TV Series review: Rebecca (1997) directed by Jim O'Brien.

Hello all. Today I am going to be reviewing the 1997 TV drama series of Rebecca directed by Jim O'Neil. This TV drama series was positively chilling. I got that impression just from the character of Mrs Danvers. Whereas the Mrs Danvers character of the 1940 film seemed an envious character, Dame Diana Rigg's Mrs Danvers here was creepy to watch. For me it was how with the TV series she was always lurking in the shadows. Her coming out of the shadows and dressed all in black came across as sinister and caused me to be cautious of her. Ignore the fact that I have read the book and seen that 1940 film version. This TV drama alone depicts Mrs Danvers as one to be mindful of, and certainly not in a good way!

Aside from Mrs Danvers, Mrs Van Hooper was an unsual character. From what I read of her and what I saw in the 1940 film, Faye Dunaway's Mrs Van Hopper was not what I expected. Although, I cannot say I fully understand what I expected. I think perhaps one with more snobbishness and one who seemed lazier. That is only how I see her...

The characters of the 1997 Rebecca TV series were all cleverly thought out. For instance, I liked how different Emilia Fox and Charles Dance looked in ages as Max and his new wife. Emilia Fox gives off a sweet, child-like presence compared to Charles Dance and this fits the story of Rebecca very well. 

I will admit this tv drama also benefited from spectacular views and settings. The scenes down by the water towards the end were shot cleverly and I felt as if I was down there with them almost. The setting for outside of the house was good too because to me it looked like a grand National Trust - something you would expect for a rich home owner to Manderley.

This TV drama series had life, it had character and it had drama. I thoroughly enjoyed watching it and would recommend it to anyone who is a fan of Rebecca, Daphne du Maurier or gothic horror. I am giving this a 9/10.


Until next time,


Thomas.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Fictional book review: Cat's Eye (1988) by Margaret Atwood.

Image
It's me again... Your favourite book reviewer back with another Margaret Atwood book to review. This time I thought I would tuck into Atwood's 1988 novel Cat's Eye . This novel is gripped with spectral memories of the narrator's past, it is a bildungsroman. A bildungsroman is just a novel that goes through a character's life, from being a child, to growing up as a young person to becoming an adult. Great Expectations  (1861) by Charles Dickens is another example. Anyway, the narrator, Elaine is haunted by Cordelia who I will not give too much about her away. This novel threw me, many times. We had Elaine and her various friends. First we were introduced to Carol, then Grace and finally Cordelia. But it is Cordelia, who's presence is felt throughout the novel. The thing is, I cannot understand why. Without giving too much away, Cordelia was hardly being nice to Elaine and I just expected that as Elaine grew up that she would move on; that she would not have Corde...
Read more

Bookshops I have visited - 3: Oxfam Bookshop, Coventry.

Image
Welcome back to my blog everyone. It is that time of the month where I give you the ins and outs to another bookshop that I have recently been to. This time, it is the Oxfam Bookshop in Coventry city centre. When I was on my travels, I found myself in Coventry. Now having lived and studied in the West Midlands, I knew about this bookshop. Funnily enough this was not my first visit here. Just as I remembered, they have a nice range of books and music despite being on the slightly smaller side. I noticed they still had a little collection of Doctor Who stuff! I am a big Doctor Who fan. Anyway, as I went nosing around, there was one book that caught my eye. It was this book: Sculpted: Poetry of the North West  (2013) edited by Lindsey Holland and Angela Topping. There is an introduction by David Morley who I have read before as a poet, teacher and editor. The important thing here though is that I picked up a poetry book and April (in case you were unaware) is National Poetry Month! I ...
Read more

Fictional book review: The Handmaid's Tale (1985) by Margaret Atwood.

Image
Hello all, I wanted to post a review of the first ever Atwood text I read: The Handmaid's Tale  (1985). I fell that this novel is very significant at the moment, considering events that are occurring in the USA. This novel challenged ideas namely about sex and the differences between both man and woman. I noticed this the first time I read this at college for my English literature A-Level. That was necessary but I since read it again for pleasure. Considering all that has happened in the past years , especially in the U.S.A, I can understand why they made a T.V series of this book. I have not seen that yet as I am struggling to find it on any service except Amazon. Considering Amazon's support for Israel and the thought of a extremely rich man, getting even richer because of me, I decided I was not that  desperate. But this is not a blog about social politics, you want my authentic and honest book review. It was the vivid descriptions that made this book stand out to me. Right...
Read more