Yesterday I FINALLY, after meaning to pick up a copy for most of my life, went and bought a copy of
Daphne du Maurier's 1938 novel;
Rebecca. Has anyone else read this?
I've seen
Alfred Hitchcock's 1940 film of the same title with
Laurence Olivier and
Joan Fontaine (one of my favorite old-school actresses) about 90 bazillion times and it includes one of my all time favorite villainess's;
Mrs. Danvers played by Judith Anderson.
I thought for being a 72 year old story it might be sort of a hard read with the time period's use of language, but for being a good 25% into the story already, oddly enough I'm fairly amazed that with the exception of a reference to a gramophone and a lorgnette (which I recognized in the context of the story, but didn't know it's name or correct pronunciation without looking it up) amazingly, this story
could have been written present day. So far, the movie has followed the book perfectly!
Infact, as I read the first page, I could hear Joan Fontaine's opening movie lines as she narrates the first few pages. Fucking awesome.
As an interesting cross-over for Stephen King fans that arn't as familiar with the book or movie, his book
Bag of Bones constantly refers to the opening line and often quoted
"Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again" as well as Mrs. Danvers, the sinister housekeeper. I about shit my pants when I found out he is afraid of her too. She's been one of my favorite spookey & icy, yet subtle, bitches all my life.
Mrs. Danvers on right
I always wanted to see Mrs. Danvers and Nurse Ratched teamed up in a catfight. At the least, it'd be the world's most iciest and longest staring contest ever.
-vs-
Hot damn, I'm so excited to have finally picked this up and to have it be such an awesome read! YEAY!
I made the Devil do it.