Rebecca: visually gorgeous but dramatically bland, apparently very faithful, version of the Du Maurier classic

https://youtu.be/LFVhB54UqvQ

The title line is, perhaps a little misleading as I did find the final 40 or so minutes gripping with the revelations of what the truth was about Rebecca - I do not recall the Hitchcock film being so gripping at that stage but it is a very long time since I have seen it.

For most of this version the two leads (L James and A Hammer) did not convey much if any charisma or chemistry. Both have a very ‘average’ on-screen quality which is not really what is need for these two roles - particularly Max. It is a more difficult situation with the narrator as she is deliberately made somewhat negative and bland and it is very tricky to convey this in a performance without actually being negative and bland.

Scott-Thomas was, in the end, a fine and moving Mrs. Danvers although in the first part of the film, I was disappointed by a lack of enveloping toxicity which Judith Anderson brought to the role.

An enjoyable view however - and the production values just be complimented.

Apostle: wildly lurid but gripping folk horror that definitely gets up to 11 by the end

Enola Holmes: Frivolously entertaining expansion of the Holmes canon featuring his sister (!)