono audio sounds fine and I could make no differentiation with the Criterion. The MGM offers a couple more subtitles options.

Supplements prove the biggest reason to pick this new MGM DVD up. There is a new commentary by Richard Schickel. He is reasonably informative and professional. He lets the narrative run in many spots but overall I think it is worth listening to although not a lot of new details seem imparted. Some featurettes cross-over from the Criterion (isolated music track, screen tests, Hitch conversation with Francois Truffaut etc.) but pieces are added (or subtracted) a bit too. The Criterion seems to include a few more screen tests and the MGM adds a 5 minute conversation with Peter Bogdanovich. I enjoyed the 30 minute 'making of...' with some new material and interviews. I wasn't keen on the 3 hours worth of radio plays - one by Orson Welles - but other might enjoy stepping back in time by listening to these.

I'll be comparing more from the Hitchcock Premiere Collection - as for now I'm still on the fence about the upgrade. The good news about this MGM is that it is improved in certain areas with new supplemental material. They didn't appear to screw the Rebecca release up (which was always a suspicion). If you are keen on extras it may be worth the double dip. If you don't own the Criterion - price should dictate your decision and the Criterion is way out-of-print fetching ridiculous prices.

Gary W. Tooze

***

ON THE ANCHOR BAY vs. THE CRITERION: Of the three Hitch-Anchor Bay/Criterion DVD comparisons (Rebecca, Notorious and Spellbound), I think 'Rebecca' is the least obvious in the disparity in image quality, but perhaps the most in Extras. Anchor Bay did not do a bad job on transferring the image to DVD when they did it back in 1999. Upon close inspection the Criterion though is on top. Peeking film grain, cleaner and sharper picture quality are the obvious signs that Criterion has the best image of this film on DVD in Region 1. Include in that the pitch-perfect contrast and the immense extras (although this reviewer will negatively comment on the large percentage of text based screens on the Criterion). Although I didn't notice a "hiss" on the Anchor Bay 2.0 sound, it was definitely not as clear as the Criterion. Being a huge fan of this film I, of course, prefer the Criterion edition, but if you weigh into account dollar value and you just want to see this film not obsess over it, you might consider the Anchor Bay (if you can still buy it). Even being a big fan of "Rebecca" I found the Criterion Extras excessive... but before I look a gift-horse in the mouth, I am grateful to Criterion for their efforts. It is the best DVD edition of this film.

Gary W. Tooze

DVD Menus

(Anchor Bay R0 - NTSC - RIGHT vs. Criterion R1 - NTSC - LEFT)

MGM - Region FREE - Blu-ray

Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray 2

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Screen Captures

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NOTE: Notice the different Font used in the title. I have no idea why.

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Box Covers

Distribution

Anchor Bay Entertainment

Region 0 - NTSC

Criterion Collection Spine # 135
Region 1 - NTSC

MGM
Region 1 - NTSC

MGM
Region FREE - Blu-ray

Criterion - Spine # 135

Region 'A' - Blu-ray

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Image:	Criterion Blu-ray
Sound:	Criterion Blu-ray
Extras:	Criterion Blu-ray

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