Rebecca

Rebecca was directed by Alfred Hitchcock in 1940. So of course, its a great movie. A young women (Joan Fontaine) marries a rich widowed man named Maxium' de Winter, (played by Laurence Olivier), and moves into his mansion. His previous wife, Rebecca, has her personal touches throughout the entire house, and nothing has change since her death. The new Mrs. de Winter has a hard time living up to Rebecca, in every way. The house maid was very close with Rebecca, so when the newly married couples move in, she convinces Mrs. de Winter that Maxium doesn't love her. Eventually, the bride becomes jealous of a dead women, and uncovers secrets that were never meant to be found.

One particular scene in the movie takes place on Halloween, and the de Winter's are throwing a party. The maid suggests that Mrs. de Winter dress up as a previous family member, whose painting hangs on the wall.When Mrs. de Winter makes her grand entrance to the party, her guests are shocked and stare with their jaws on the floor. She cant figure out what is wrong, until she learns Rebecca had worn the same costume the previous year. That is when things really start to get interesting. Everything unfolds and gets more exciting as the audiences starting piecing information together.

Rebecca won the 1941 Oscar for best picture as well as best cinematography. This movie is interesting and contains drama and mystery. The end is truly creative, and your heart breaks for Mrs. de Winter. Maxium is a good husband, but doesn't pick up on the manipulation between the maid and his new wife.

This movie is somewhat similar to Gaslight (1940) because of the mind tricks and a women going mad. Other than that, nothing is similar. Rebecca truly is a one of a kind movie, and a must see. The scenery and details are special while the story line and actors keep you on the edge of your seat.

Sorry this post is so long. But it really is a good movie.

Always,
Avery

Sources Used:
http://www.imdb.com
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Gaslight

  

In London a newly married couples move into a new town house. Everything seems normal, until the neighbors hear rumors that the wife is crazy. Stealing her husbands things and hiding picture frames at random. When the couple goes out in public, the wife throws fits and starts crying hysterically.What could possible be wrong with her?

The wife's name is Paula (played by Ingrid Bergman) and the husband Gregory (Charles Boyer) who have moved back into her old home. Previously, Paula's aunt owned the town house in London but was murdered mysteriously. The audience soon finds out that the murder killed the women for some precious jewels, but never found them. Seeking what he never got, the killer searches the London home every night looking for the jewels.

Paula is kept in her room most of the time, and truly believes she is insane. At night she hears strange noises, and watches the gaslight dim and brighten as someone comes and goes in a home that is supposed to be empty. What little she knows.


Gaslight was produced in 1940 but remade in 1944 with Ingrid Bergman and Charles Boyer. The stories are similar but I prefer the 1944 version because it adds more details and information, which helps tell the story. It won two Oscars and had five other nominations. I like this movie because of the suspense and it keeps you interested in trying to solve the puzzle of Paula and her strange husband.

Always,
Avery

Sources Used:
http://www.imdb.com
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Rear Window

Rear Window was directed by the best man ever, Alfred Hitchcock! It was made in 1954 with Grace Kelly (I think she is so pretty) and James Stewart who you might know from "Its a Wonderful Life". The movie is a mystery and thriller. Stewart is temporarily in a wheelchair and lives in an apartment complex. Being in a wheelchair, he gets bored and people watches. As he starts taking an interest in his neighbor behind him, he comes to believe that the man has killed his wife!

As the weeks go on, Stewart is convinced that he has seen a murder, and even has his maid and girlfriend (Kelly) worried he might be right. It's not a scary movie like the ones made today are, but it does have suspense and keeps you glued to the screen. As the movie unfolds, you cant decide if Steward is right, or just bored and making things up until he goes crazy. Its a good, satisfying movie that actually has an ending, it doesn't leave the audience to make up their own mind.

Rear Window was nominated for four Oscars in 1955. The film is in color for those who don't like black and white.

                                            (The movie clip is only around 3 minutes long)

Always,
Avery


Sources Used:
http://www.youtube.com
http://www.imdb.com

Singin' in the Rain

Singing in the Rain was produced in 1952 featuring Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, and Donald O' Conner. The movie is about a film crew who transition between making silent movies to ones with sound in 1927. The group decides to make a musical as their first film with sound. This movie is a happy funny silly movie with many dance numbers. 

I actually started watching this movie when I was in grade school along with seven brides for seven brothers. I loved watching the musicals and dance numbers as a little girl, but now I watch this movie and think about the transition between sound and silent movies.

Personally I cant stand to watch silent movies because I feel like the actors are very dramatic to get the plot across. Also because the flow of the film is choppy due to the fact that the screen flips from the film to the text to let the audience know what is going on. Some people don't mind silent movies but they dislike black and white movies. Its a personal opinion but I love black and white movies if you didn't already catch onto that.

Always,
Avery

Sources used:
http://www.imdb.com
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