In the book the girl is supposed to be about 17 or 18. Maxim was 42. Save Jeremy Brett, in none of the versions did the principle characters look their ages. As a piece of atmospheric and suspensful film making Hitchcock's romantic 1942 version was superior. Judieth Anderson and George Sanders were perfectly cast and correct to their type. Joan Fontaine, however, was too beautiful and was 24 years old when she played the role. Olivier was 32 and he looked it. Fontaine's performance was popular with audiences, however, when she goes into her "shy" routine she sometimes gives the impression of being a dithering idiot.
(The producer of that version Selznick wanted English actress Nova Pilbeam for the part, who did look 17, was EXACTLY as described in the book, and was born to play the role. Hitchcock nixed that idea preferring what would become his typical Hollywood blonde fettish.)
Considering Dance was age 51 at the time he did De Winter he did a convincing--if somewhat indifferent--job in the 1997 version. 23 year old Emilia Fox (STURDY-not wane or fragile looking and very beautiful) was far too self-contained, wide-eyed, and one diminsional in her role. Not nuanced AT ALL. Fox is smirky too boot. Compare to the scene in the book the snippy and superior impression Fox makes in her contentious back and forth with Mrs. Von Hopper directly before eloping with Dewinter. Completely out of character.
Joanna David who played opposite the great Jeremy Brett in the 1979 version may have been a bit too old to play the second wife but her performance was easily the most moving, reflective, and interesting. Very intelligency done and well nuanced. You could sense her gauche and subtle vulnerability throughout.
44 year old Jeremy Brett was the best acted De Winter and the most accurate--in looks, age, and temperment. The fact that Brett was bi-polar in real life was a plus when playing the haunted De winter. The Brett version was leisurely (4 episodes) with stunning locations, although not as sinister or suspenseful as the Hitchcock version.
A negative with respect to the 1997 Rebecca was that most of the telling dialogue from the book was abbreviated or changed (modernized) with inferior substitutes, and MANY of the scenes depicted never happened in the source material. For instance, the hold Rebecca has over Manderly and it's occupants is severely dissipated once Rebecca is actually SEEN in this version. The "most beautiful creature I ever beheld", as revealed, is COMMON, vulgar, and not even particularily attractive. When one thinks "Rebecca" one thinks of the elegance and pristine beauty of a young Vivian Leigh who died 45 years ago. Today "Rebecca" is better left to the imigination.
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