Alfred Hitchcock

[RRA]

Good evening.

Pick 15. Or up to 15 movies of your choosing.

Would I be wrong if I say that if you're asked by a movie novice which classic movies to check out initially, that Hitch's best is a good candidate to explore? His movies for the most part were consistently well-crafted, stylized entertainment. As great as VERTIGO is, I would hold back on that one because I'll be honest: First itme I saw it, I really didn't "get it." Why the high praise for this? What's the big deal? Fuck this shit. But that movie for whatever stayed with me, I rewatched it again, and then I recognized that brilliance. Instead I would consider recommending his other usual highlight picks: PSYCHO, REAR WINDOW, NORTH BY NORTHWEST, FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT, STRANGERS ON A TRAIN, and well you could go on and on right?

[Moviefreak]

The Lady Vanishes
Rebecca
Saboteur
Shadow of a Doubt
Lifeboat
Spellbound
Notorious
Rope
Strangers on a Train
Rear Window
The Wrong Man
Vertigo
North by Northwest
Psycho
The Birds

[RRA]

[Kgirl]

Looking at this poll it is shocking to me how many Hitchcock films I haven't seen

Need to fix that

[RRA]

Looking at this poll it is shocking to me how many Hitchcock films I haven't seen

Need to fix that

Yeah there's quite a few more gaps in my Hitch list than I previously thought. I know THE LADY VANISHES I've been meaning to see, along with THE TROUBLE WITH HARRY especially. HARRY back in the day baffled me as a concept: Hitch doing a comedy? Yet with his droll sense of humor, conceptually I can see that working now. I did watch Hitch's interview w/ Cavett on YT recently where he personally pimped his THE LODGER, which makes me want to see that now. I've never seen all of TOPAZ, and its lukewarm reputation has kept me from seeing it full. My enthusiasm for that was further stunted after I saw the lackluster TORN CURTAIN, which really was THE TOURIST of its time with two good acting stars who no chemistry. And several Hitch titles I just keep forgetting they exist, that son of a bitch has made many movies. I'm sure he had the same problem too.

MARNIE I've never seen because quite frankly it never sounded interesting to me. Those who voted for it, would I like it? Other than Hitch directing James Bond, why should I see it? I'll catch that eventually I suppose.

Looking at the voting, I'm glad to see FRENZY getting votes. A really good movie that really showed a Hitch unrestrained finally by censorship and just fully getting his freak on. I hate that in the 70s by then he was just too old for that Hitch going buck wild would've been awesome. Or awesome train wrecks. No votes so far, but FAMILY PLOT his final movie is usually passed over. Lightweight sure, but what an entertaining, solid lightweight movie with a John Williams soundtrack.

I'm also pleased with the massive amount of votes SHADOW OF A DOUBT is getting. The incestuous atmosphere was almost overbearingly creepy for me on that one. (How did Hitch get away with that shit from the censors? Shit how did he get away wtih the Homosexual couple in ROPE? You did good Hitch.)

[lazarus]

Marnie has its share of detractor, but its supporters rank it so high I don't think you can wait on that one. It's the most important of the ones you've listed, and many consider it a companion piece to Vertigo in terms of the obsession of the male protagonist, and the sexual politics at play in the story. From a visual standpoint, Hitch's use of open spaces is very effective. Great framing in this one.

Topaz > Torn Curtain. One of Hitch's most experimental works w/r/t narrative, as it doesn't really have an audience surrogate/main character, as it's absent of traditional movie stars.

And I'll take Family Plot over Frenzy.

[lazarus]

Marnie has its share of detractor, but its supporters rank it so high I don't think you can wait on that one. It's the most important of the ones you've listed, and many consider it a companion piece to Vertigo in terms of the obsession of the male protagonist, and the sexual politics at play in the story. From a visual standpoint, Hitch's use of open spaces is very effective. Great framing in this one.

Topaz > Torn Curtain. One of Hitch's most experimental works w/r/t narrative, as it doesn't really have an audience surrogate/main character, as it's absent of traditional movie stars.

And I'll take Family Plot over Frenzy.

The real crime here is Under Capricorn not getting any votes (which I will rectify).

[Thomas]

Foreign Correspondent, Sabotage, Psycho, Rebecca, Strangers on a Train, Lifeboat, Rear Window, Vertigo, North by Northwest, Notorious.

Man, what an excellent top 10!

[RRA]

Marnie has its share of detractor, but its supporters rank it so high I don't think you can wait on that one. It's the most important of the ones you've listed, and many consider it a companion piece to Vertigo in terms of the obsession of the male protagonist, and the sexual politics at play in the story. From a visual standpoint, Hitch's use of open spaces is very effective. Great framing in this one.

Cool, thanks for the recommendation.

Topaz > Torn Curtain. One of Hitch's most experimental works w/r/t narrative, as it doesn't really have an audience surrogate/main character, as it's absent of traditional movie stars.

Interesting. I do like the idea of the airport ending that Hitch prefered but Universal forced him to drop for the American release.

Now I know TORN CURTAIN gets bashed, but I didn't find it to be that bad as its reputation. It's just...disposable. Again the lack of chemistry really shits the bed, though I still like the scenes of Newman yelling fire in the theatre and of course that scene taking forever to kill that one guy.

The real crime here is Under Capricorn not getting any votes (which I will rectify).

I'm surprised FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT Is doing as poorly in the poll as it is. I thought it was considered one of his best? At least I would vote it among my favorites of his.

Foreign Correspondent, Sabotage, Psycho, Rebecca, Strangers on a Train, Lifeboat, Rear Window, Vertigo, North by Northwest, Notorious.

Man, what an excellent top 10!

And taking those out, you could probably still crank out another very worthy top 10 list.

[Juanki]

I feel so weird because Marnie and Frenzy are my favourite films of him. I really don't care for Psycho and I used to like Vertigo a lot, but now I like it less and less every year. I still love Rebecca and Strangers on a Train which were some favourite of mine when I was younger.

Oh and I forgot to vote for The Birds.

[Jim]

I choose only fifteen that I really admire, but left out some of Hitchcock`s most amusing/entertaining films, scenes and performances.

THE LADY VANISHES- A very witty film, and there is nothing like a Dame. Love the ending.
NOTORIOUS- Bergman at her most natural, sensuous best... and, some great classic scenes.
SABOTUER- Man on the run... and, the characters Cummings encounters make it.
THE PARADINE CASE- Wonderful characters, homo-erotic bit, Peck, mis-cast, but still good.
REAR WINDOW- Delightful mystery that pulls one in on the game. Fine Kelly, Stewart, et al.
THE 39 STEPS- One of the best "on the run" films. Donat, Carroll, and entire cast deliver.
I CONFESS- There is a melancholy hanging over this noir film. The music, Clift & Baxter, etc.
FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT- Wham, bam, thank you mam. What characters & situations!
STRANGERS ON A TRAIN- Bullseye! Great Walker, fine Granger, Roman, Pat Hitchcock, etc.
LIFEBOAT- Character driven with glamorous, pithy Bankhead at her best & right on point.
THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH- What Americans didn`t know. Day & Stewart do good work.
SPELLBOUND- A slick and fine puzzle... It`s all like a dream with the art work & music.
PSYCHO- Shock after shock. Who knew what this film would lead to. Perkins & Leigh superb.
STAGE FRIGHT- I like the early point of view. Todd, Wyman, Dietrich, Sim, Wilding and Walsh all cunning.
REBECCA- A very good adaptation... and perfect casting.

[nadine]

I remember having to watch Rebecca at school and it freaked the students (granted we were all teenage girls) out.