Overlay: Rebecca (1940) and Laurence Olivier's career

← Return to Rewinder: AI Analysis of AI Analysis of Film

Errors	Missing	Unverified	Supported
1	1	0	12

How were these counts calculated?

Errors (1)

While Fontaine was a newcomer to leading roles, she had appeared in high-profileassessment-error

Missing (1)

On-set tension between Olivier and Fontaine: Olivier was reportedly cold to Fontlost-nuance

#Q ORIGINAL QUESTION

Regarding the film Rebecca (1940), who was the most famous actor in it at the time of release, and what other notable films were they in?

#M ANNOTATED LLM RESPONSE

At the time of the release of Rebecca in 1940, the most famous actor in the cast was Laurence Olivier, who played the brooding widower Maxim de Winter.

While Joan Fontaine (who played the second Mrs. de Winter) became a major star because of this film, she was relatively unknown and considered a "risky" choice by producer David O. Selznick at the time of casting. Olivier, by contrast, was already an established international star of both stage and screen.

Why Laurence Olivier was the biggest star in 1940:

Olivier arrived at Rebecca fresh off the massive success of "Wuthering Heights" (1939). His portrayal of Heathcliff in that film had earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor and cemented his reputation as the premier romantic and dramatic lead of the era. By 1940, he was considered the quintessential "tortured hero" of cinema and the most respected Shakespearean actor of his generation.

Other notable films Laurence Olivier was in:

Before and shortly after Rebecca, Olivier starred in several landmark films that defined his career:

Wuthering Heights (1939): As mentioned, his role as Heathcliff made him a household name in America and established the dark, moody persona he utilized in Rebecca.
Pride and Prejudice (1940): Released the same year as Rebecca, Olivier played the definitive 20th-century version of Mr. Darcy opposite Greer Garson. This solidified his status as the go-to actor for literary adaptations.
That Hamilton Woman (1941): He starred as Lord Nelson alongside his wife, Vivien Leigh. This film was famously a favorite of Winston Churchill and a major box-office success during World War II.
Henry V (1944): Olivier directed and starred in this Technicolor adaptation of the Shakespeare play. It earned him a Special Academy Award for his work as an actor, producer, and director.
Hamlet (1948): This is perhaps his most acclaimed work; he directed himself in the title role. The film won the Academy Award for Best Picture, and Olivier won Best Actor—the first person to direct themselves to an acting Oscar.
Spartacus (1960): Later in his career, he played the Roman general Crassus in Stanley Kubrick’s epic, showing his longevity as a high-status character actor.
Marathon Man (1976): In his later years, he gave a terrifying, Oscar-nominated performance as the villainous Dr. Christian Szell (the "White Angel"), famous for the "Is it safe?" interrogation scene.

While the film Rebecca is often remembered for Joan Fontaine’s vulnerability and Judith Anderson’s chilling performance as Mrs. Danvers, it was Laurence Olivier’s "star power" that headlined the posters and drew audiences to the theater in 1940.

#F CORRECTION FEED (CLICK TO SEARCH)

[1] Laurence Olivier was the top-billed actor and the most established star in the cast at the time of release.

[2] While Fontaine was a newcomer to leading roles, she had appeared in high-profile films like Gunga Din (1939) and The Women (1939).

[3] Olivier was a renowned stage actor in London and had just become a major film star in the US.

[4] Wuthering Heights (1939) was Olivier's breakout Hollywood role and earned him an Oscar nomination.

[5] Olivier was widely regarded as the preeminent Shakespearean actor of the mid-20th century.

[6] Correct film and year; it established his romantic lead status.

[7] Correct film and year; he played Mr. Darcy.

[8] Correct film and year; he played Lord Nelson.

[9] Correct film and year; he received an Honorary Oscar for it.

[10] Correct film and year; he won Best Actor and Best Picture.

[11] Correct film and year; he played Crassus.

[12] Correct film and year; he played Dr. Christian Szell.

[13] Olivier received top billing in the film's credits and promotional materials.

#O MISSED POINTS & OVERSIGHTS

Medium

On-set tension between Olivier and Fontaine

Olivier was reportedly cold to Fontaine during filming because he had wanted his partner, Vivien Leigh, to be cast in the lead role. This tension actually helped Fontaine's performance as the nervous, intimidated character.

Low

The 'Search for the Second Mrs. de Winter' publicity

Producer David O. Selznick conducted a massive, highly publicized search for the lead actress, testing over 20 actresses (including Anne Baxter and Margaret Sullavan), which contributed to the film's hype despite Fontaine's 'unknown' status.

#C RELATED QUERIES

#01 How did the casting of Joan Fontaine in Rebecca affect her relationship with her sister Olivia de Havilland?

#02 What were the specific reasons David O. Selznick rejected Vivien Leigh for the role in Rebecca?

#03 How did the 1940 version of Rebecca compare to the 2020 Netflix adaptation in terms of critical reception?

#S SOURCES

britannica.com jaysclassicmovieblog.com wikipedia.org wikipedia.org wikipedia.org youtube.com knightleyemma.com

#R ORIGINAL AI RESPONSE

▼

At the time of the release of *Rebecca* in 1940, the most famous actor in the cast was **Laurence Olivier**, who played the brooding widower Maxim de Winter. While Joan Fontaine (who played the second Mrs. de Winter) became a major star because of this film, she was relatively unknown and considered a "risky" choice by producer David O. Selznick at the time of casting. Olivier, by contrast, was already an established international star of both stage and screen. ### Why Laurence Olivier was the biggest star in 1940: Olivier arrived at *Rebecca* fresh off the massive success of **"Wuthering Heights" (1939)**. His portrayal of Heathcliff in that film had earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor and cemented his reputation as the premier romantic and dramatic lead of the era. By 1940, he was considered the quintessential "tortured hero" of cinema and the most respected Shakespearean actor of his generation. ### Other notable films Laurence Olivier was in: Before and shortly after *Rebecca*, Olivier starred in several landmark films that defined his career: 1. **Wuthering Heights (1939):** As mentioned, his role as Heathcliff made him a household name in America and established the dark, moody persona he utilized in *Rebecca*. 2. **Pride and Prejudice (1940):** Released the same year as *Rebecca*, Olivier played the definitive 20th-century version of **Mr. Darcy** opposite Greer Garson. This solidified his status as the go-to actor for literary adaptations. 3. **That Hamilton Woman (1941):** He starred as Lord Nelson alongside his wife, Vivien Leigh. This film was famously a favorite of Winston Churchill and a major box-office success during World War II. 4. **Henry V (1944):** Olivier directed and starred in this Technicolor adaptation of the Shakespeare play. It earned him a Special Academy Award for his work as an actor, producer, and director. 5. **Hamlet (1948):** This is perhaps his most acclaimed work; he directed himself in the title role. The film won the Academy Award for Best Picture, and Olivier won Best Actor—the first person to direct themselves to an acting Oscar. 6. **Spartacus (1960):** Later in his career, he played the Roman general **Crassus** in Stanley Kubrick’s epic, showing his longevity as a high-status character actor. 7. **Marathon Man (1976):** In his later years, he gave a terrifying, Oscar-nominated performance as the villainous **Dr. Christian Szell** (the "White Angel"), famous for the "Is it safe?" interrogation scene. While the film *Rebecca* is often remembered for Joan Fontaine’s vulnerability and Judith Anderson’s chilling performance as Mrs. Danvers, it was Laurence Olivier’s "star power" that headlined the posters and drew audiences to the theater in 1940.

#A DIRECT ANSWER (VERIFIED ANALYSIS)

▼

At the time of the release of Rebecca (1940), the most famous actor in the cast was Laurence Olivier. He was an established star of the British stage and had recently achieved international film stardom with his Oscar-nominated performance as Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights (1939). Olivier received top billing in Rebecca, followed by Joan Fontaine, who was a relative newcomer at the time. Other notable films in Olivier's career include Pride and Prejudice (1940), That Hamilton Woman (1941), Henry V (1944), Hamlet (1948) — for which he became the first person to win an acting Oscar for a film he also directed — Spartacus (1960), and Marathon Man (1976).

OVERLAY REPORT