October 1st means it is the month of spooky, spooky:) This week the theme is Hitchcock. If you pop over at Wandering Through The Shelves, you can find other people who joined in on the fun. One picks 3 films according to the week's theme and this was tough because the theme is Hitchcock and I love Hitchcock.
OK my favourite Hitchcock film is Strangers on a Train, followed by Rear Window, Shadow of a Doubt, Psycho, The Birds, ...I mean the list goes on and on. You know I still have not seen Notorious which is one of the biggest "slap me upside the head" blunders of not seeing a movie. Ok that might be a choppy sentence but it's late and I'm tired while writing this. I love all his films even Blackmail and Rich and Strange but I went with 3 films of his that I hope will be different from other picks plus they are just dam great! OK the last one is a biggie of his but let's get on with the show.
1. SABOTAGE-1936
This stars the beautiful Sylvia Sydney whom most of you know from her from Beetlejuice and Mars Attacks gigs. In this film, She is married and they run a movie theatre. Her little brother lives with them. There are spies about and plenty of tension and suspense as only Hitch can do. Actually, this is the only film Sydney was in that was directed by Hitchcock. She intensely disliked him and never wanted to work with him again. When I saw this film, many, many years ago, I was riveted and it stayed with me for years.
2. LIFEBOAT-1944
A German U-boat torpedoes a British ship and the survivors are on this lifeboat. They end up saving a German from the U-boat that was also sunk. Now under any other director, it would sound kind of lack lustre, but Hitch creates tension between the people and develops the characters well. He does appear in this film also, you just have to look for his cameo. One tidbit is quite funny, Tallulah Bankhead, who is the star, was well known for wit, intelligence and sexual freedom. She didn't believe in wearing underwear and this caused a bit of a problem in filming. The Assistant Director came to Hitchcock with the problem of how to deal with covering up her naughty bits. Hitch paused and then said something like this, "I'm not sure if this should be brought to the attention of the cameraman, make-up or hairdressing."
3. NORTH BY NORTHWEST-1959
I can watch this movie over and over again. It is so much fun and I get a kick that the lady (Jessie Royce Landis) who plays Cary Grant's mother was only 8 when Grant was born. Anyhoo, Grant is mistaken for someone else and is taken to a lovely home where he meets his nemesis played by the great James Mason. Martin Landau is the henchman who does Mason's bidding. Of course Grant ends up on a train, meets a beautiful blond and ends up on the face of Lincoln at Mount Rushmore. There is so much to this film (love that his initials spell R.O.T) and the crop dusting scene is justifiably famous.
Now I Love Strangers on a Train and mentioned it on my blog before-if you haven't seen that one...please see it.
Which Hitchcock film do you love?
Psycho is my favorite, but I liked North by Northwest too. I've never heard of Lifeboat, but that sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteLifeboat is great because Hitchcock always like to experiment. Psycho is brilliant
DeleteI actually had to Google a list of his films and without a 'shadow of a doubt' (1943) I am picking 'Rebecca'. Still love it every time I see it.
ReplyDeleteShadow of a Doubt I almost picked because I think it is brilliant. Rebecca is wonderful and that maid played by Judith Anderson is chilling. I felt sad about the great home even if it was a set.
DeleteCorny as it may seem, I love "The Birds." At this point, it's almost a bit campy looking through the rear view mirror. As a child, I thought it was horrifying and so scary, believe it or not. I led a dull life. :-)
ReplyDeleteThe Birds is scary and whenever i see a ton of birds on a wire i get a bit freaked out:)
DeleteCrows hang out on my barn and they yell at me (ha ha).
DeleteNorth by northwest is a good on, that and Psycho are the only two I think I've seen. Strangers on a train I did too, long time ago.
ReplyDeleteI love Strangers on a Train-I can watch that over and over again. Psycho is brilliant and if you didn't notice, Hitch had a thing for birds
DeleteI've only seen North by Northwest and it is excellent. That Hitchcock quote you used for Lifeboat is just perfection.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it! I saw an interview with Martin Landau when he was talking about North by Northwest (Cary Grant was very unhappy at Landau's suits while Grant just wore one-Hitchcock made sure landau went to the same tailor Grant used). Landau mentioned this Hitch story and he could do a great Hitchcock impression.
DeleteLove all of these! So happy to see a mention for Lifeboat. Such a great film!
ReplyDeleteLife boat gets little love and it is a wonderful film for sure
DeleteSabotage is a wonderful under known gem and I'm a huge fan of North by Northwest, a great suspense film.
ReplyDeleteWe have a match! Lifeboat is one of my favorites of Hitch's films. I'm surprised you haven't seen Notorious but you'll love it when you do. My other choice is my favorite of his films. I picked my bonus to show that even a genius has off days.
Saboteur (1942)-During WWII an airplane factory is sabotaged. Barry Kane, falsely accused of the crime, goes on the run in pursuit of the real culprit and encounters various memorable characters along the way including the expected Hitchcock blonde in the appealing form of Priscilla Lane. Enjoyable chase drama is highlighted by its famous Statue of Liberty finale.
Lifeboat (1944)-A small group of passengers from a torpedoed ship struggle for survival in Hitchcock's fascinating microcosm of society in the contained space of a lifeboat. Excellent performances across the board but most of all a great showcase role for Tallulah Bankhead.
Notorious (1946)-Alicia Huberman, played by Ingrid Bergman, has become embittered upon finding out that her father is a traitor. After his conviction she is recruited by Devlin (Cary Grant) to infiltrate a suspected spy ring in South America lead by an acquaintance of hers Alex Sebastian, played by Claude Rains. Once she manages that a deadly game of cat and mouse commences as the tension mounts. One of Hitchcock’s best with amazing work by the entire cast.
Nobody’s perfect pick-Topaz (1969)-An intriguing premise: An intelligence agent becomes involved in Cold War politics while trying to expose espionage that lead up to the Cuban Missile Crisis and attempting to dismantle a Russian spy ring. Add in a solid if not extraordinary cast and Hitchcock in the director’s chair and this should have been an engrossing entertainment. What it is however may be Hitch’s worst film, certainly his dullest, it just plods along. If they insist on remaking one of the Master’s films this would be the place to start. A good idea somehow gone terribly wrong.
I know-slap me for not seeing this gem yet! I love Saboteur which has a great chase scene ending at the Statue of Liberty. We agree on Lifeboat and don't you love where we see Hitch? :) Oh I agree with you on Topaz but I haven't seen it in years. Torn Curtain is another i was not impressed by and felt Julie Andrews just didn't fit.
DeleteSabotage! One of my picks this week, too. So, SO good. It was a revelation to me when I saw it for the first time a few years ago. And I almost picked Lifeboat, too, which is super entertaining and somehow not talked about much today. North By Northwest is probably the film of his that I've seen the most. Every time it's on, I just get so engrossed in it that I have to watch until the end.
ReplyDeleteI so agree with you on Sabotage and North By Northwest I never tire of
DeleteThese sound like all great films. I might be kicked off your blog, but I don't think I've seen any Hitchcock movies. Must remedy that soon.
ReplyDeletebetty
I....I....I can hardly speak! I never thought I would know someone who has never seen a Hitchcock film. OK-for tension-Strangers on a Train and Shadow of a Doubt. For some chicness thrown in plus great acting-Rear Window, To Catch a Thief and North By Northwest. For a little more horror-Psycho and The Birds and then you have The Lady vanishes, The 39 Steps, The Man Who Knew Too Much (2 versions!), Lifeboat, Spellbound, Notorious, ok so there are a few. I hope by the end of October you will say you saw one:) You are not kicked off my blog even though you shocked me:)
DeleteI've been thinking a lot about Hitchcock as I'm working on my movie list for Stephen. North By Northwest is on that list. God, that was a great film. Rear Window and The Birds nearly made the cut as well.
ReplyDeleteI've seen Lifeboat (Steinbeck is one of my favourite American writers), but I've not seen Sabotage.
I hope your computer troubles are nearly over!
Ughh-nope they are not over-frustrating for sure. I am making my list as well. for Stephen. Are you going to place them here or just on Stephen's blog? Steinbeck ended up not liking the film at all which is funny
DeleteI'm with Betty. I haven't watched any of these. I don't really like scary movies (understatement), so.... Added to that, most of these are before my time (sorry again!). I did see a scary movie called Rear Window (I think!) starring Johnny Depp. (man, I regretted that!) Is that a remake of a Hitchcock film? It scared the bejesus out of me.
ReplyDeleteI think I know the one you mean and no-has nothing to do with the great Hitchcock film. His films, for the most part, are suspense. Avoid Psycho and The Birds but I think you would enjoy North by Northwest and To Catch a Thief. They are quite fun and are not scary. Rear Window is not scary and it takes place all in this little block. James Stewart has a broken leg and can't move so he starts watching all the neighbours and their antics until he believes one has murdered his wife. We become the voyeurs..just like every old couple who sit on their patio watching everything:)
DeleteConfess I've not seen any of them. I agree with the comment above about Rebecca which is great. I've read the book several times and feel differently about it every time! I think it depends on your age and maybe your current mood whether you think it is a great romance or creepy and sad.
ReplyDeleteAnabel's Travel Blog
I started the book long ago but never got into it-I was 10 years old so I have to try again. I know the ending is different which you may not like. I found it very romantic with a side dose of creepy:)
DeleteHi, BB! I love Hitchcock films and I was also a regular viewer of his television series. I don't remember Sabotage but I have seen Lifeboat and North By Northwest. In fact, N-by-NW is my favorite Hitchcock film, surpassing Psycho, The Birds, Rear Window, Vertigo, Strangers, Shadow, Rope, Dial M, Frenzy and all of his other pictures. I love the first rate cast, the abundance of humor and sight gags in the movie and the many iconic action sequences. N-by-NW is an event, the kind of film I try to watch once a year without fail.
ReplyDeleteThanks, BB!
Yes that is such a great movie and Cary Grant can play comedy so well (thinking of the jail scene)-loved the lady who played his mom-she was a bit daffy:) Hitch really had a thing for Birds and trains:). Hitchcock almost called N-by NW "The Man in Lincoln's Nose"
DeleteI believe North by Northwest is the only one from your list I've seen.
ReplyDeleteOh wow I thought for sure you would have seen Psycho! You need to see this
DeleteThese are all exceptional movies.
ReplyDeleteThey are aren't they:)
DeleteYou mean I have to pick one Hitchcock film. I'm going to need some time to think about this.
ReplyDeleteOh gosh no-pick as many as you like:) It was hard for me to choose 3 that's why i mentioned others
DeleteI loved The Birds. Still give me creepies when I remember the crow slamming into the telephone booth.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen it in a while but I thought it was a gull. No matter as it was scary
DeleteI love all of yours and more besides. He's a master of tension, and attention to detail. What a great kickoff for October.
ReplyDeleteIt is! I could do a whole month of Hitchcock and it would not bore me in the least-I mean he is superb!
DeleteRear Window is my favorite. I got so excited when I finally spotted his cameo in it. I adore Strangers On A Train, North by Northwest, and The Rope. Lifeboat is good. It's unusual. I've never seen Sabotage. There's one I like a lot and can't think of the title. Joseph Cotton plays this family member who comes to visit. He is the uncle to a young woman in the family. She suspects him of murdering older women for their money. I saw The Birds when I was a little kid and have never been able to watch it again. I'm still a bit scared of birds. I've never seen Psycho all the way through because the shower scene made me not want to take showers. In general, I love Hitchcock. Grace Kelly is so beautiful in Rear Window.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
The movie you are thinking of is called "Shadow of a Doubt"-a brilliant film and one of my favourites! Janet Leigh never took another shower after seeing the film on screen. I love Rear Window and I think you would enjoy To Catch A Thief. Gosh Grace Kelly look beautiful and I wanted her white and blue gowns from that film
DeleteThere are no bad Hitchcock films.
ReplyDeleteWe've got North by Northwest in our film library:)
So do I plus many more:)
DeleteI've seen so few Hitchcock films! I got nightmares from "The Birds" and never really got my courage up to see any others. I really should see more movies.
ReplyDeletePsycho and The Birds are his most scary. I would say to watch North By Northwest and To Catch a Thief for more levity and yet brings suspense and then try Rear Window and Strangers on a Train
DeleteOh North by Northwest is Hitchcock as well! So, I got three, actually. But I still need more of it, I suppose.
ReplyDeleteUp Hitch all the way:)
DeleteI haven't seen Sabotage but loved the other two. Tallulah Bankhead was an original, for sure! ☺ Favourite Hitchcock films...tough to decide, there are so many. "Rear Window", "Vertigo" and "Marnie" are probably the top three.
ReplyDeleteThere is only one Tallulah:) Marnie is not one of my favourites for Hitchcock that is but the other 2 are masterworks
DeleteMarnie is so intense and dramatic! ☺ I loved Sean Connery playing a role other than James Bond, too.
DeleteI haven't seen any of these. In fact, I haven't seen any Hitchcock film! I'm thinking now that I really should though. Wow.
ReplyDeleteOh my-Yes you must see a few of his since he is the Master
DeleteYou have a way of summarizing plots, Birgit, that has me wanting to see movies. Now I want to see Northwest by Northwest. Also Lifeboat because the screenplay was by John Steinbeck. My favorite Hitchcock movie is the one with Shirley Mclaine and Jerry Mathers as the little boy. The Trouble with Harry (I went and looked up the title.)
ReplyDeleteOh I hope you see these and I have seen The Trouble With Harry which is quite quirky. That film, along with Vertigo and Shadow of a Doubt were films Hitchcock kept away from TV and screens after until after he died.
DeleteLove North by Northwest. Decided not to pick it in order to go with more traditional "horror" picks. Great post! I so need to see more of his work.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen any of these (no surprise). But- I have seen other Hitchcock films, so I am adding these to my list. :) Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDelete~Jess
The Hitchcock films always stayed with me too long after I saw them. He was, of course, a genius!
ReplyDeleteDespite my heebie jeebies about Hitchcock's Psycho, I happen to love his films. Interesting to study in film class too. His film technique of 'point of view' is legendary. You saw the action through the eyes of the character, which really added to the tension. The guy was a genius.
ReplyDeleteOf the three, I haven't seen Sabotage....aaaargh! It's been on my bucket list not being crossed. Alf was one of a kind, that's for sure!
ReplyDeletehugs, Asha
I've never been a big movie person, but I try to be. Not sure what it is. Even films in the theatre I want to see, I rarely get around to seeing. I think it comes to hating to see films alone, I seriously need to find a film partner. That being said, I have seen the Birds and parts of Rear Window and Vertigo and think they were awesome. I really want to watch more Hitchcock. What would you suggest are the top the films of his I should watch?
ReplyDeleteStrangers on a Train! Rear Window. Shadow of a Doubt, Psycho, North by Northwest, Lifeboat, Sabotage, The Lady Vanishes, Rebecca, Spellbound. That is my 10 but he has so many more:)
DeleteBIRGIT ~
ReplyDeleteI've seen all of these, and many more Hitchcock movies, of course. It's hard to narrow down to 3 but off the top of my mind (what's left of it), I think my list would look like this:
1: 'NORTH BY NORTHWEST'
Yep, most definitely my favorite Hitchcock movie.
2: 'SPELLBOUND'
I like all the psychological elements of it.
3: 'PSYCHO'
Yeah, it's a real classic that still holds up. For years I told myself that I was going to spend the night in the real Psycho house on the Universal Studios movie lot, but... I never got around to it. Wish I had followed through with that idea.
~ D-FensDogG
'Loyal American Underground'
The Birds, Psycho, and Dial M for Murder. I definitely have to see more Hitchcock films!
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen both your first two, so I definitely will get to them.
ReplyDelete