Search - Franz Waxman, Joel McNeely :: Rebecca (Score)

Director Alfred Hitchcock had long been a cinematic force in his native England when legendary producer David O. Selznick signed him for Rebecca, an adaptation of a Daphne du Maurier novel and his first American film. Hitch may have later dismissed the 1940 collaboration as an anomaly in his masterful canon of suspense and intrigue, but it has long since become regarded as one of his most accomplished and emotionally compelling masterpieces. Composer Franz Waxman's score is key to the film's gothic romantic atmosphere and was honored with an Oscar nomination (the film won for Best Picture and Best Cinematography), despite Selznick's meddling with his finished work. For this release, producer Robert Townson and conductor Joel McNeely diligently worked from Waxman's original notes and materials to restore arguably the greatest romantic score of Hollywood's golden age to its full glory. The spectacular new 20-bit digital recording perfectly captures the brooding, nuanced atmosphere of the original, while fulfilling Waxman's original vision with previously unused or cut cues. This is the film that built Waxman's considerable Hollywood reputation, now in a presentation that finally does him and the score justice. --Jerry McCulley