Revealing mistake: After Maxim leaves a note, saying he'll be gone for the day and having him gone should be a welcome relief for her, the girl sits in the morning room, crying. As the camera moves away from the girl, some flowers on the right jiggle from being hit by the camera.
Rebecca (1940)
Plot summary
Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock
Starring: Laurence Olivier, George Sanders, Joan Fontaine, Judith Anderson
A young serving woman marries a wealthy widower but cannot escape the specter of Rebecca, his late wife. Rebecca's serving woman, Mrs. Danvers, is intent on keeping Rebecca's memory alive.
Celeste Harmer
More mistakes in Rebecca
Maxim de Winter: She was incapable of love or tenderness or decency.
Trivia: When George Sanders pokes his head in the car window where the girl is, alone, he says "Marriage with Maxim is not exactly a bed of roses." Joan Fontaine, who played the girl, called her autobiography "No Bed of Roses."
Question: While the De Winters are watching their honeymoon photos, the girl says "I suppose that's why you married me, because you knew I was dull and gauche and inexperienced, and there would never be any gossip about me." Maxim stops the film and, looking like death, says "Gossip! What do you mean?" She says "I don't know. Don't look at me like that. What's the matter? What have I said?" Maxim says "It wasn't a very attractive thing to say, was it?" She says "No. It was rude, hateful." Now, why did she say that? And why did Maxim say what he said? All she said was "There won't be any gossip about me." What's the problem with that?
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Chosen answer: Maxim was previously married (unhappily) to Rebecca, who died tragically and under rather mysterious (and suspicious) circumstances, sparking rumors. Maxim thinks his new wife is referring to that, but she knows nothing about it and was only making an innocent remark, unaware of the rumors. The "rude, hateful" part probably refers to the "dull and gauche and inexperienced" comment - she probably thinks that is what caused his reaction, rather than the "gossip" comment, given she doesn't know the rumors. She is very young and naive and feels inadequate as the wife of a wealthy man. Maxim is older, intimidating her somewhat, and she was confused by his angry outburst.
raywest ★