Thursday, Sep 3, 2009
Nobody does it better than Hitch. I just watched The 39 Steps again HERE and it doesn't matter how many times I see any of his films I always find something new in them. How did he do it? I've seen alot of new films Inglorious Basterds which was really well done but they just don't live up to the early works of the genius that once was filmmaking. The focus in alot of films seems to be comic action, with comic dialogue, with some cock-a-mamie storyline with faults as big as the San Andreas faultline in them. There was always such a twist and underlying terror that didn't even need a monster to make it seem scary (thank you Halloween 99) 
but just a fleeting feeling that just terrorized you. Nothing is scarier than our own imagination of not knowing what's behind the door. One simple line in "The 39 Steps" shows her fear as she asks "May I come home with you?" and of course the gentleman only here from Canada for a few months obiliges her. Intrigued you will have to watch it yourself, it's a bigger web than you think after-all it's by the Master. Robert Donat is brilliant as Richard and Madeline Carroll is good as Pamela.
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Posted Sep 3, 2009 12:39 pm PT
Hitchcock came from an era where directors and producers assumed that their audience could figure out things without being hit over the head with dialogue that sounds forced and contrite. Things have changed a lot these days..
Posted Sep 3, 2009 1:09 pm PT
my Hitch connection is all thru Mr. James Stewart and my favorite of this collaboration isn't Rear Window or Vertigo; it's Rope.
Posted Sep 3, 2009 1:22 pm PT
My favorite scenes are when Donat and Carroll are handcuffed together.
I think preparation is one thing that separated Hitchcock from other filmmakers. Hitch himself said that the movie was finished in his head before the filming even started. It's surprising how many movies are made on a scene-by-scene basis and the director doesn't have a clue how to finish it off until the time comes.
I think preparation is one thing that separated Hitchcock from other filmmakers. Hitch himself said that the movie was finished in his head before the filming even started. It's surprising how many movies are made on a scene-by-scene basis and the director doesn't have a clue how to finish it off until the time comes.
Posted Sep 3, 2009 2:09 pm PT
...and he never won an Oscar for any of his films!! Marisa Tomei has one, but not Al. Where's the justice?
Posted Sep 3, 2009 3:39 pm PT
My favourite 39 Steps movie! I seem to remember it has the wonderful John Laurie, Pte Frazer from Dad's Army as the Innkeeper. I've recently been catching up on my Christopher Lee Dracula movies and have watched the first three (of seven).
Posted Sep 3, 2009 3:50 pm PT
Hitch was the master of suspense alright. I don't think I've seen that one, though.
Posted Sep 3, 2009 6:08 pm PT
Yep Hitchcock is awesome all his work check out rope again very creepy.
Posted Sep 3, 2009 6:49 pm PT
I have the cheap budget DVD of 39 Steps. The quality is good enough for me though. I'm watching my way through many Hitch films lately. I'll have to PM you.
Posted Sep 3, 2009 6:53 pm PT
Hi AprilFox,
I haven't seen 39 Steps, but I will, one of these days I hope. So far, my favorite Hitchcock films are Psycho, with that opening shot of Phoenix c.1960, and The Birds, with the attack by swarms of birds that was never explained (except for some dumb environmental explanation in a Ted Turner sequel in the 90s), and with no musical score.
I haven't seen 39 Steps, but I will, one of these days I hope. So far, my favorite Hitchcock films are Psycho, with that opening shot of Phoenix c.1960, and The Birds, with the attack by swarms of birds that was never explained (except for some dumb environmental explanation in a Ted Turner sequel in the 90s), and with no musical score.
Posted Sep 3, 2009 8:25 pm PT
I agree about Rope. How they're sitting around and you know the chest has a body of the little boy inside it. The tension is so thick!
My personal favorite is "North By Northwest".
The Birds is another great one. Hitchcock is the bar that any director, at least mystery director, needs to measure themselves.
jokipper is right, Hitchcock had the movie completely finished in his head before he shot any film. I heard that said during an interview about him on "Saturday Night at the Movies" on TVO.
That's amazing.
My personal favorite is "North By Northwest".
The Birds is another great one. Hitchcock is the bar that any director, at least mystery director, needs to measure themselves.
jokipper is right, Hitchcock had the movie completely finished in his head before he shot any film. I heard that said during an interview about him on "Saturday Night at the Movies" on TVO.
That's amazing.
Posted Sep 3, 2009 8:28 pm PT
'39 Steps' is probably my favorite of Hitch's British films. Suspenseful and surprisingly deviant in it's attitude towards sex.
Watched it in one of my film classes and had a great conversation on all the various characters' attitude towards marriage, from the milkman to the farmer to the innkeeper.
Watched it in one of my film classes and had a great conversation on all the various characters' attitude towards marriage, from the milkman to the farmer to the innkeeper.
Posted Sep 3, 2009 9:02 pm PT
I've never seen any of his films, but I remember my dad had a complete collection of "his" short stories, none of which were written by him, I believe.
Posted Sep 3, 2009 11:38 pm PT
Hi jyarter, It's no wonder that Hitchcock had a long collaboration with Bernard Herrmann, he too was the master of the music for Hitch's films (and TV show). The music while eerie at times also surprised you when you least expected it. It never overwhelmed you.
Hi Maritimer, I think the best way I can describe it is that Hitchcock played with people's minds alot. He knew what buttons to push and knew how to keep mystery and suspense in the forefront. He really could hold your attention in any of his work.
Hi Les, I'm off to rent Rope today for the weekend. Jimmy Stewart did some of his best work with Hitch.
Hi Maritimer, I think the best way I can describe it is that Hitchcock played with people's minds alot. He knew what buttons to push and knew how to keep mystery and suspense in the forefront. He really could hold your attention in any of his work.
Hi Les, I'm off to rent Rope today for the weekend. Jimmy Stewart did some of his best work with Hitch.
Posted Sep 4, 2009 5:16 am PT
Hi Jokipper, I did not know that! But it makes sense, the man was genius. I think I'll have to find some online interviews of the Master. His daughter Pat Hitchcock did an interview for Close Up on Hitchcock HERE and she mentions that her dad had the film already played out in his head. There were some other interviews as well for the special.
Hi Hooech, That just doesn't make sense! The Academy Awards should be ashamed of themselves! What an oversight.
Hi Hooech, That just doesn't make sense! The Academy Awards should be ashamed of themselves! What an oversight.
Posted Sep 4, 2009 5:23 am PT
Hi Maverick, "I want to bite your neck" LOL sounds like you and Jokipper are catching up in the Dracula genre of films. I'll be watching them in October the closer to Halloween the better. I've never seen the tv series Dad's Army but John Laurie definitely left an awesome legacy behind some of his films are superb.
Hi Moonshadow, Oh you must at least watch Psycho or The Birds, I even liked Family Plot.
Hi Danharr, Yep I'm definitely going to watch Rope in the next couple of days.
Hi Moonshadow, Oh you must at least watch Psycho or The Birds, I even liked Family Plot.
Hi Danharr, Yep I'm definitely going to watch Rope in the next couple of days.
Posted Sep 4, 2009 5:29 am PT
Hi Woolsey, You won't be disappointed, it's a very very excellent film.
Hi TVking, As a kid The Birds terrified me but I was so entranced that I couldn't stop watching and rewatching it. LOL! There was sometimes just a desolation in his film shots that just made you feel creeped out or frightened. Fantastic!
Hi TVking, As a kid The Birds terrified me but I was so entranced that I couldn't stop watching and rewatching it. LOL! There was sometimes just a desolation in his film shots that just made you feel creeped out or frightened. Fantastic!
Posted Sep 4, 2009 5:31 am PT
Hi BuskieBoy, Cary Grant also did some of his best work with Hitchcock in North By Northwest, Notorious, To Catch a Thief and Suspicion.
Hi Mrn, I agree that's what surprised me about the film, I mean it's from 1935. Hitch definitely was edgy.
Hi MackyMac, I would highly recommend any of his films. A definite must see.
Hi Mrn, I agree that's what surprised me about the film, I mean it's from 1935. Hitch definitely was edgy.
Hi MackyMac, I would highly recommend any of his films. A definite must see.
Posted Sep 4, 2009 5:35 am PT
I'm a big fan of Hitchcock. This is one of his great movies. Like Woolsey, I have the dollar store copy of the movie but it’s still a great movie. My favorite Hitch movie is The Man Who Knew Too Much. Doris Day was great in that film. I also like looking for Al somewhere in one of the scenes. A great filmmaker that was way ahead of his time. Thanks for the link. It looks better then my DVD copy. 
Have a great weekend.
Scott-
Have a great weekend. Scott-
Posted Sep 4, 2009 8:27 am PT
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Posted Sep 4, 2009 11:50 am PT
Hi Scott, Thanks, that site has an Alfred Hitchcock Channel so you can see several oldies. There's just something about his storytelling that captivates you like no other director could.
Posted Sep 4, 2009 11:51 am PT
Someguy rhyme No176: ''A dying dame in the shower was probobly the victim of the guy who got wrongly accused, yep i saw it through...... And the hidden meaning with the birds takeover.. t'would be much scaryer today -the main hero: tummy flu!!!''
Posted Sep 4, 2009 1:35 pm PT
I've only seen a few of his movies. Especially the Cary Grant ones. I know Donat from Good-bye Mr. Chips.
Posted Sep 4, 2009 6:38 pm PT
Hi IndianaMom, He was wonderful in Goodbye, Mr. Chips.
Posted Sep 5, 2009 4:21 am PT
The ending of The Birds was especially creepy. Hopeful, but creepy.
Posted Sep 6, 2009 6:00 am PT
[This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]
Posted Sep 10, 2009 12:56 pm PT
Hi April! Hitchcock was certainly a brilliant man, even if he was a bit "kinky" in some ways. *grin*. I've seen most of his films because my Mum was a big fan and I agree that "39 Steps" was a good one. The original "Psycho" was fantastic for its era too, as was "The Birds".(Pity Tippi's daughter doesn't actually act all that well ... *grin*) I really liked "Rear Window", one of my favourites and I actually enjoyed the remake with the late Christopher Reeve too, which is unusual because I don't tend to like remakes all that much. Speaking of which, I'm hearing lots of negative stuff about "Dorian Gray" so I'll probably just wait for the DVD of that one, even if it means waiting longer than usual for my regular dose of Colin Firth!
Be good and be well and happy! *smile*
Be good and be well and happy! *smile*
Posted Sep 13, 2009 12:33 am PT
Hi TVking, As a kid I loved and was terrified of the Birds, good thing I'm such a bird lover, been swarmed a few times.
Hi Lady-L, I think Alfred's eccentric personality gave his films that extra touch. Almost liked playing with his audience, a great manipulater for sure. I haven't seen the version with Christopher Reeve, see if I can find it online anywhere. Don't listen to the critics, everyone is different and if we agreed with each other what on Earth would we debate about LOL!
Hi Lady-L, I think Alfred's eccentric personality gave his films that extra touch. Almost liked playing with his audience, a great manipulater for sure. I haven't seen the version with Christopher Reeve, see if I can find it online anywhere. Don't listen to the critics, everyone is different and if we agreed with each other what on Earth would we debate about LOL!
Posted Sep 13, 2009 5:24 am PT
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