Alfred Hitchcock's first Hollywood film is a sumptuous and suspenseful adaptation of Daphne du Maurier's romantic novel. Produced by David O Selznick, it is immaculately played and was rightly awarded the Oscar for best picture. That Laurence Olivier as Maxim de Winter is superb goes without saying, but it's mousey Joan Fontaine who is a revelation as the second Mrs de Winter. Lovers of lesbian subtexts will have a field day with Judith Anderson's sinister housekeeper Mrs Danvers, as Hitchcock circumvents the Hays Code censors who forced him to make changes to the original story. Fortunately no damage was done - unless you think too hard. And, since the style and pace never let up, there's no danger of that happening.

Story of a young woman who marries a fascinating widower only to find out that she must live in the shadow of his former wife, Rebecca, who died mysteriously several years earlier. The young wife must come to grips with the terrible secret of her handsome, cold husband, Max De Winter. She must also deal with the jealous, obsessed Mrs. Danvers, the housekeeper, who will not accept her as the mistress of the house.