The favorite film: Dial M for Murder, a 1954 domestic thriller by Alfred Hitchcock The synopsis: When Tony Wendice’s plan to have his wife killed goes awry, he decides to instead get rid of her by having her locked up for murder. The cast: Ray Milland as Tony Wendice Grace Kelly as Margot Wendice Robert Cummings as Mark Halliday John Williams as Inspector Hubbard Anthony … Continue reading Favorite things about… Dial M for Murder (1954)
The favorite film: Rebecca, a 1940 romantic thriller from the Master of Suspense, Alfred Hitchcock The synopsis: When a shy young woman meets and falls in love with the wealthy Maxim de Winter in Monte Carlo, they quickly marry before heading back to his Cornwall estate, Manderley. But after arriving, the bride finds that the memory of Maxim’s first wife still looms large over Manderley. … Continue reading Favorite things about… Rebecca (1940)
I consider Alfred Hitchcock to be one of my favorite directors. He directed several of my all-time favorite films, including my ultimate “comfort film” pick-me-up, To Catch a Thief. I’ve seen Hitchcock silent and with sound, black and white and in technicolor. I’ve written about him on the blog many times: Celebrating To Catch a Thief for National Classic Movie Day in 2015 Reviews of big-screen … Continue reading Celebrating “50 Years of Hitchcock” with TCM
The favorite film: Mr. and Mrs. Smith, a screwball comedy from the Master of Suspense, Alfred Hitchcock The synopsis: Ann and David Smith are a happily married couple living in New York City… but they have their share of fights. Fights that tend to last for up to eight days. Still, each time, they reconcile… until it comes to light that their marriage isn’t legal! … Continue reading Favorite things about… Mr. & Mrs. Smith (1941)
One year, one film: 1948 The film: Rope, dir. Alfred Hitchcock starring James Stewart, John Dall, and Farley Granger Rating: Recommended | Highly Recommended | MUST-SEE Famously constructed in a series of ten-minute takes to provide the look of one continuous, flowing shot, Alfred Hitchcock’s Rope spins the twisted tale of two men who commit murder, hide the body in a wooden chest, and then … Continue reading One year, one film: 1948 – Rope
One year, one film: 1946 The film: Notorious, dir. Alfred Hitchcock starring Ingrid Bergman, Cary Grant and Claude Rains Rating: Recommended | Highly Recommended | MUST-SEE What can I say about Notorious that hasn’t already been said? It’s Hitchcock. It’s Cary Grant. It’s Ingrid Bergman. It’s Claude Rains. It’s everything. All at once suspenseful and romantic, Notorious spins a tangled web of espionage and betrayal, scripted by the … Continue reading One year, one film: 1946 – Notorious
Daphne du Maurier’s “The Birds” opens with Nat Hocken, a farmhand, lamenting the overnight arrival of winter. Soon after, birds begin entering his home, attacking his family. All of the birds in England seem to have gone insane — perhaps all of the birds in Europe, too, if the lack of radio communication is any indication. Nat and his family struggle to protect themselves over … Continue reading Book vs. Film: The Birds
This weekend’s Redford Theatre feature, screening on Friday and Saturday at 8 pm with an additional showing at 2 pm on Saturday, was Alfred Hitchcock’s The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956). Never one to pass up a Hitchcock screening, I also took the opportunity to continue converting my dad into a classic film fan. This is the third Hitchcock film we’ve seen on the … Continue reading Alfred Hitchcock’s The Man Who Knew Too Much at the Redford Theatre
SEASON 1, EPISODE 35: “The Legacy” DIR. James Neilson STARRING Leora Dana, Jacques Bergerac ORIGINALLY AIRED May 27, 1956 Recap: Author Randall Burnside is a well-known author who is spending time among the rich in Palm Beach for the winter. He tells his friends that his next book will be about Prince Burhan from India, a notorious playboy who will soon be arriving in Palm … Continue reading Recap and React: Alfred Hitchcock Presents… episodes 35 – 39
SEASON 1, EPISODE 30: “Never Again” DIR. Robert Stevens STARRING Phyllis Thaxter, Louise Albritton and Warren Stevens ORIGINALLY AIRED April 22, 1956 Recap: Karen wakes up one day and finds herself in a completely unfamiliar room with a bandaged hand and “the worst hangover ever.” She falls into a deep state of worry. She knows that she’s disappointed her boyfriend, Jeff, having promised him that … Continue reading Recap and React: Alfred Hitchcock Presents… episodes 30 – 34
