Harbour Highlights: Rebecca

"Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again"

Welcome to Harbour Highlights, a series of monthly screenings showcasing cult and classic films, all handpicked by the staff of Harbour Lights.

For the month for February, Anastasia is forgoing the usual Valentine's choices and instead treating us to the gothic romance of Hitchcock's Rebecca. Based on the novel by Daphne du Maurier, Rebecca was Hitchcock's first American film, launching a Hollywood career that would go on to spawn Psycho, Vertigo and plenty more classic films. But while many of those are considered his masterpieces, Rebecca would be his only film to win the Best Picture Oscar.

It's easy to see why it was rewarded - released in 1940, it was a huge, crowd-pleasing hit, featuring incredible lead performances from Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine with wonderfully dark support from Judith Anderson as the twisted Mrs. Danvers.

Any chance to see Hitchcock on the big screen should be embraced and Rebecca - from it's iconic opening line to the dramatic conclusion, all framed with its gorgeous Oscar-winning cinematography - is no exception.