Rebecca DVD

Advantages: Close to the original story, tense atmosphere
Disadvantages: Joan Fontaine's acting a little false at times

...part of the house that Rebecca used to inhabit is shut off; and the servants, especially the housekeeper, Mrs Danvers, constantly refer to the original Mrs de Winter, who was apparently beautiful. Mrs Danvers seems to despise her new employer and does her best to make Mrs de Winter feel unwanted and awkward in her own house. Joan's character is further upset when she witnesses Maxim frequently losing his temper, apparently comparing his new wife ...
...there was another version of Rebecca starring Charles Dance, but I am quite surprised that there hasn't been a more recent version. As a fan of mystery films and novels, this is right up my street, but I think this film stands as an excellent film in its own right. Highly recommended. Available from Amazon for £4.97. What a bargain. And available for less if you buy a used copy or shop around on ebay. ... Read review

Advantages: excellent story
Disadvantages: acting a bit stiff in places

...a handsome widower whose wife Rebecca was drowned in a sailing accident the year before. The pair fall in love and marry, but when the honeymoon is over and they return to Manderley, Mr de Winter's grand estate in England, cracks start to appear. Rebecca's memory seems to have a hold over the house and everybody in it, there are reminders of her everywhere and her old room is kept as a shrine exactly as she'd left it the night she died. The housekeeper ...
...about making the timid new bride's life as uncomfortable as possible, pointing out all her flaws and making her see just what a failure she looks next to a woman as beautiful, talented and respected as Rebecca. How could Maxim possibly love her, when everybody knows he's still in love with Rebecca? Just as life seems hopeless for her, a shipwreck changes all their lives forever... The acting is not always fantastic in this film, but that's easy ... Read review

Advantages: A Hitchcock classic.
Disadvantages: A little wooden.

...Daphne Du Maurier's celebrated novel REBECCA came free with the Times, because of this you don't get much more than the film, there is some advise on what to expect from the Times in this section in the future. The film directed by Hitchcock was named the Best Picture in the 1940s by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. It was brought to use by ABC Motion Pictures Inc. The film is rated PG parental guidance fit for viewing by persons ...
...the death of his wife, Rebecca in a boating accident the year before. She and Max fall in love, get married and return to Manderlay, his large country estate in Cornwall. The second Mrs. de Winter (Lady de Winter) meets the housekeeper Mrs. Danvers and discovers that the memory of Rebecca still has a strange hold on everyone at Manderlay, particularly on Mrs Denvers, the housekeeper, who begins driving the young wife to madness. ***CINEMATIC EXPERIENCE*** ... Read review

Advantages: Very atmospheric and close to the original. Full of suspence and intrigue.
Disadvantages: Olivier's well-documented real-life dislike of Fontaine shows through at times.

This classic re-telling of Daphne Du Maurier's famous novel is undeniably one of Hitchcock's best, with a superb cast, wonderful sets and a great script. Obviously, Rebecca's success is mainly due to the basis gained from Du Maurier's novel, however, even with such a grounding, a lesser director probably would have failed to create such a success. Superb casting perfects the film, especially with the inclusion of Judith Anderson, who plays the ...
...of this fantastic film is that Olivier's dislike of Fontaine being chosen over his then (English) wife, Vivien Leigh, shows through his performance at times. Whilst this ensured that Fontaine appeared even more scared as the new mistress of Manderley, he was, at times, too harsh. However, I don't think that anybody can deny that Hitchcock's atmospheric production is full of suspence! ... Read review

Advantages: Enjoyable, easy to follow workout with added extras
Disadvantages: Some of the banter could get annoying in the future

...NOT JUST A WORKOUT DVD, BUT AN ENTIRE LIFESTYLE CHANGE! Hi I'm Rebecca Wheatley. You may not recognise me but I was Amy the receptionist in Casualty. That was 12 stone ago and back when I was a size 32! In just 27 months I've dropped half my body weight and become a size 12/14 by following Slimming World's eating plan and taking up exercise for the first time ever. ************************************************************* W ow - 12 stone in 27 months - size 32 to a size 12/14! Now that's the way to grab your interest. Already being a member of Slimming World, and on the look out for a workout I can do at home (with 2 young children getting to the gym is virtually impossible), I was intrigued when I saw the advert on TV for Rebecca's DVD… Then I read the blurb on the back, which made me all the more interested... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Great for larger ladies, fun, not irritating, works well
Disadvantages: Can get a bit boring after a while, a bit easy for fitter people

...on TV and bought the DVD from Amazon. To me, this seemed something new - someone who I could relate to, who had lost more weight than I needed to (Rebecca lost twelve stone) and someone I liked and admired. BEGINNING THE WORKOUT So the DVD arrived and I began exercising, something I usually hate. Rebecca completes the whole workout alongside trainer Laurie 'Tchad' Francois, who is great too. Not only is he pretty nice to look at, but he has a lovely voice and is very motivating, but not in an annoying way. I usually come to dislike the trainers after repeated viewings, but Rebecca and Tchad are very good and haven't irritated me yet! The music is recognizable, though without vocals. I particularly enjoy the No Limits track by 2 Unlimited and the slower music to the cool down. The first time I tried the workout, I began by doing... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Fun, variable, tones and burns fat, good music
Disadvantages: The annoying Lucy!

...INTRODUCTION If you have read my recent reviews, you'll know I am losing weight through following the Slimming World healthy eating plan and exercising. So far, I have lost 13 pounds in 11 weeks, which I am really pleased about. As I have already written about, I began my new exercise 'regime' by exercising to Rebecca Wheatley's workout DVD, but after doing this for a few weeks, I bought another one - Rosemary Conley's Brand New You workout DVD. I usually can't stand Rosemary Conley - there's something about her that makes me want to scream at the TV! However, this one features Coleen Nolan, who I love watching in Loose Women and have followed her progress as she has lost weight recently. So I decided to risk it and bought the DVD from Amazon. The cover has a very unflattering photo of a size 18 Coleen on the front, next... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful