It's not unheard of, especially not uncommon back in the day. There's also the possibility that they weren't blood cousins either.
share"There's also the possibility that they weren't blood cousins"
All cousins are "blood", unless he was a cousin-in-law--a cousin of Maxim's, but that was not the case.
I was under the impression he was lying. as a plausible reason why he might show up there.
shareThey were definitely having a sexual relationship. It was unusual but not as incestuous as brothers/sisters. I get the feeling that Rebecca was a bit of a girl to cross the line between what was acceptable and what was NOT and if the novel had been written in this day and age with ALL the juicy details, I'm sure you'd find that Rebecca was probably not only sexually promiscuous with men, but with family members, women, anyone, really.
That's not to say she was with Mrs. Danvers, although everyone claims there's a lesbian vibe I don't think it was meant to be like that.
"I get the feeling that Rebecca was a bit of a girl to cross the line between what was acceptable and what was NOT"
But according to Mrs. Danvers, Rebecca's underwear was specially made for her by the nuns in the Convent of St. Claire. Wouldn't that have helped her be a less naughty girl?
What were nuns in a convent doing making ladies sexy lingerie?
shareYou apparently know **nothing** about nuns. Haven't you ever seen one take off those robes? You wouldn't **believe** what they're hiding under there.
shareIts not odd, especially in those days as it was common for the aristocracy to marry cousins and the practice is not illegal even today.
Its that man again!!
You apparently know **nothing** about nuns. Haven't you ever seen one take off those robes? You wouldn't **believe** what they're hiding under there.
..............................................................................
What! You mean the family jewels?
Who's your fat friend?
I worked with a woman from the Philippines who was educated in a Catholic school. One of their chores was to wash the nuns corsets, nylons, and other dainties. I was really surprised at this and she said some even wore garters and bustiers. Go figure. Oh, and if the corsets weren't white they were punished.
shareIt was unusual but not as incestuous as brothers/sisters. I get the feeling that Rebecca was a bit of a girl to cross the line between what was acceptable and what was NOT ....More than a bit. In the book, Maxim tells his second wife that Rebecca "was vicious, damnable, rotten through and through ... not even normal .... she told me about herself, told me things I shall never repeat to a living soul .... It doesn't make for sanity, does it, living with the devil? ... she would be up at dawn driving to London, streaking to that flat of hers by the river like an animal to its hole in the ditch, coming back here at the end of the week, after five unspeakable days ...."
I agree with you regarding Danvers. I think Rebecca enjoyed the pampering and adulation that Danvers gave her. I also think Danvers devotion to Rebecca, whether your following the book or the movie, was obsessive and obviously unhealthy.
EDITED TO ADD: It has been a long time since I read the book. I seem to remember only that Rebecca was a scandalous tart and that she somehow tricked Maxim into marrying her; but I might be confusing this with the plot of Jane Eyre.
Anyway, other than "Danny's" obsession with Rebecca I don't recall any hints of lesbianism between her and Rebecca; is there any?
He wasn't lying because he really thought Rebecca was pregnant, that he was the father, and that De Winter had murdered her.
shareComing late to the discussion, but there's also some indication that he wasn't actually her cousin. That was used as an excuse if they're seen together (note the way Sanders says the line 'I am Rebecca's favorite cousin'). But the hint of incest, even at a distance (if Favell was her cousin they probably were not closely related) makes the mystery of Rebecca all the more interesting and disturbing.
~This day has all the excitement of a large squirrel predicting the weather~
Jack could have been a cousin without being a first cousin.
The nuns made lace and undies to support themselves. Gotta get money from somewhere. Like the monks who make booze.
It's not illegal over here in the UK in the same way it is in the US, for people to marry their cousins (although not very common, obviously). In fact, according to Wikipedia (yes, I KNOW!), "The United States has the only bans on cousin marriage in the Western world".
sharePoint of clarification. The ban is on FIRST cousins marrying. Not second or third, etc. cousins marrying. It's not really a morality thing for most of us here. It's so we don't give birth to cross-eyed children. But... of course, there are those here who believe it's immoral, I don't happen to think so, I just think it's a bit odd and if they did give birth to an abnormal child I'd have to say it was because the gene pool wasn't diluted enough.
shareI got the impression Jack was more of a voyeur, not participant. I think Rebecca and Danny had been lovers even before she married Max. That's why Rebecca brought her with her when she got married. Jack thought he had jumped on the gravy train and when Rebecca died, that dried up. Does anyone think it's odd that the Joan Fontaine character didn't have a name? The original novel was written in the first person and she didn't have one then either. Even in the credits she is listed as the 2nd Mrs. de Winter.
shareMrs. Danvers said she was Rebecca's maid ever since she and Maxim got married, although that was from the book and I don't remember the movie well enough to know if it's different. Also, the reason Daphne Du Maurier didn't give the 2nd Mrs. de Winter a name was initially because she couldn't think of a fitting name, and later it turned out that the novel (and the movie) were more haunting without giving her a name because it strengthens the audience's understanding of her fear that she's just a replacement for Rebecca.
"The success of the horror genre has led to its downfall."
-Dario Argento
[deleted]
No, Mrs. Danvers said she was at Manderley since Rebecca and Maxim married. She was with Rebecca for years before then, since childhood, according to the book.
there was this screw wot really had it in for me
And also alluded to in the movie. Danvers says she came to Mandaley WITH Rebecca with she and Maxim got married.
shareAnd also alluded to in the movie. Danvers says she came to Mandaley WITH Rebecca with she and Maxim got married.
Yeah, I wouldn't know that by your first sentence. Your second sentence addresses the book so I assumed your first one did also.
I guess, my bad.
It's been awhile since I read the book, but I'm pretty sure the book made reference to the fact that they were indeed cousins, and that they were having a sexual relationship. The reason Rebecca initially went to the doctor was because she thought she was pregnant.
shareThe reason Rebecca initially went to the doctor was because she thought she was pregnant.
Kissing Cousins were pretty common up until The Wars when societies hierarchy changed. Up until then cousins marrying was very common to keep the money "In the family" if there were no other suitable brides/grooms about.
I would hate to realise I sharing grandparents with my boyfriend though - weird!
does it say they were first cousins at all in the book? if they were second cousins, it would made made little difference, especially at the time
shareThe term "favorite cousin" just means someone you're having a secret affair with. It isn't literal. It was used much more often back in the day. As another poster said, it provided a great excuse if you were seen around town together, etc.
Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work. -Edison
Sort of like an old guy introducing his young female companion as his niece, I guess?
shareOkay, clever.
Way to put an obvious SPOILER in your post title.
You should put "Spoiler Alert" up there, shouldn't you?
"You should put "Spoiler Alert" up there, shouldn't you?"
Or, just maybe common sense would tell you discussions are being had about the REBECCA film so maybe, if you haven't seen the film, you should steer clear. That sounds like a better idea.
I've never understood how people who haven't seen the film get upset when you go into message boards and the film gets spoiled. It's like, "EH, DUHHHH!"
IKR!? Especially a movie that's over 70 years old!
shareThere is a second reference to Favell indeed being a cousin of Rebecca's. Maxim mentions it:
Maxim: "And there was a cousin of hers, a man named Favell."
"I": "Yes, I know him. He came the day you went to London."
Maxim: "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I": "I didn't like to; I thought it might remind you of Rebecca."
Maxim: "Remind me? As if I needed reminding!"
This is part of the conversation in the beach cottage when we learn of the accident and that Maxim hated Rebecca and so forth.
I add this only because some in this thread think "favorite cousin" is the only reference in the film, but there was also this one.
EXCEPT there are younger people just discovering movies like, Rebecca. This is a LONG held argument.
Those of us that want to be considerate and try to give a warning that spoilers are in the posts feel it's not too much trouble to type the word SPOILER in the subject line.
Others, like yourself, seem to think that EVERYONE on the planet must have by now heard of or watched a 70 year old film. Which would be fine, I suppose, if older films would banded from viewing to anyone born five years after a films release.
I don't understand why it's so difficult to understand that there are many people on the planet they may not have seen a 70 year old film.
One final point for both sides, I guess, readers put themselves at risk if they come to the threads; but I can think of many reasons why someone would come to the threads for movies they haven't yet seen.
So, the argument continues.
"EXCEPT there are younger people just discovering movies like, Rebecca. This is a LONG held argument. "
AND?! The film could be 7 days old. Why would you come to a film's MESSAGE BOARD where the FILM IS BEING DISCUSSED?!
For example, there's a book that's being released this year called Dark Places. I didn't read the book but I wanted to see what was said. I risked it KNOWING there would be spoilers but I still went. Stay out of the film's message board if you don't want it spoiled.
You know what? There's really no need to scream at me, Jordy.
You use the point of a new novel you want to read. So claim you take the risk of reading spoilers when you are seeking opinions on the book; I should think you would be in even a greater position to appreciate when the simple courtesy is extended by attempting to warn the reader that there may be spoilers ahead.
Like I said, this is a long held IMDB debate; those that appreciate courtesy and those that don't care.
"You know what? There's really no need to scream at me, Jordy"
I apologize. It isn't really screaming. It's passion. I don't scream. I have passion flow out of my voice and when I type :)
The point I'm trying to make is common sense would tell you this is a message board where the film is being discussed, correct? Why would you come here if you haven't? That just makes no sense to me. If you were an alcoholic you wouldn't get upset to if you went to a bar and found everyone drinking, would you? Would you curse them out because they should know not to drink in front of you because you have a problem?
Ruin is a gift. Ruin is the road to transformation (Eat, Pray, Love)
It's not so much that this "spoiled" the ending for me.... it's just childish that the OP went out of their way to spoil.
@oscarwiener: It's like, I'm so sure...these boards are not only for folks who have seen the movie.
And, please, let's all stop using the idiotic phrase "I know, right?"
But do you expect so see "The Butler Did It!" in the subject line at anytime you go to the threads???
Major spoilers should not be in the SUBJECT line.
The common sense argument prevails. Whine all that you may, but these boards are NOT for people who haven't seen the film.
PS: If you haven't seen Titanic, please be advised that a ship strikes an iceburg and sinks.
What's that? A high pitched whine coming from your direction? Common Sense and Common Courtesy should prevail, which is, do not disclose the "punch-line" in the Subject of the thread.
P.S. Very mature.