Hitchcock Chronology: Rebecca (1940)
Entries in the Hitchcock Chronology relating to Rebecca (1940)...
1938
June
- David O. Selznick meets actress Joan Fontaine at a garden party hosted by Charles Chaplin. When she mentions that she has just finished reading Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca, Selznick admits he had recently bought the film rights and offers her a screen test for the role of the 2nd Mrs. de Winter.[1]
September
- Some British newspapers report that David O. Selznick has purchased the rights to Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca and name Carole Lombard as being cast in the lead role.[2]
- 21st - Variety reports that Hitchcock will begin filming Titanic for Selznick International in January 1939, followed by Rebecca in March.[3]
November
- After much press speculation that Hitchcock's first American film will be about the Titanic disaster, David O. Selznick formally announces it will be an adaptation of Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca.[4]
December
- The New York Film Critics name Hitchcock as "Best Director of 1938" for The Lady Vanishes in their annual poll. The news alarms Selznick, as his own vagueness about the actual start date for Rebecca could give Hitchcock the opportunity to make his debut US film for another studio. Selznick quickly renegotiates the contact and gives Hitchcock better terms whilst ensuring that he has the final say-so over any projects for other studios.[5]
1939
April
- Hitchcock cables Robert Donat urging him to consider the lead role of Maxim de Winter in Rebecca. Selznick is unconvinced — his list of potential actors includes Walter Pidgeon, Leslie Howard, Mervyn Douglas and William Powell.[6]
May
- Auditions and screentests for the role on the second Mrs. de Winter in Rebecca begin. Amongst the actress considered: Vivien Leigh, Nova Pilbeam, Joan Fontaine, Margaret Sullivan, Loretta Young, Anita Louise, Anne Baxter, Jean Muir and Audrey Reynolds. David O. Selznick's preferred choice is Fontaine.[7]
- Hitchcock visits British actor Ronald Coleman to try and tempt him to accept the role of Maxim de Winter in Rebecca.[8]
June
- Early in June, Hitchcock submits a lengthy treatment of Rebecca to David O. Selznick, who is "shocked beyond words" at the changes Hitch had made to Daphne du Maurier's book. Selznick dictates a length memo to Hitchcock — "We bought Rebecca and we intend to make Rebecca."[9]
- Hitchcock submits a second lengthy treatment of Rebecca, prepared with Alma, Joan Harrison and Robert E Sherwood and running to 100 pages, to David O. Selznick. Again, Selznick is unimpressed.[10]
July
- July and August are spent on the pre-production of Rebecca, with Hitchcock and Selznick finally coming to agreement over the screenplay.
September
- 6th - Hitchcock begins principal photography beings on Rebecca, starring Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine.[11]
December
- Filming on Rebecca is completed and Hitchcock hands the footage over to David O. Selznick. The lack of coverage and alternative takes frustrates Selznick as he oversees the editing the film.[12]
- Shortly after Christmas, a preview cut of Rebecca is shown a test audience, who react postively to the film.[13]
1940
March
- Rebecca opens across cinemas in the USA.[14]
1941
February
- 27th - The Hitchcocks attend the Academy Awards where Rebecca has 11 nominations and Foreign Correspondent has 5. Both films are nominated for "Best Production" and Rebecca wins — David O. Selznick accepts (and then keeps) the Oscar. George Barnes also takes the Oscar for "Best Cinematography".[15]
1953
May
- 30th - Cinematographer George Barnes, who worked with Hitchcock on Rebecca and Spellbound, dies aged 60.
October
- 8th - Actor Nigel Bruce, who appeared in Rebecca and Suspicion, dies of a heart attack, aged 58.
1954
March
- 28th - The Aberdeen Film Appreciation Group holds a "Hitchcock Night" at the News Cinema in Aberdeen, Scotland, where they screen The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934) and Rebecca.[16]
1961
November
- 8th - Tippi Hedren takes part in a screen test with Martin Balsam. Hitchcock directs them both in scenes from Rebecca, Notorious and To Catch a Thief.[17]
1967
February
- 24th - Composer Franz Waxman, who scored Rebecca, Suspicion, The Paradine Case and Rear Window, dies from cancer aged 60.
1989
May
- 13th - Novelist Daphne du Maurier, whose works were adapted into the Hitchcock films Jamaica Inn, Rebecca and The Birds, dies aged 81.
July
- 11th - Actor Laurence Olivier, who starred in Rebecca, dies aged 82.
1992
January
- 3rd - Actress Judith Anderson, who memorably played Mrs. Danvers in Rebecca, dies aged 94.
2009
February
- 27th - Illustrator Dorothea Holt, who worked with Hitchcock on Rebecca, Saboteur, Shadow of a Doubt, Rope, Rear Window, To Catch a Thief, and The Man Who Knew Too Much, dies aged 94.
2013
December
- 15th - Actress Joan Fontaine, who starred in Rebecca and Suspicion, dies aged 96.
References
- ↑ Alfred Hitchcock: A Life in Darkness and Light (2003) by Patrick McGilligan, page 239
- ↑ See, for example, Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette (17/Sep/1938).
- ↑ Variety (1938) - Pictures: Hitchcock Draws 'Becky' as Second for Selznick
- ↑ Alfred Hitchcock: A Life in Darkness and Light (2003) by Patrick McGilligan, page 229
- ↑ Alfred Hitchcock: A Life in Darkness and Light (2003) by Patrick McGilligan, page 230
- ↑ Alfred Hitchcock: A Life in Darkness and Light (2003) by Patrick McGilligan, page 237
- ↑ Alfred Hitchcock: A Life in Darkness and Light (2003) by Patrick McGilligan, pgg. 238-9
- ↑ Alfred Hitchcock: A Life in Darkness and Light (2003) by Patrick McGilligan, page 238
- ↑ Alfred Hitchcock: A Life in Darkness and Light (2003) by Patrick McGilligan, page 240
- ↑ Alfred Hitchcock: A Life in Darkness and Light (2003) by Patrick McGilligan, pages 241-2
- ↑ Alfred Hitchcock: A Life in Darkness and Light (2003) by Patrick McGilligan, page 248
- ↑ Alfred Hitchcock: A Life in Darkness and Light (2003) by Patrick McGilligan, page 253
- ↑ Alfred Hitchcock: A Life in Darkness and Light (2003) by Patrick McGilligan, page 253
- ↑ Alfred Hitchcock: A Life in Darkness and Light (2003) by Patrick McGilligan, page 253
- ↑ Alfred Hitchcock: A Life in Darkness and Light (2003) by Patrick McGilligan, pages 281-82
- ↑ Aberdeen Evening Express (29/Mar/1954).
- ↑ The Making of Hitchcock's The Birds (2013) by Tony Lee Moral, page 62
