dir. Alfred Hitchcock. On the eve of World War II, New York City crime reporter John Jones (played by Joel McCrea) is dispatched to London for an exclusive interview with a Dutch diplomat to get the scoop on the likelihood of war breaking out in Europe. Jones becomes entangled in a secret plot, and must…… Continue reading Foreign Correspondent (1940)
Tag: Alfred Hitchcock
Murder! (1930)
dir. Alfred Hitchcock. An actress in a local theatre troupe is found bludgeoned to death, and another actress found on the scene, blood on her dress, and no memory of the murder. She is given little sympathy by the jury, but one juror (Sir John, handsome stage actor) thinks there may be more to this…… Continue reading Murder! (1930)
The Lodger: A Story Of The London Fog (1927)
dir. Alfred Hitchcock. In foggy 1920s London, a killer is roaming the streets, killing fair-haired women on Tuesday evenings. A handsome, nervous young man rents rooms from an elderly couple, and begins making eyes at their attractive young daughter, but he’s hiding a secret! Hitchcock’s third feature film, and in conversation with François Truffaut, he…… Continue reading The Lodger: A Story Of The London Fog (1927)
Jamaica Inn (1939)
dir. Alfred Hitchcock. Hitchcock’s last British film before leaving for the U.S.A. Mostly dull, humorless film about some Cornwall based modern day pirates. There are some pretty incredible special effects showing ships being wrecked. One the leads, Charles Laughton later went on to direct one film in this career, THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER (1955),…… Continue reading Jamaica Inn (1939)
The Lady Vanishes (1938)
dir. Alfred Hitchcock. Perfection. Margaret Lockwood and Michael Redgrave are delightful, in this mystery almost entirely set during a train journey. The use of miniatures is marvelous, and blends in gloriously with the other filmed scenes, and some rear projection. There’s a lovely bit of comedy from the two traveling, cricket-mad, British gentlemen (comic duo…… Continue reading The Lady Vanishes (1938)
The 39 Steps (1935)
dir. Alfred Hitchcock. The movie that I use for my avatar, Robert Donat as Richard Hannay, a classic man-falsely-accused-of murder-on-the-run. Top tier Hitchcock. Full of many memorable scenes, close to perfection. Personal favorites are the cranky farmer with his young bride, the romantic elderly hotel owners, and the undergarment salesmen in the train. The escape…… Continue reading The 39 Steps (1935)
Strangers On A Train (1951)
dir. Alfred Hitchcock. This has a lot more tennis that I remembered. The humor still works, with some surprising dark comedy at the end. Robert Walker is brilliant as the psychopath. I was saddened to read that he died shortly after the film came out in a drug overdose. The black & white cinematography is…… Continue reading Strangers On A Train (1951)
Marnie (1964)
dir. Alfred Hitchcock. If it wasn’t a follow-up to Psycho and The Birds, may be more fondly remembered. I loved Tippi Hedren’s performance, and Sean Connery just playing himself is always fun. Diane Baker is amazing, with perhaps the best bob hairstyle ever captured on camera? It’s a shame the restoration done for the Blu-Ray…… Continue reading Marnie (1964)
A Single Paragraph 