One major change that I do recall *SPOILERS FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN’T SEE THE MOVIE OR READ THE BOOK* was that in the original book Max actually murdered his first wife (he shot her as I recall) and hid her body, but for the movie Rebecca’s death was an accident for which Max wasn’t responsible. Nonetheless, fearing nobody would believe him he hid her body anyway. Thus, Hitch’s usual theme of an “innocent man being accused of a crime” appears once again.

Damian: Your comment about “Hitch’s usual theme” is interesting because I think people read so much into Hitchcock’s work. Sometimes they’re seeing things Hitchcock may never have intended.

I never read Rebecca, but I understand that Hitchcock was under contract to film the book, and had little freedom to inject his own ideas into the film. Maybe Selznick was savvy enough to match his director with material that vaguely resembled the work he’d done in England.

I read Rebecca when I was in the 8th grade, and first saw the movie not long after that. I know the argument about book vs. movie has been done to death, but let me say that in this case (and Gone With the Wind is the only other example I can think of at the moment) the cast of the film match EXACTLY to the way I pictured them when I read DuMaurier’s novel. Also, I think this film absolutely nails the ‘gothic’ atmosphere. Way better than Jamaica Inn (which was also Hitchcock, wasn’t it?).