MovieChat Forums > Rebecca (1940) Discussion > An INCREDIBLE Film and great performance...

An INCREDIBLE Film and great performance by Florence Bates!

posted 14 years ago by JaysonT
10 replies | jump to latest

Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine are both incredible, as is the head maid, but I really want to give a shout-out to Florence Bates, who plays Mrs. Edythe Van Hopper and is in the first 20 minutes of the film as the employer of Fontaine. She is absolutely sensational in her few scenes, in particular when she signals for Olivier to come by her table, and flaunts over him while downing Fontaine. Also- how about when she says "She was the beautiful Rebecca Hendrich, you know..." and "DON'T DAWDLE!!!" When she tells the next Mrs. Dewitt that she has no characteristics to be a great lady, its said with the poise of a stuffy, wealthy woman who looks down on those beneath her social status. A great performance in a great film.

You can also find Bates in the I Love Lucy episode "Pioneer Women", as a rather similar character.

[–] SusanJL 14 years ago

I agree completely - her character is one of this film's highlights!

[–] pocomarc 14 years ago

I agree 100% Jayson.

She was terrific.

[–] FranLovesBetteD 13 years ago

Florence Bates was just AMAZING, utterly hilarious, and by far my most favorite character/performance in the movie!

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[–] androphile 13 years ago

She's about as subtle as a sledge hammer, but that's probably just what the doctor ordered with so many introspective, brooding characters in the rest of the cast.

"Tell you what . . . the truth is . . . sometimes I miss you so much I can hardly stand it."

[–] SpasticTriscuit 12 years ago

Wretched stuff! Get me a chocolate quick !!!

[–] digitaldiva 12 years ago

TCM screened the film this evening and I agree with all the previous posts. The film was a true classic, terrific cinematography and production design. I'd seen it many times before and was struck by how sexy Olivier was as Max. The supporting cast was stellar and I agree, Florence Bates rocked.

[–] MsELLERYqueen2 10 years ago

Much as I loved the entire cast, I admit that Judith Anderson stole the show here. What a talented actress! I've enjoyed her in other movies, but in this film, she was top-notch.

Florence Bates was great, but I found myself forgetting her quite quickly once Ms. Anderson entered the scene.

Joan Fontaine was just as charming in this film as she was in Suspicion.

~~
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[–] mxzt 10 years ago

Yes she was perfectly cast for this film. Overall very good acting by everyone who participated in this.

[–] TheManInOil 9 years ago

She was a reliable character actor, but I think her performance was not outstanding. The demands of Fontaine's part were far greater, and executed far more convincingly. The old biddy part was comic relief and deliberately over the top.

[–] mark.waltz 9 years ago

If you love both Dame Judith & Florence, watch "The Diary of a Chambermaid". Dame Judith is the haughty "grand dame" of this French noble home, while Florence is the possessive, clinging companion to next door neighbor Burgess Meredith. They don't share any scenes together, but both are fascinating performances.

Dame Judith also appeared in three films with Walter Huston: "Edge of Darkness", "And Then There Were None" and "The Furies" where she is assaulted by Barbara Stanwyck whose younger version of Martha Ivers in that film noir classic pushed Dame Judith down the stairs.

"Great theater makes you smile. Outstanding theater may make you weep."