Discovering "Daphne": Inspecting and Researching the Screen Tests for Alfred Hitchcock's Rebecca (1940) In-Person
In 1939, independent Hollywood producer David O. Selznick teamed up with British director Alfred Hitchcock to adapt Daphne du Maurier’s bestselling novel Rebecca. Screen tests were made to audition various actresses for the role of the second Mrs. de Winter, from Anne Baxter to Margaret Sullavan to Vivien Leigh, before the role eventually went to newcomer Joan Fontaine. These screen tests provide a rich history of the Hollywood casting process as well as the artistic particularities of these two motion picture giants. With preservation funds lacking for screen tests, I have been following in the footsteps of past students of The L. Jeffrey Selznick School of Film Preservation to make information accessible through still frame captures and the creation of a comprehensive timeline in order to provide historical context for these tests.