(Welcome toKnives In, a series about the movies to watch before Rian JohnsonsKnives Outarrives in theaters.)
Put on your murder-solving hat, because /Film has given me jurisdiction to dive deep into one film a day in preparation for the release of Rian JohnsonsKnives Out, which hits theaters next week. Each film relates to Johnsons whodunit in its own unique way, and each picture should hopefully be viewed prior to patrons watching the new movie on the big screen.
Today, well be discussing the 1940 filmRebecca, and how the movie is a perfect companion piece to Johnsons modern day murder mystery.
Alfred Hitchcock believed that isolation breeds fear. As the newly wed Mr. and Mrs. De Winter (Joan Fontaine and Laurence Olivier) greet the gatekeeper and slowly wind their way up the path to Manderley, it suddenly becomes clear just how secluded their posh home truly is from the rest of society. In Rebecca, the mansion is so far away from anything that you dont even know what town its near the iconic director once bragged about his first American film. Based on the Daphne du Maurier novel of the same name, the 1940 film Rebecca, much like Rian Johnsons upcoming Knives Out, is a story about a haunted house only in these ghost stories, the ghouls still reside amongst the living.
Once inside the propertys towering walls, the new Mrs. de Winter finds herself feeling a little bit less like the lady of the house and a little more like the mousy governess meant to shuffle alongside the staff. After all, it wasnt very long ago that she and widower Maxim de Winter engaged in a whirlwind romance in Paris before he whisked away his young mistress to be married and caged within the confines of the Manderley mansion, a little bird whose song she would now only sing for him. However, despite his obvious fancy for his new feathered friend, Maxim seems hesitant to allow his new partner to nest, as any action she takes or word she utters frustrates Maxim for either being too similar or too different to the late and great Mrs. Rebecca de Winter.
Monogrammed blankets, napkins, day planners and pillow cases Rebeccas aggressive authority is still plastered all over this house, and meanwhile, our heroine isnt even given a name. She is a blank to the audience, just as she is a blank to Maxim, his servants, his sister, and whoever else dares to enter the property where Rebecca, the most beautiful creature the world has ever seen or, at least the most beautiful creature Frank Crawley (Reginald Denny) has ever seen drew her last breath. Although her body is washed out to sea, Rebeccas soul still lingers in the English manor, a spectral presence that looms behind each locked door. Like the pull of the oceans current, Rebeccas essence beckons the new Mrs. de Winter to give in to her insecurity, to look inside herself and listen to the voice that tells her shell never be good enough for Maxim. The large windows make the heroine look small and feeble in comparison as she gazes out longingly at the eternal blue, her tiny frame all but disappearing against the backdrop of the high seas, ready to swallow her whole.
In both Knives Out and Rebecca, the possibility of murder hangs in the air. Supposedly, both skirmishes were self-inflicted, but if any foul play were at hand, everyone sure is keeping mum. That is, of course, except for the house. Both the Manderley mansion and the Thrombey estate act as members of the cast, each truly a character in and of itself. In Manderley, towering rib vaulted ceilings open up and expand the already spacious and empty gothic rooms, their vacancies reflecting the people who live inside them, their barren walls signaling a loveless and frustrated marriage. Lanky fireplaces and sky high door knobs make the heroine look small and childish, like Alice about to tumble down the rabbit hole, in way over her head.
At the Thrombey household, most of the arguments over Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) and the money hes leaving behind to his family take place in claustrophobic wood paneled rooms, congested with low ceilings and cold hard stone that invite friction, disagreement, and quite possibly, death. In fact, its worth noting the decorative skeletons that are peppered into nearly every scene inside the house. Why would director Johnson make it a point to include so many bony friends? If the little metal skull on Mr. Potters desk in Its a Wonderful Life cements him as the villain of the story, are the skulls scattered throughout Harlans house in Knives Out perhaps suggesting that he is not the man we think he is? Is he a red herring? Are these the remains of the virgins he sacrificed in order to gain his unrivaled power? Or, is he just taking advantage of a post Halloween sale at Michaels? One things for sure, and its that if something funny is going on, Private Investigator Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) will sniff it out in these stuffy halls, the duplicitous stench of deceit too bold to ignore.
Whether it be addressed in Uncle Charlies monologue in Shadow of a Doubt, the attic scene in The Birds, the fruit cellar in Psycho, the bedroom in Notorious, or even on the grounds of Manderley in Rebecca, Hitchcock liked to use the quant, supposedly safe interior of the home to express his unease with family. As the new Mrs. de Winter struggles to adjust to her new life in Monte Carlo, her husband recoils from her every romantic touch, highlighting the space physically and emotionally between the pair. The camera often begins a shot close to the heroines face, only to pull back, away from her, emphasizing how alone she really is in this beautiful prison, the ghost of Rebecca the only soul keeping her company in her darkest hours, the shadows compromising her gentility.
The terror of the commonplace is at work in both the 1940 black and white contender and the 2019 trailblazer, as both films feature a very important set of stairs that play pivotal roles in each story. In Rebecca, when the heroine foolishly trusts the advice of Mrs. Danvers (Judith Anderson) and dons a costume she believes to be an ancient relative of the family, she learns only too late that Danny has tricked her, an act of humiliation that very nearly sends the young beauty over the edge. As she shows up for the ball in her floor length gown, the heroine descends the stairs, unknowingly in the late Mrs. de Winters attire, sneaking up on Maxim just before he explodes on her at the base of the steps. Little did she know she was treading down straight into an inferno. This is just another example of Hitchcocks associating stairs with murder and death, a trait which director Rian Johnson, clever as he is, seems to have inherited over the years.
Although hes not nearly as blatant as the ever present presence of Rebecca in Hitchcocks greatest, the spirit of Harlan Thrombey does seem to stick around the house long after his cadaver skipped town. One could argue this unwelcome energy is due to Harlans portrait smiling down at every suspect, but the very purposeful production design suggests different. Echoes of his novels ring throughout the establishment, whether they appear in secret hidden windows built into the frame, or something more subliminal, like the plants that embellish nearly every reel especially the scenes in which Detective Blanc is discovering new information pertaining to the case. Hitchcock loved flowers, so when he made Rebecca, he used the flora as a motif for Maxims late wife, first appearing when the heroine knocks over the bouquet at breakfast in the hotel, thus showcasing her clumsiness in front of the man who is pitching woo, then later quite literally drowning the poor girl in posies moments after she and Maxim spontaneously tie the knot. Once at Manderley, gorgeous, overflowing flowers permeate every room, their pungent toxicity choking and strangling the new arrival with phantom limbs. Ghosts dwell in these halls, in this cold sunshine, thus proving with both pictures that one neednt be possessed in order to feel haunted.
Excerpt from:
What to Watch Before Knives Out: Rebecca - /FILM
- High Seas Forecast (Tropical Atlantic) [Last Updated On: June 10th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 10th, 2016]
- International waters - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: June 10th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 10th, 2016]
- high seas | maritime law | Britannica.com [Last Updated On: June 10th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 10th, 2016]
- Radiofax Charts - New Orleans [Last Updated On: June 16th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 16th, 2016]
- High Seas Alliance | highseasalliance.org [Last Updated On: June 16th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 16th, 2016]
- High Seas Fleet - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: June 16th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 16th, 2016]
- Web Design & Mobile App Developer San Francisco CA | HIGH SEAS [Last Updated On: June 16th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 16th, 2016]
- knit/lab high seas - Kieran Foley [Last Updated On: June 21st, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 21st, 2016]
- Protecting Ocean Life on the High Seas - Pew Trusts [Last Updated On: June 27th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 27th, 2016]
- Convention on the High Seas - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: June 29th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 29th, 2016]
- Ultima Online: High Seas - UOGuide, the Ultima Online ... [Last Updated On: July 3rd, 2016] [Originally Added On: July 3rd, 2016]
- High Seas - Science NetLinks [Last Updated On: July 10th, 2016] [Originally Added On: July 10th, 2016]
- High Seas Fleet - Wikipedia [Last Updated On: November 12th, 2016] [Originally Added On: November 12th, 2016]
- United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea [Last Updated On: November 27th, 2016] [Originally Added On: November 27th, 2016]
- Ocean Prediction Center-Coastal, Offshore and High Seas ... [Last Updated On: December 15th, 2016] [Originally Added On: December 15th, 2016]
- Global High Seas Marine Preserve A non-profit dedicted ... [Last Updated On: February 2nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 2nd, 2017]
- New centre for high seas visitors in Angus - The Courier - The Courier [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2017]
- Naval Presence on High Seas Underscored - Financial Tribune [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2017]
- Pirates Face Push Back On The High Seas - American Media Institute [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2017]
- Queen Mary 2 to Host High Fashion on the High Seas - Cruise Hive - Cruise Hive [Last Updated On: February 13th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 13th, 2017]
- Nigeria Rescues Oil Tanker From High-Seas Pirates - OilPrice.com [Last Updated On: February 13th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 13th, 2017]
- High Tea on the High Sea by Searoad Ferries Services [Last Updated On: February 13th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 13th, 2017]
- Conflict and Diplomacy on the High Seas - Focus News [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2017]
- Cabin cam shows the hilarious frustration of rolling on the high seas - Pickle [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2017]
- Ransomware Gangs Have Become the High-Seas Pirates of the Internet - On the Wire (blog) [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2017]
- Suspect in high-seas homicides hospitalized, putting case on hold - Sacramento Bee [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2017]
- To Boldly Cruise Where No Couple Has Cruised Before - Bloomberg [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2017]
- Sailing the high seas: Top cruises for first-timers, families and excursions in 2017 - Malay Mail Online [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2017]
- All aboard for Cosplay on the high seas - The New Paper [Last Updated On: February 17th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 17th, 2017]
- Star-Studded Broadway on the High Seas 8 Sets Sail Feb. 17 - Playbill.com [Last Updated On: February 17th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 17th, 2017]
- The Cold War returns to the high seas - CNN [Last Updated On: February 17th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 17th, 2017]
- 'The internet is like the high seas' - Deutsche Welle [Last Updated On: February 18th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 18th, 2017]
- Greg McQuade discovers life on the high seas aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower - wtvr.com [Last Updated On: February 18th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 18th, 2017]
- In Dramatic High Seas Rescue, Four Fishermen Rescued By Good Samaritans Off Galveston, Texas, Coast - Patch.com [Last Updated On: February 19th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 19th, 2017]
- Escape to the high seas at the National Aviary - NEXTpittsburgh [Last Updated On: February 22nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 22nd, 2017]
- Scapa Flow German High Seas Fleet scrap sites explored - The ... - The Orcadian [Last Updated On: February 23rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 23rd, 2017]
- Two boats towed in harbor in high seas - Cayman Compass [Last Updated On: February 24th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 24th, 2017]
- Take to the high seas with Condor Sailing Adventures - Pensacola News Journal [Last Updated On: February 25th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 25th, 2017]
- Aging high-seas murder suspect out of hospital and back in court - Sacramento Bee [Last Updated On: February 28th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 28th, 2017]
- Masters of the waves talk of high seas, thrills & spills - The New Indian Express [Last Updated On: March 1st, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 1st, 2017]
- Campbell River Sea Cadet off to England to hit the high seas - Campbell River Mirror [Last Updated On: March 4th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 4th, 2017]
- Survival on the high seas (From The Northern Echo) - The Northern Echo (registration) [Last Updated On: March 4th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 4th, 2017]
- Industry 4.0 on the High Seas - MarineLink [Last Updated On: March 4th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 4th, 2017]
- New Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales Trailer Brings Us More Action On The High Seas! - LRM Online (press release) (blog) [Last Updated On: March 4th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 4th, 2017]
- Eco-warriors meet government authority on Ballina's high seas ... - Echonetdaily [Last Updated On: March 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 6th, 2017]
- Tech on the high seas: Fred Olsen IT chief chats cloud, connectivity and security - www.v3.co.uk [Last Updated On: March 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 6th, 2017]
- Why newbie Drusilla is preparing for life on the high seas - The Wharf - The Wharf [Last Updated On: March 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 7th, 2017]
- Bhang Travel Inc. Brings Cannabis Networking to the High Seas - PR Web (press release) [Last Updated On: March 8th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 8th, 2017]
- Drama on the high seas: East Kilbride couple reveal dramatic rescue after boat sinks in Gulf - Scottish Daily Record [Last Updated On: March 8th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 8th, 2017]
- French, Irish yacht sailors survive high seas off Australia's coast - TRT World [Last Updated On: March 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 10th, 2017]
- Journey through the high seas - Manila Standard - The Standard [Last Updated On: March 11th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 11th, 2017]
- High Seas Yacht Service | Specializing in Marine Propulsion Alignments [Last Updated On: March 11th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 11th, 2017]
- High Seas Adventure With Bunn And Molina's 'X-Men: Blue' - ComicsAlliance [Last Updated On: March 17th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 17th, 2017]
- Fun on the high seas - Dallas Voice [Last Updated On: March 19th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 19th, 2017]
- Freedom on high seas - nation.lk - The Nation Newspaper [Last Updated On: March 19th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 19th, 2017]
- Limerick cancer survivor returns to the high seas - Limerick Post [Last Updated On: March 19th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 19th, 2017]
- At ease on high seas, woman pilot storms into male bastion | Kolkata ... - Times of India [Last Updated On: March 19th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 19th, 2017]
- Meeting on High Seas Fisheries in the Central Arctic Ocean - The Arctic Journal [Last Updated On: March 19th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 19th, 2017]
- Shell Looks to Lower The Cost of Drilling on The High Seas - Chem.Info [Last Updated On: March 23rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 23rd, 2017]
- Indians work on high seas but yet to take a cruise | Goa News ... - Times of India [Last Updated On: March 23rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 23rd, 2017]
- Cubans Still Fleeing on the High Seas, Months After Obama Nixes Wet Foot/Dry Foot - Breitbart News [Last Updated On: March 23rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 23rd, 2017]
- Narcosis Brings Terror Comes to the High Seas on March 28 - Dread Central [Last Updated On: March 23rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 23rd, 2017]
- Duncan high takes class to the 'high seas' - Duncan Banner [Last Updated On: March 23rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 23rd, 2017]
- Cardboard vessels take to the 'high seas' at MCA - News Item [Last Updated On: March 27th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 27th, 2017]
- Skating a halfpipe on the high seas - GrindTV [Last Updated On: March 29th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 29th, 2017]
- SEAS: The Art Of Sound Perfection [Last Updated On: March 31st, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 31st, 2017]
- Helping save a life on the high seas warmed the heart of one Craig woman - Craig Daily Press [Last Updated On: April 2nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 2nd, 2017]
- Watch: Impressive High Seas Evacuation from Tall Ship - GCaptain [Last Updated On: April 2nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 2nd, 2017]
- A dining odyssey on the high seas - Detroit Free Press [Last Updated On: April 2nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 2nd, 2017]
- High Stakes for High-Seas Gaming - TravelPulse [Last Updated On: April 2nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 2nd, 2017]
- High life on the high seas - THE BUSINESS TIMES [Last Updated On: April 3rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 3rd, 2017]
- Captain Cannonball sails the high seas as a pirate - Destin.com - Destin Log and Walton Log [Last Updated On: April 3rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 3rd, 2017]
- Real 'Pirate Women' On The High Seas Of Old | On Point - WBUR - WBUR [Last Updated On: April 5th, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 5th, 2017]
- Trekr Racing makes its debut on the high seas - Washington Blade - Washington Blade [Last Updated On: April 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 7th, 2017]
- No clean boats on the high seas | Kochi News - Times of India - Times of India [Last Updated On: April 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 7th, 2017]
- Cruise Operators Continue to Hide Behind the Death on the High ... - Cruise Law News [Last Updated On: April 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 7th, 2017]
- Master of the high seas: Pomp, patriotism and politics as Navy's newest ship gets a name - Wicked Local Wellesley [Last Updated On: April 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 10th, 2017]
- Young family moves from high desert to life on the high seas - Grand Junction Daily Sentinel [Last Updated On: April 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 10th, 2017]
- Master of the high seas: Pomp, patriotism and politics as Navy's ... - Wicked Local Quincy [Last Updated On: April 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 12th, 2017]
- Orphans turn sailors for fun day on the high seas - Pattaya Mail [Last Updated On: April 14th, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 14th, 2017]