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RE: The Films Of Alfred Hitchcock - 25/3/2010 10:53:37 AM

Edward Nygma

Posts: 711
Joined: 28/12/2005

Watched Under Capricorn for the first time the other day. It's kinda strange to see a Hitchcock film set in 19th century Australia with Joseph Cotten and Ingrid Bergman. It therefore takes some time to get into it and for a moment you sort of feel like it's going to be super boring but then the film really gets going and it becomes typical Hitchcock (troubled marriage, big secrets, temperamental husband, evil maid). It's all pretty melodramatic but once you get into it, it's a good Hitch.

Also watched Dial M For Murder last week, very good. Also takes time to get into but then it's hard to look away. Clever, tense film with a clever ending Agatha Christie would have "killed" for.

Will watch Secret Agent in the next few days.

Oh, btw, is it just me or was The Trouble with Harry really rubbish?

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RE: The Films Of Alfred Hitchcock - 25/3/2010 11:49:52 AM

JIm R

Posts: 9185
Joined: 30/9/2005
From: Surrey

quote:

ORIGINAL: Edward Nygma

Watched Under Capricorn for the first time the other day. It's kinda strange to see a Hitchcock film set in 19th century Australia with Joseph Cotten and Ingrid Bergman. It therefore takes some time to get into it and for a moment you sort of feel like it's going to be super boring but then the film really gets going and it becomes typical Hitchcock (troubled marriage, big secrets, temperamental husband, evil maid). It's all pretty melodramatic but once you get into it, it's a good Hitch.

Also watched Dial M For Murder last week, very good. Also takes time to get into but then it's hard to look away. Clever, tense film with a clever ending Agatha Christie would have "killed" for.

Will watch Secret Agent in the next few days.

Oh, btw, is it just me or was The Trouble with Harry really rubbish?

No Ed, it's not just you mate, widely regarded as one of his weaker films.

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Post #: 122

RE: The Films Of Alfred Hitchcock - 25/3/2010 3:19:55 PM

Edward Nygma

Posts: 711
Joined: 28/12/2005

Oh good

I mean, I'd never really seen a weak Hitchcock film so it was kind of a shock, especially since it looked promising. Parts of it are ok and Shirley MacLaine is always watchable but I guess the trouble with The Trouble With Harry is it's just...kinda dumb. It feels like a play badly translated into a film with a plot which never seems to go anywhere.

A shame really. But I guess a director, as good as he or she is, can't make only good films.

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Post #: 123

RE: The Films Of Alfred Hitchcock - 27/3/2010 12:34:47 PM

sanchia

Posts: 16900
Joined: 3/1/2006
From: Norwich

Don't watch Mr & Mrs Smith then, as that is probably his worst and makes the Trouble With Harry look good.

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Post #: 124

RE: The Films Of Alfred Hitchcock - 27/3/2010 12:57:51 PM

Edward Nygma

Posts: 711
Joined: 28/12/2005

Oh yeah, I forgot he did that.

Now you've said that though I HAVE to see it lol

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Post #: 125

RE: The Films Of Alfred Hitchcock - 27/3/2010 3:00:35 PM

JIm R

Posts: 9185
Joined: 30/9/2005
From: Surrey

quote:

ORIGINAL: sanchia

Don't watch Mr & Mrs Smith then, as that is probably his worst and makes the Trouble With Harry look good.

Mr & Mrs Smith makes Torn Curtain look like Vertigo

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Post #: 126

RE: The Films Of Alfred Hitchcock - 27/3/2010 5:40:31 PM

sanchia

Posts: 16900
Joined: 3/1/2006
From: Norwich

I've also heard some bad things about Topaz but that is one of his films I have yet to see.

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Post #: 127

RE: The Films Of Alfred Hitchcock - 30/3/2010 6:25:29 PM

Dr Lenera

Posts: 3471
Joined: 19/10/2005

quote:

ORIGINAL: Edward Nygma

Watched Under Capricorn for the first time the other day. It's kinda strange to see a Hitchcock film set in 19th century Australia with Joseph Cotten and Ingrid Bergman. It therefore takes some time to get into it and for a moment you sort of feel like it's going to be super boring but then the film really gets going and it becomes typical Hitchcock (troubled marriage, big secrets, temperamental husband, evil maid). It's all pretty melodramatic but once you get into it, it's a good Hitch.

Also watched Dial M For Murder last week, very good. Also takes time to get into but then it's hard to look away. Clever, tense film with a clever ending Agatha Christie would have "killed" for.

Will watch Secret Agent in the next few days.

Oh, btw, is it just me or was The Trouble with Harry really rubbish?

Under Capricorn is quite underrated in my opinion, it's very elegant, even quite beautiful, superbly acted especially by Bergman [her lengthy speech near the end is fantastic] and oddly gripping after a while despite the extremely slow pace. I'd rate it over Hitch's last four films any day.

The Trouble With Harry, I wouldn't say it's total rubbish, it's a pleasant diversion and has a lovely Bernard Hermann score, but it only has occasional laughs and just comes across as being rather pointless. His weakest film of the 50s.

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Post #: 128

RE: The Films Of Alfred Hitchcock - 30/3/2010 6:30:49 PM

Dr Lenera

Posts: 3471
Joined: 19/10/2005

quote:

ORIGINAL: sanchia

I've also heard some bad things about Topaz but that is one of his films I have yet to see.

Topaz is really, really, really poor. It's kind of watchable for the first half, a bit dreary but with the odd good moment, then just gets more and more boring. Actually took me two attempts to watch the thing before I saw it all the way through, and even when I did my attention wavered and I lost track of what was going on! I really don't think Hitch cared about this one [I'm not a huge fan of his next film Frenzy but at least the director seemed pretty engaged with that one].

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Post #: 129

RE: The Films Of Alfred Hitchcock - 30/3/2010 11:58:11 PM

Edward Nygma

Posts: 711
Joined: 28/12/2005

Haven't seen Frenzy or Topaz but since I'm working on a Hitchcock-style project, I'm afraid I'll have to!

Watching The Paradine Case tonight, have no idea what it'll be like but the cast seems pretty decent.

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Post #: 130

RE: The Films Of Alfred Hitchcock - 31/3/2010 5:55:06 PM

sanchia

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Joined: 3/1/2006
From: Norwich

Another poor one I am afraid. It is rather pedestrian and I found the plot rather lacking.

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Post #: 131

RE: The Films Of Alfred Hitchcock - 2/4/2010 10:52:44 PM

Lloyd_Christmas

Posts: 31
Joined: 2/4/2010

Honestly haven't seen a Hitchcock movie I disliked. Obviously some are much stronger or less dated than others, but I find them all to be entertaining.

I just watched The 39 Steps and The Lady Vanishes this week. Blown away by both of them.

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Post #: 132

RE: The Films Of Alfred Hitchcock - 6/4/2010 3:04:14 PM

Edward Nygma

Posts: 711
Joined: 28/12/2005

Watched The Paradine Case, was ok, nothing amazing really and pretty predictable. It looked great though and its good to see Peck learned how to act since Spellbound lol

Also saw To Catch a Thief, was fun. Why is Cary Grant so tanned? Whyyyyy?

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Post #: 133

RE: The Films Of Alfred Hitchcock - 10/4/2010 2:41:12 PM

Edward Nygma

Posts: 711
Joined: 28/12/2005

OMG watched Frenzy last night for the first time, that was messed up, but also brilliant. Slightly more disturbing, brutal and graphic than we're used to with Hitch films but this was a gripping thriller with some classic Hitchcock moments which is relentlessly tense from start to finish and actually pretty funny in places.

I must admit the end of the first strangling scene played a big part in soiling my pants that evening. Underrated Hitch classic IMO.

"Lovely...lovely...lovely" lol *shudder*

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Post #: 134

RE: The Films Of Alfred Hitchcock - 14/4/2010 11:38:53 AM

Dr Lenera

Posts: 3471
Joined: 19/10/2005

Frenzy's kind of odd, it has some brilliant scenes [the murder, the potato truck scene etc.] but a great deal of it feels very pedestrian and almost unneccessary imo. The rape/murder is quite horrible but I don't understand the fuss about Hitchcock getting into 70s sex and violence, apart from the killing there's not much of it and way back to the 40s [and maybe beyond?] his films often pushed boundaries. The director does feel a little awkward depicting a more permissive environment though. Interesting use of a somewhat unglamorous cast and slightly dislikeable hero [unlike say Vertigo where at least the hero was likeable at first!].

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Post #: 135

RE: The Films Of Alfred Hitchcock - 14/4/2010 2:31:35 PM

Edward Nygma

Posts: 711
Joined: 28/12/2005

quote:

ORIGINAL: Dr Lenera

Frenzy's kind of odd, it has some brilliant scenes [the murder, the potato truck scene etc.] but a great deal of it feels very pedestrian and almost unneccessary imo. The rape/murder is quite horrible but I don't understand the fuss about Hitchcock getting into 70s sex and violence, apart from the killing there's not much of it and way back to the 40s [and maybe beyond?] his films often pushed boundaries. The director does feel a little awkward depicting a more permissive environment though. Interesting use of a somewhat unglamorous cast and slightly dislikeable hero [unlike say Vertigo where at least the hero was likeable at first!].

It is pretty odd. It's not a perfect film and I think it is let down by a less believable third act (hospital escape etc) but overall it's an interesting Hitchcock film with some terrific scenes, clever shots and great audience manipulation. We instantly suspect and dislike the hero at first and our view of him only changes when it is...bluntly revealed who the real culprit is. After that you feel kind of bad for him because he's such an unlucky loser of a guy!

Will watch Family Plot over the next couple of days, I hear it's no masterpiece so wish me luck lol The trailer with Hitch was fun though, as ever.

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Post #: 136

RE: The Films Of Alfred Hitchcock - 26/5/2010 10:06:21 PM

TheGodfather

Posts: 5125
Joined: 21/10/2005
From: Sin City

Rebecca
Hitchcock`s film after Daphne Du Maurier`s classic bestseller is one of his most exciting and intense films in wich he takes his leading lady Joan Fontaine and his audience on a two hour questionnaire trying to find out what on earth is happening. The tension is built up excellent and carefully, making the ending as surprising as it is sad.
A brilliant Hitchcock.

9,0/10

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Post #: 137

RE: The Films Of Alfred Hitchcock - 26/6/2010 12:07:00 AM

TheGodfather

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Joined: 21/10/2005
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Vertigo
This second time I found it to be even better than after the first time, when I already made it out to be Hitchcock`s best.
He knows the tension and your attention up all the time, even though the film basically excists out of two stories (as we would later also see in Psycho and L`Avventura). Hitchcock was a revolutionary storyteller in that regard.
The first part is exciting and mysterious, the second part is (with its dreamy atmosphere) maybe even better. Hitch plays a lot with different colours wich give the film that dreamy feel to it. From a mystery it almost turned into a character study for James Stewart`s character. In the whole film he is, as ever, really strong with the beautiful Kim Novak (wonderfully brought to the screen by those different colours) giving a brilliant performance.
Finished up by the classic Bernard Hermann score, Vertigo is Hitchcock`s best work in that long, very long line of influential classics.

10/10

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RE: The Films Of Alfred Hitchcock - 26/6/2010 12:40:26 AM

Harry Lime

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Top stuff, Godfather. Vertigo is an astounding piece of work. The greatest film ever made, in my view.

Hitchcock's second best movie, for me, is Strangers on a Train - which I watched again tonight. The humour in it is so deliciously dark and the moments of suspense and drama are just fabulously constructed. The final third, in particular, is a masterclass in editing and pacing. And, of course, the performance of Robert Walker is as hilarious as it is chilling. It's just a great, great movie that never ever disappoints, no matter how often you watch it. 5

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Post #: 139

RE: The Films Of Alfred Hitchcock - 26/6/2010 12:49:53 AM

TheGodfather

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Thanks

Strangers on a train was brilliant as well, really liked that the first time I saw it

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Post #: 140

RE: The Films Of Alfred Hitchcock - 26/6/2010 10:45:08 AM

matty_b

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Strangers on a Train - yes, yes, yes!

So glad it's getting some recognition. It's my personal favourite of his (although probably not his "best") and I've always found it's hugely underrated. It gets the balance between being a hilarious black comedy and a chilling horror just right and Robert Walker is outstanding. The fairground murder scene done without any dialogue is my favourite Hitchcock scene of all time - right from the initial stalking to that wonderful sick joke of Walker helping a blind lady across the road right at the end.

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Post #: 141

RE: The Films Of Alfred Hitchcock - 26/6/2010 11:27:15 AM

Edward Nygma

Posts: 711
Joined: 28/12/2005

Strangers on a Train is great. It's one of those Hitchcock films I really don't mind watching again and again. It's got one of my favourite "vilains" of any Hitchcock film. Although of course Norman Bates and the creepy maids from Rebecca and Under Capricorn not to mention that wacko from Frenzy are all right up there.

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Post #: 142

RE: The Films Of Alfred Hitchcock - 8/8/2010 6:41:15 PM

Peppermint

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From: Sussex

Watched Spellbound and Notorious this afternoon, neither of which are my favourites, but definitely still worth watching.

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Post #: 143

RE: The Films Of Alfred Hitchcock - 8/8/2010 7:05:44 PM

sanchia

Posts: 16900
Joined: 3/1/2006
From: Norwich

I tend to think of Spellbound as a curiousity in the Hitchcock repetoire. The main problem I have is that I cannot stop thinking of High Anxiety whenever I watch it.

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Post #: 144

RE: The Films Of Alfred Hitchcock - 18/10/2010 5:51:25 PM

BobM70

Posts: 958
Joined: 29/12/2005

The Trouble With Harry is an odd little film. I like it very much. It has a surreal tone that I like. The story seems to go nowhere and the humour is offbeat. To me it was a Coen film avant la lettre. And it is beautifully shot with the crispiest of colours. See it.

Another favourite of mine is A Shadow of a Doubt. Wonderful film which builds up slowly. Terrific acting. Cotton was an underrated actor.

bob

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Post #: 145

RE: The Films Of Alfred Hitchcock - 23/10/2010 12:08:43 PM

jackassfan

Posts: 2751
Joined: 1/10/2005

My ratings for all his films that i have seen

Blackmail (1929) 8/10
Murder (1930) 7/10
The Skin Game (1931) 4/10
Rich And Strange (1931) 5/10
The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934) 8/10
The 39 Steps (1935) 8/10
Sabotage (1937) 7/10
Young And Innocent (1937) 7.5/10
The Lady Vanishes (1938) 10/10
Jamaica Inn (1939) 6/10
Rebecca (1940) 10/10
Foreign Correspondant (1941) 9/10
Mr & Mrs Smith (1941) 6/10
Suspicion (1941) 8/10
Sabotuer (1942) 9/10
Shadow Of |A Doubt (1943) 10/10
Lifeboat (1944) 10/10
Spellbound (1945) 7/10
Notorious (1946) 9/10
The Paradine Case (1947) 5/10
Rope (1948) 9.5/10
Stage Fright (1950) 6/10
Strangers On Train (1951) 9.5/10
I Confess (1953) 7.5/10
Dial M For Murder (1954) 8/10
Rear Window (1954) 10/10
To Catch A Thief (1955) 7/10
The Trouble With Harry (1955) 7.5/10
The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956) 6/10
The Wrong Man (1956) 8/10
Vertigo (1958) 10/10
North By Northwest (1959) 10/10
Psycho (1960) 8/10
The Birds (1963) 8/10
Marnie (1964) 6/10
Frenzy (1972) 7.5/10

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Post #: 146

RE: The Films Of Alfred Hitchcock - 6/8/2011 12:51:18 AM

Gimli The Dwarf

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From: Central Park Zoo

I'm not sure if it's cropped up anywhere else on the forums, but I've just read this. Footage from an early film Hitchcock worked on has been found.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-14384626

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Post #: 147

RE: The Films Of Alfred Hitchcock - 6/8/2011 8:56:41 AM

TheGodfather

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Joined: 21/10/2005
From: Sin City

And it`s said to run in a limited run in a LA cinema next month

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Post #: 148

RE: The Films Of Alfred Hitchcock - 20/8/2011 12:54:00 PM

halfmoon

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Joined: 20/8/2011

Psycho. Definitely. I approached it not with the view that I would not enjoy it, but with the idea that my brain, now cursed by a somewhat short attention span when it comes to pre-1960s films, would become bored with it. I couldn't have been more wrong.

It's probably been said countless times before, but Anthony Perkins performance as Norman Bates absolutely captivated me at times.

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Post #: 149

RE: The Films Of Alfred Hitchcock - 24/9/2011 9:33:10 PM

sanchia

Posts: 16900
Joined: 3/1/2006
From: Norwich

I've just watched I Confess for the first time. Definitely not one of his better films although decent. Montgomery Clift didn't really work for me as the priest coming across a bit too withdrawn and the plot itself seemed a bit contrived.

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Post #: 150