Rebecca (1940)'s activity

I know Rebecca is highly regarded, but to me, it's strident melodrama, as per the Du Maurier novel. Hitchcock nevertheless brings a certain Gothic flavor to it that reminds one of Jane Eyre, albeit with the mad woman in the attic a "ghost" that psychologically haunts the various characters. When events finally take a thrillery route, the master of suspense creates sense tense moments, but they're largely smothered by exposition. Joan Fontaine plays a young, guileless woman who falls for a rich aristocrat ( Laurence Olivier) whose wife, Rebecca, is dead. But a whirlwind romance on vacation isn't the same as being married to the melancholy, mercurial man, nor living in his household filled with servants who have their own agendas. Fontaine has to navigate all sorts of social dangers while competing with the dead woman, the nature of which isn't exactly what we thought. But by the time the twists and turns arrive, it's a bit late for me. I respect the craft, but the source material just isn't my cup of tea.