Rebecca - Old Time Radio Suspense
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Rebecca - Old Time Radio Suspense

59:40 Nov 17, 2025
About this episode
Return to Manderley this week on The Shiver Show, as we present the 1950 Lux Radio Theatre production of Rebecca—the only time Hollywood’s golden couple Vivien Leigh and Sir Laurence Olivier performed on radio together. Recorded before a live audience this broadcast brings Daphne du Maurier’s 1938 gothic masterpiece to life.Olivier is prickly and brooding as Maxim. Leigh’s unnamed narrator is meek, sweet, and utterly alone in this haunting tale. Strong supporting turns from Betty Blythe as a chilling Mrs Danvers and John Dodson as Jack Favell keep the drama simmering. We talk about the real-life drama of Vivien Leigh’s health struggles, and the cracks forming in her marriage to Olivier. Their love—complicated as it was—still glows through this performance. We also explore the little known controversy surrounding the similarities between Rebecca and the earlier Brazilian novel, The Successor, by Carolina Nabuco.Thank you for listening!   If you like the show, please share us with your friends and family AND give us a review! If you have a suggestion for a show or a question, please drop it in the comments!Watch us on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@shivershowpodcastFollow The Shiver Show  https://www.facebook.com/theshivershowor check out our website at  https://www.timewarpstudios.com Other podcast platforms: https://linktr.ee/theshivershow
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