It's no secret that our GBH Drama team is a big fan of two things:
- Watching period dramas of all stripes.
- Painstakingly breaking down the plot, cinematography, costuming, and performances in said dramas.
So it may not surprise you to find out that when we heard Netflix was releasing a new adapation of Daphne du Maurier's Gothic classic Rebecca last month, we were shivering with anticipation. But we couldn't stop there: Alfred Hitchcock's 1940 film version and our own MASTERPIECE colleague's 1997 miniseries also beckoned. How would these three heavy hitters measure up? To find out, Drama After Dark hosts Jackie Bruleigh and Andrea Wolanin binged all three versions, and then sat down for a good old fashioned online chat — which we have condensed and edited for your reading pleasure below.
Andrea Wolanin
SO
✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* 𝕽𝖊𝖇𝖊𝖈𝖈𝖆 *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧
You’ve never seen it before right?
Jackie Bruleigh
I have not!
this was my first ~experience ~
Andrea Wolanin
Let’s start there, what did you think of the main story?
Jackie Bruleigh
Ok so the story, I loved: great twist, interesting cast of characters, delightful gothic vibes.
It was really fun to see how the different adaptations brought out the social mores at the time they were made.
Andrea Wolanin
Yeah, it’s very dark and moody, and has a really great overall attitude.
Jackie Bruleigh
It was perfect for this time of year.
Andrea Wolanin
I think the story’s great
Somewhere between Jane Eyre and I Know Where I’m Going.
Jackie Bruleigh
YES
The Jane Eyre vibes were very strong
Andrea Wolanin
One thing that I love about all the adaptations is how Rebecca is such a strong character without actually being present
Even in the 1997 version, where they have an actress portray her, you never really see her, just little close-ups or gestures of her.
Jackie Bruleigh
It's such a fun device to have so much personality come through BECAUSE she's not there.
Andrea Wolanin
Yeah, exactly — like the way everyone talks about her, she sounds like a total Boss Bitch, and then as it goes on you’re like –
Oh!
A Sociopath
Jackie Bruleigh
LOL yeah
Like "she's incredible if you barely know her, but I have bad news if you get too close"
Goals, tbh
Andrea Wolanin
I mean
Put that on my tombstone, pls
Jackie Bruleigh
One thing I really liked about the MASTERPIECE version is that it's basically like she's got branding
all of her stuff has that big ‘R’
I can't imagine moving into a house and there's just scads of dead lady stuff
and it's all master branded
Rebecca™
Andrea Wolanin
So something that’s crazy to me is, like, your boss/friend comes home with a Sudden Vacation Wife and nobody stfu about Rebecca?
Like, Mrs. Danvers and Grandmother ok, I get it
But it’s like there’s a legitimate SPELL over this house where no one within the walls can HELP talking about Becks
Jackie Bruleigh
To be fair, I feel like most of that is supposed to be a reflection of the class stuff? Like they all know that Sudden Vacation Wife is NOT societally appropriate as a wife, and they're rubbing it in by bringing up the good version
But it's so crummy!
Andrea Wolanin
It is! but the thing that I think is so strange is like, even the people who like her are like “You’re so sweet, but REBECCA… I mean. Birds Suddenly Appear, etcetera.”
“You’re so pretty, but REBECCA was Miss Universe AND Miss Congeniality.”
“AND she had a PhD in badassery.”
“And I HEARD she used to date Jay Gatsby!”
Jackie Bruleigh
So, Netflix version: I kinda liked it?
Andrea Wolanin
Netflix version was INTERESTING to me from a production design standpoint — it was super anachronistic, plucking design elements from the 20's through the 60's.
Whereas the other versions are pretty obviously set in one time or another.
Jackie Bruleigh
Yes — the influences were all over the place but it had a vision to it.
Andrea Wolanin
I loved PARTS of it, and I liked that the ending was more empowering… but overall Maxim and Sudden Vacation Wife just seemed blander to me?
Like, thank u for Army Hammer’s physique, but…
He’s just a damp sock.
Jackie Bruleigh
Yeah, he played it the straightest.
Like Laurence? Emotional!
Charles Dance? Angry!
Armie? Bored?
Andrea Wolanin
Hungry?
Constipated?
Jackie Bruleigh
Curious about why his valet only packed the one suit?
Andrea Wolanin
Vaguely frustrated because he has ONE (1) pair of pants
And they’re MUSTARD LINEN
But, let’s not lie, that suit was
Jackie Bruleigh
Ok, so I thought about this a lot
Because I legit thought you were exaggerating when you told me that he had only one suit, and you were NOT
Andrea Wolanin
I wasn’t!
Jackie Bruleigh
I think it's actually quite possible that he would just bring one good suit on vacation
BUT
who cares about realism when you can put that boy in a bunch of well-cut suits?
Andrea Wolanin
Yes, correct
BUT ALSO
More than one pair of pants?
Jackie Bruleigh
Wellllll…
You don't wear different pants with the same jacket, because they wear out faster and sun bleach different, and then it's no longer a suit
Andrea Wolanin
I mean, the costumer friend I texted about this said “it’s Monte Carlo”
“You only need a pair of linen pants”
BUT
Jackie Bruleigh
But yeah, why not GREY.
Which no one will clock as
Your ONE suit
Andrea Wolanin
Either way, this taught me that linen pants are VERY versatile, and I need a pair.
Jackie Bruleigh
So beyond The Suit
There were glimmers of something very interesting
And I wanted a lot more of that! It makes Sudden Vacation Wife's whole thing a lot more palatable.
Andrea Wolanin
She’s not just falling into a domineering relationship, she WANTS someone to take care of her.
Jackie Bruleigh
Right, she's CHOOSING the domineering relationship.
Whereas the MASTERPIECE version, which had a lot of other things going for it, did not work for me as a romance.
I just kept thinking, "get out of there, friend: you don't need Manderley and you don't need this man."
Andrea Wolanin
She was so young it made it feel like poor Chuckie D was a horrible creep.
Jackie Bruleigh
Emilia Fox's version was also the least well-read/intelligent seeming of the three; she's the least worldly for sure.
Andrea Wolanin
I think that was almost the intent of that film
Almost like it was a further repercussion of Rebecca — like, he couldn’t handle a full-power woman, maybe, he thinks, he can handle a just-barely a woman
Jackie Bruleigh
“Me and my surprisingly numerous freckles and my sweater have work to do; figure your s*** out.”
Andrea Wolanin
The only time I really BOUGHT their romance was after she finally stands up for herself and they fight in the rain, and then he dries her hair for her.
That was lovely, and homey
Jackie Bruleigh
Yes! I loved that bit
it was sweet, for once
Andrea Wolanin
Otherwise it had a real strange abandonment vibe
Jackie Bruleigh
Oooooh
Dark!
Speaking of –
The costume ball
Can we say up front, the Netflix dress was the worst one, but the party was the best?
Andrea Wolanin
Yes, correct.
The Hitchcock version’s costume was the best IMO, but when Maxim gets mad at her, she just cries?
Andrea Wolanin
The MASTERPIECE one was so painfully awkward, with her changing and then just standing quietly next to him all night
But the third gets all anxious and weird
In a good way!
Jackie Bruleigh
The hallucination sequence was awesome!
Andrea Wolanin
I love a good hallucination sequence
And that movie just kept throwing them in.
Andrea Wolanin
The Netflix one, by far, had the WORST Van Hopper.
Jackie Bruleigh
I actually had thoughts about this, because YES
She was horrible
And so obviously a reflection of what's considered gauche: the earlier ones are just like typical “not paying attention to British social rules” Americans
But in Netflix’s version she's a mean alcoholic, and the production also emphasized her weight
I just thought that was crappy and unnecessary
She's not supposed to be an actual nightmare, just overbearing
Faye Dunaway from MASTERPIECE’s version was a real delight; she made it work with not a ton of screen time
Andrea Wolanin
Faye Dunaway was amazing — she’s a gauche, social climbing American
But you feel like she ENJOYS Sudden Vacation Wife in a real way?
Like she’s crabby because she gets a cold, but she’s happy to let the girl run about town
And is like, “okay, you get it you crazy little thing.”
Jackie Bruleigh
RIGHT
And her "oooh honey you're not ready for the f****** you're gonna get" vibes were a) hilarious and b) correct
Andrea Wolanin
Yes, CORRECT
Florence Bates in the OG Rebecca was just playing her iconic grand dame
Jackie Bruleigh
Yes; overbearing and a little intense,
A little too obsessed with social standing and rules, but ultimately looking out for Sudden Vacation Wife
Andrea Wolanin
Yes
And then Poor Ann Dowd [Netflix Rebecca’s Van Hopper]
Just got sold up the river
Jackie Bruleigh
It made it harder for me to believe the romance between the characters, because it mostly seemed like Sudden Vacation Wife was trying to get away from her boss
Andrea Wolanin
That said, I did think Netflix Sudden Vacation Wife was the strongest of the three
You saw her not just accepting things
AND the movie ends with her breaking the fourth wall in a way that makes you feel she’s come into her own
Jackie Bruleigh
Yes, agree, but I also think she was the one we would like most — she's the most modern in her sensibilities
Andrea Wolanin
I loved Lily James and Joan Fontaine pretty equally, but I couldn’t HANDLE Emilia Fox
Love the actress, but NO.
Jackie Bruleigh
Weirdly, same?
I found her portrayal VERY bloodless
Almost the Armie Hammer of that film
Andrea Wolanin
LOOOL
She reminded me through the whole movie of a Victorian orphan
Jackie Bruleigh
LOL yes, Victorian orphan vibes
What bothered me is that while I LOVE Charles Dance, he was the only one who got explosively angry
Which I found very uncomfortable
Andrea Wolanin
There was very little real romantic interest from him in this, and very MUCH rage
Jackie Bruleigh
It was so much worse because she was the weakest of all the Sudden Vacation Wives, so I didn't like them as a couple
And their age gap was the greatest, which didn't help
Andrea Wolanin
Hard agree
It was the most uncomfortable
Which, even if they’re great performers, made it a real struggle
Jackie Bruleigh
But Diana Rigg [Danvers in MASTERPIECE’s Rebecca] killed it.
I feel like that Danvers role is so meaty partly because she's there as Rebecca's representative.
And she chose to go for a quiet menacing vibe which I really enjoyed
She was CREEPY in that, man.
Andrea Wolanin
Something I thought that was really interesting was that the MASTERPIECE one was the only one that read to me as a “Rebecca and I were lovers”
In others, she falls into a mother/best friend/devotee
Jackie Bruleigh
Yes!
They went there.
Andrea Wolanin
I… to be honest, I liked that idea A LOT.
Like, Rebecca had to marry, so she did, and she kept her lover as her ladies maid
So, as much as I adore Kristen Scott Thomas, and as incredible as she was as Danvers in the Netflix version
you just
can’t
beat
Diana
Rigg
Like, impossible
Jackie Bruleigh
I have to say, there are a few roles for women actors that are just top of the line amazing, and Danvers is for sure one of them.
Where even though there are a lot of versions, it's such a meaty role that it would be a hard challenge to turn down.
They all were great
But, yes
Rigg for life
Andrea Wolanin
Judith Anderson and Kristen Scott Thomas both did outstanding jobs, but the Rigg’s Danvers is the one that’s going to haunt my nightmares
To be honest, too — that was my favorite Favel
Like, if you’re going to be kissing cousins
Having one half be a sociopath and the other half a sweaty drunk is about the only way to go
all the put together, with-it versions of Favel made it just… oh, that’s gross
When they’re both clearly troubled, there’s something more troubling and sad about it?
Jackie Bruleigh
Fair!
I didn't like the Favel in the Hitchcock version, he was just bland and gross
Andrea Wolanin
I mean, Yes, correct.
The Favel in the Hitchcock one was the one I felt was the most like Rebecca
Like, he didn’t feel like a victim of hers, the way everyone in the movie usually is
He felt like an accomplice
Jackie Bruleigh
Definitely the smoothest talker
Andrea Wolanin
The smoothest talker, with the LARGEST chin
OMG KEELEY HAWES
So, we haven’t talked about Maxim’s sister, Beatrice, yet
Jackie Bruleigh
OH YES
Yeah, ok, so I actually liked all of them
They all did something different with it too, which was nice
Ours, I loved
Andrea Wolanin
Geraldine James!
I LOVED her
Jackie Bruleigh
She had a real fun "love to ride, everyone else can get lost" vibe
Andrea Wolanin
But I’m not gonna sit here and act like I don’t stan Keeley Hawes and would rather have her as an in-law
Jackie Bruleigh
Yes, exactly!
Keeley was the only one I want to have tea with and be related to
Geraldine would totally blow you off; she's got a hunt this weekend and can't make it
Andrea Wolanin
Keeley is like “LETS GO SHOPPING AND GET DRUNK ON THE VERANDA WHILE MAXIM IS IN PARIS AND THROW ACORNS AT REBECCA’S WINDOWS TO DRIVE DANI CRAZY
Andrea Wolanin
So, The Ending.
MASTERPIECE's Rebecca was the only one that I felt had a typical happy ending?
Like, Hitchcock’s is REALLY open-ended
and Netflix’s feels like they’re together but lost, in a way
Jackie Bruleigh
The Netflix ending made the least sense to me because where are they getting the money for the f*** tour of the world?
Andrea Wolanin
He’s LOADED
Jackie Bruleigh
Right but most of his money was probably tied up in the estate, non?
Andrea Wolanin
I mean, Manderlay HAD to be insured!
With an estate that size, you also own land and houses that you rent out to folk
Jackie Bruleigh
yeah the land and tenant farmers are still there, but that's not THAT much income?
Jackie Bruleigh
I think what it was for me is that it's like the opposite of Austen, which we've been SO immersed in
where he's supposed to be like all about the hands on stewardship of the estate
Andrea Wolanin
Right
Jackie Bruleigh
and this dude is like "no thank you, I shall playact at being poor"
I'm taking my talents to Cairo!
Andrea Wolanin
Meanwhile, Chucky D was like, musn’t tarry, tenant farmers to scold
Jackie Bruleigh
Like he got his jollies being like "Hilbert, your hedges are encroaching; fix it posthaste or I shall be very cross with you"
Andrea Wolanin
I do have to say, for all that I’m not into pretty rich boys, I would probably have married Olivier out of all of them
He seemed troubled AND handsome AND my age range
Triple crown BAYBEE
Jackie Bruleigh
Ooooh interesting, "which Maxim do you marry"
i'm so sorry, I am horrible
Andrea Wolanin
I knew that already
Jackie Bruleigh
You know what I’m gonna say
Andrea Wolanin
I can GUESS
Jackie Bruleigh
I’d marry Chucky D
Andrea Wolanin
Why?
It’s not just because of the one-piece swimsuit, is it.
Jackie Bruleigh
Look, I LIKE the stern estate-daddy vibes
Andrea Wolanin
Faiiiiir
Jackie Bruleigh
While I enjoyed Olivier's take, he doesn't seem to know how to handle himself AND isn't going to ask for my opinion on things? Like, Chucky D may not consult me, but he's not a doofus
Andrea Wolanin
True, true
Olivier definitely needs a guiding hand
I feel like he was the most victimized Maxim
Like he was the one who needed to be saved from Rebecca the most
Jackie Bruleigh
Yeah, and if you can't handle Rebecca, you sure as hell can't handle this moi
Andrea Wolanin
So. Last takes?
Jackie Bruleigh
Straight up, my takeaway is this:
Hitchcock was a nice little package, and you know exactly what it's gonna be when you hear who made it
Andrea Wolanin
Hahah, yes
Jackie Bruleigh
MASTERPIECE's version was the most comprehensive and had the scariest Danvers, but also was the least romantic
Andrea Wolanin
The MASTERPIECE one was SO TERRIBLY BRITISH
Jackie Bruleigh
I wonder if we feel that way though partly because we are American?
Like do British people watch that one and go "Ah yes, this is what our rich are like."
Andrea Wolanin
Oh, definitely
Jackie Bruleigh
And finally, Netflix version was like 60% of the way to something awesome and just didn't go hard enough.
Andrea Wolanin
Yes
Hard agree
That one had the best sexual chemistry, hands down
Jackie Bruleigh
It would have been SUCH a better movie if they did even a little more of it.
Like, it made sense the Hitchcock one wasn't super sexual based on the era
Andrea Wolanin
I feel like, if they just said
HEY!
We’re making a super sexy Rebecca
We all would’ve been down
But it felt like it was edited out in post?
Jackie Bruleigh
Yeah
I wanted MORE
Anyway, so.
Andrea Wolanin
Yeah
Jackie Bruleigh
Fun, creepy story
Andrea
Great performances
Awesome lighting
Cool costumes
Jackie Bruleigh
And three solid, but pretty different, adaptations.
Agree? Disagree? Want to tell us which Maxim YOU would marry? Hit us up on twitter!
