The 3-Act Paradigm at Work: Rebecca

written by Joan Harrison, Michael Hogan, Philip McDonald & Robert E. Sherwood


Alfred Hitchcock's Rebecca is filled, as we should expect, with surprises and twists. It is a model "3-act paradigm" story, well worth studying in detail.

Structural Analysis:

  1. The Hook (2 min.)
    • The future "second" Mrs. de Winter finds Maxim de Winter at the edge of a cliff over the sea, seemingly ready to jump, and stops him.
  2. The Complication (5 min.)
    • The future Mrs. de Winter (the hero) learns that Maxim can't get over his wife's death. Her name was Rebecca.
  3. Hero's Call to Action (16 min.)
    • The future wife, a companion to a wealthy woman who travels, learns she must leave for NY immediately - and, having fallen in love with Maxim, goes to great pains to say goodbye.
  4. Plot Point: Act I (20-27 min.)
    • Maxim proposes rather than let her get away, they marry quietly and relocate to his estate above the sea, called Mandelay. 2nd wife meets housekeeper, who immediately despises any replacement for Rebecca.
  5. Plot point: midpoint (59 min.)
    • Marital strife. Wife: "We're happy, aren't we?" Maxim: "Happiness is something I know nothing about."
  6. Plot point: Act II (87 min.)
    • Maxim tells second Mrs. de Winter about true circumstances of Rebecca's death. He learned she was pregnant by another man, struck her, she hit her head and died. He put her on boat and faked accidental drowning. But now boat has been found, truth may be learned.
  7. Climax & Resolution (120 min.)
    • New inquest investigation learns Rebecca had cancer and only months to live - official verdict is suicide. Housekeeper cannot stand new Mrs. de Winter and Maxim to be happy, burns down Mandelay.

Big Sequences

Big sequences here are quiet and visual:

Notes

Other things to notice:


MODULE 4: SCREENWRIGHT: the craft of screenwriting

[BACK TO TEXT]
8/97