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Subject: "Aah, The Master of Suspense" This topic is locked.
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LionofJudah
Member since Mar 11th 2005
25 posts
Tue Apr-19-05 09:17 PM

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50. "Aah, The Master of Suspense"
In response to In response to 47


          

Hitchcock is probably the best filmmaker ever to put ANYTHING on celluloid. His direction is so well constructed and his techniques were way ahead of his time, watching his work evolve as it happened years ago must have been great to see. Anyway, my thoughts on his movies are as follows:

Suspicion (1941) - Good Hitchcockian film, not one of the greats however - skippable. The plot is somewhat weak. hitchcock directs well and keeps you thinking about it - he keeps the suspense flowing. The music was very sweeping and at times too dramatic and distracting. But, there were nice performances from the cast - especially from Nigel Bruce as 'Beaky'.

Notorious (1946) - A really good Hitchcock film. The direction is top notch with a really concise piece of work resulting - without unnecessary scenes etc. The suspense gets you from the beginning and plas out wonderfully in the end. The acting again was good for the film and it was well done. A good point from which to start with Hitchcock.

Rope (1948) - This film's direction is amazing. Hitchcocks dexterity with the camera is amazing. He keeps the camera moving around in this small set perfectly and cutting at points where you cannot even notice it and it kept the eyes moving. Amazing. Casting was perfect and the acting was superior IMO to many of the other Hitchcockian masterpieces.

Strangers On A Train (1951) - This is pure bliss for me. This is the defenition of a Hitchcock film, it combines elements of many of his other films and boy is it great. The way Hitchcock manipulates his audience is incredible (esp. with the transference of guilt), just the way the suspense flows through this film is awesome. The direction from the very beginning - the two totally different men (at least from their feet) walking to a train to the reflection in the sunglasses. This is it for me right her guys.. Check please.

I Confess (1953) - I liked this film but do not think it holds a candle to Hitchcock's other greats. I really enjoyed Monty Cliff's performance and the overbearing religious theme was quite different from his other works. I also enjoyed the setting that was used. Some may point out the 'plodding' pace but it works well with the overall tone of the film. Nothing eelse really stands out.

Dial 'M' for Murder (1954) - Wouldn't call this one of his lesser works because it works on many levels. It deals with many different themes that have been evident in his films. The way he treats murder as a 'sport', infidelity, the perfect murder etc. The acting again was superb. The direction also stands out with some great shots (dont want to spoil anyitthing). The script is what I liked the best about this film, it was very tightly wound in terms of suspense and kept it going until the last frame. Classic ending.

Rear Window (1954) - This is a great film on voyuerism and the nature of human beings. Jimmy Stewart again provides the same role he provides so well in many a picture. Grace Kelly supports him fairly well but the real star was the way Hitchcock allowed us to experience what the characters were experiencing - seeing what they see. From what we see we are able to make our own inferences about the people in the apartment building. This is a master at work - manipulating the audience and making them enthralled with what is going on. Addictive and I loved it - directorial brilliance.

The Wrong Man (1956) - I liked this film because of the mood of the film and the way it was shot. Well constructed and acted (by the great Henry Fonda), I thought it was bleaker and different from his other works. His camera flows effortlessly from the swirling shot of Fonda in a holding cell to a moving shot entering his home to the effective courtroom scene. It is more somber than most but overall well done.

I will add on later, whew I am tired.

  

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The Hitchcock Post [View all] , Frank Longo, Tue Apr-19-05 11:02 AM
 
Subject Author Message Date ID
North by Northwest
Apr 19th 2005
1
word to the third
Apr 19th 2005
10
Yes.
Apr 19th 2005
25
i'm a hitchcock fan, and i didn't like it
Apr 24th 2005
61
The man is great
Apr 19th 2005
2
nah, I think I'm with you on this.
Apr 19th 2005
19
Vertigo
Apr 19th 2005
3
First Hitch flick I ever saw
Apr 19th 2005
12
by far his best movie
Apr 19th 2005
49
My absolute favorite
Apr 20th 2005
55
Rear Window
Apr 19th 2005
4
My personal favorite Hitchcock flick. His best in my opinion
Apr 19th 2005
32
Notorious has become my favorite
Apr 19th 2005
5
The end of Notorious is one of the best endings to any movie I've seen
Apr 19th 2005
7
I'm not big on Rebecca
Apr 19th 2005
8
I'm embarrassed (and DubSpt still clowns me) since I've never seen
Apr 19th 2005
9
      now that's a MUST see
Apr 19th 2005
13
the look on Claude Rains's face at the end:
Apr 19th 2005
14
      long walk up those steps
Apr 19th 2005
16
           I feel bad for the guy, which is saying something
Apr 19th 2005
17
I just saw Notorious last Sunday.
Apr 19th 2005
11
yep!
Apr 19th 2005
15
I thought The Man That Knew Too Much..
Apr 19th 2005
26
My top 5 is very similar to yours...
Apr 20th 2005
57
      If you've only seen Vertigo once.....
Apr 20th 2005
58
Spellbound
Apr 19th 2005
6
i really liked spellbound
Apr 19th 2005
52
The Man Who Knew Too Much
Apr 19th 2005
18
it made me want to slap Doris Day
Apr 19th 2005
20
The Doris Day factor definitely didn't help
Apr 19th 2005
22
Oh man, one of his best endings.
Apr 19th 2005
27
      honestly it reminded me of something that would've happened...
Apr 19th 2005
30
To Catch a Thief
Apr 19th 2005
21
his most enjoyable film imo
Apr 19th 2005
23
My Rankings (of what Ive seen)
Apr 19th 2005
24
What about Shadow of a Doubt?
Apr 19th 2005
33
      RE: What about Shadow of a Doubt?
Apr 19th 2005
36
           Based on your top ten list, I think you'll like it
Apr 19th 2005
37
I didn't care for THE APARTMENT.
Apr 19th 2005
28
you mean Rear Window right?
Apr 19th 2005
29
      Wait wait...you're right.
Apr 19th 2005
35
           you're a photographer right?
Apr 19th 2005
39
                naw.
Apr 19th 2005
45
what, no one likes The Birds ?
Apr 19th 2005
31
it's my favorite
Apr 19th 2005
34
The Birds = horrible
Apr 19th 2005
38
you ever been attacked by some birds?
Apr 19th 2005
41
i don't really care for it
Apr 19th 2005
43
RE: The Hitchcock Post
Apr 19th 2005
40
RE: The Hitchcock Post
Apr 19th 2005
46
Hitchcock is my favorite.
Apr 19th 2005
42
The 39 Steps
Apr 19th 2005
44
Just finished watching this. I liked it.
Apr 25th 2005
65
i would SO fuck Kim Novak in Vertigo
Apr 19th 2005
47
in no particular order
Apr 19th 2005
48
RE: in no particular order
Apr 19th 2005
54
Do you have the Truffaut/Hitchcock book?
Apr 19th 2005
51
Excellent book
Apr 19th 2005
53
      hell yeah, college
Apr 20th 2005
56
      RE: Excellent book
Apr 24th 2005
63
           If I remember correctly, it was Film/Video 412
Apr 25th 2005
67
Just found this today:
Apr 24th 2005
59
WHOA!
Apr 24th 2005
60
RE: WHOA!
Apr 24th 2005
62
      And what's the reason for it being so cheap?
Apr 25th 2005
64
           I have no idea
Apr 25th 2005
66
Hmm...
Apr 25th 2005
68
      yo, buy it and let me know how it is.
Apr 25th 2005
70
           Ha! Why do I have to be the guinea pig?
Apr 25th 2005
72
Strangers on a Train question
Apr 25th 2005
69
The British one is a pre-release version.
Apr 25th 2005
71
The carousel scene
Apr 25th 2005
73
I want to resurrect this post for two reasons:
Mar 01st 2006
74

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