Strangers on a Train

It's been a little while since I last wrote a piece about a classic film here but, today I wanted to look back at the 1951 film Strangers on a Train. Though often overshadowed by some of Hitchcock's other works like Psycho, North by Northwest, Vertigo, Rear Window, The Birds, and Dial M for Murder, this film is up there with one of his best.

The set up is straight forward, simple, and is laid out brilliantly and succinctly early on with this line: "A couple of fellows meet accidentally, like you and me. No connection between them at all. Never saw each other before. Each of them has somebody he'd like to get rid of, but he can't murder the person he wants to get rid of. He'll get caught. So they swap murders." The issue here that drives the whole plot is that while the character Bruno (played Robert Walker) who delivers this line is ready to go ahead with the plan, the man he's been talking to Guy (played by Farley Granger) isn't interested. Bruno goes ahead anyway and commits a murder that Guy never asked for, and then he expects Guy to return the favor. 

 Anyone who is a regular reader of this blog knows I'm a huge Alfred Hitchcock fan and films like this one are the reason why. This movie is suspenseful, well paced, and has some great characters. Amongst all of the tension Hitchcock sprinkled in little bits of humor and there is a 'criss-cross' motif that runs throughout that I really enjoy. I highly recommend Strangers on a Train if you've never seen it.
It's one of my favorites, and I give it a 5 out of 5.

10 James Stewart Movies Everyone Should See

There aren't many actors that have filmagraphy that boast as many great films as James Stewart. I've previously written list like this about Sean Connery, John Travolta, Alfred Hitchcock, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tom Hanks, and Chuck Norris, and easy part in creating this particular list was that I had so many quality films to choose from. Anyone who frequents this blog or has talked with me about movies knows I'm a huge fan of James Stewart and, unfortunately, there were so many good choices that I had to leave a lot of films that I really enjoy off of the list. Like all previous entries this isn’t necessarily a ‘Top 10’ but rather a list of films that is both some of my personal favorites and that I think best represent the person’s career.

#10 Rope -1948

"... You've murdered! You choked the life out of a fellow human being who could live and love as you never could, and never will again!"

You're going to find a couple of James Stewart-Alfred Hitchcock collaborations on this list, but that's bound to happen when an on-screen legend and one of cinemas best directors work together on a handful of films. This one is about two college friends who commit a murder just to see if they can get away with it. It's a simple plot done so well that it is, in my opinion, one of the great psychological-thrillers.


#9 The Spirit of St. Louis -1957

"The idea of committing suicide never crossed my mind except when I took this cigar"

There probably wasn't anyone more fit to play American icon Charles Lindbergh, than perhaps the greatest 'American every man' actor James Stewart. This biographical film focuses on the time leading up to Lindbergh's historic trans-Atlantic flight, as well as the flight itself. And even as someone with very little interest in aviation history, I still think this is a really interesting and entertaining movie.

 

#8 The Stratton Story -1949

 "I'm through gambling. Well, I found out what it's like to lose, and what it's like to win. Why keep at it?" 

This is one of my favorite Baseball movies (maybe I'll write a piece on all of those sometime). Stewart plays Monte Stratton, and it's the true story of a pitcher for the Chicago White Sox in the 30's who has his leg amputated after accidentally shooting himself in an offseason hunting accident, but against all odds plays ball again. It's a great film.

#7 The Man from Laramie -1955

"I figure this place owes me somethin' and I'm gonna make it pay" 

 James Stewart was in a number of Westerns over the course of his career, but while some of his most famous ones How the West was Won and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance are both really good films, they also starred Western legend John Wayne. This one is 100% a James Stewart picture and I honestly think it's just as good.

#6 The Shop Around the Corner -1940

"I think people who like to smoke candy and listen to cigarettes will love it"

I'm not usually the biggest fan of romantic-comedies but this film about two shop employees that can barely stand each other but, without realizing it, are falling in love through letters as eachother's anonymous pen pal is a really fun movie. Both James Stewart and Margret Sullavan are really good, and Felix Bressart cracks me up.

#5 Mr. Smith Goes to Washington -1939

"...You think I'm licked. You all think I'm licked. Well I'm not licked. And I'm gonna stay right here and fight for this lost cause. Even if this room gets filled with lies like these. And the Taylors and all their armies come marching into this place. Somebody will listen to me" 

What can I say about this one? It's an all-time classic, well written, well directed, the whole package... but most of all, and this isn't something I claim very often, this is an important movie. On the surface it's just a film about an idealistic young Senator who goes to Washington D.C. and learns about corruption. It's both inspirational and cynical in many ways. I first saw it in school as a kid and, even though it's not always easy to get kids to sit and watch a black & white movie about government, I think it's something everyone should see at least once.

#4 Rear Window -1954

"...she didn't know she was going on a trip and where she was going she wouldn't need any luggage"

Look on any Alfred Hitchcock or James Stewart "Best of" list and you'll find this one near the top, it's a masterpiece. Stewart plays a photographer who, because of a broken leg, is confined to his apartment for a bit. So, he spends his days curiously watching his neighbors through his back window, but things get really interesting when he suspects one of those neighbors of being a murderer. It's a must-see especially if you like really suspenseful movies

#3 It's a Wonderful Life -1946

"What is it you want, Mary? What do you want? You want the moon? Just say the word, and I'll throw a lasso around it and pull it down"

This one also made a 10 Christmas movies everyone should see list I wrote (you can check out that article here) and it's not just a great Christmas movie or just a great James Stewart movie, it's one of the all-time great films period.


#2 Harvey -1950

"Years ago my mother used to say to me, she'd say...'In this world, Elwood, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant.' Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. You may quote me."

Harvey is not the most critically acclaimed film on this list but, for me, it couldn't come in any lower than the #2 slot. Stewart is fantastic as Elwood Dowd, one of my all-time favorite characters across film history. There are very few actors that can play a man who's best friend is an invisible 6'-3 1/2" tall rabbit and still come off so genuine and sincere that you find yourself thinking that the people who don't believe in Harvey the rabbit are the one's with a problem.

#1 Vertigo -1958

"You shouldn't keep souvenirs of a killing. You shouldn't have been that sentimental."

I could go on and on about this one, but I'll keep it simple and if you want more check out a piece I wrote called "The Greatness of Vertigo". This is one of those films and performances where everything works and, no matter how many times I've seen it, the movie always sucks me in.

Honorable Mentions: The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) , The FBI Story (1959), Broken Arrow(1950), Bell Book and Candle (1958), The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956), An American Tail: Fievel Goes West (1991)


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Dial M for Murder

"...in stories things usually turn out the way the author wants them to; and in real life they don't... always."

Dial M for Murder is a 1954 crime/thriller Directed by the great Alfred Hitchcock. This one didn't quite make my '10 Alfred Hitchcock Movies Everyone Should See' list (which you can check out by clicking here), but that doesn't mean that it isn't a really good film. Like so many of Hitchcock's films, it ropes you in early on and keeps you locked in all the way through.. he's not called 'The Master of Suspense' for nothing after all. So, if you haven't seen this one, I'm just going to give the setup and a few other thoughts without spoiling how everything unfolds.

Ray Milland plays Tony Wendice who is a former professional tennis player and has discovered that his wife Margot (played by Grace Kelly) has been having an affair with an author named Mark Halliday (played by Robert Cummings). Instead of directly confronting her, Tony keeps his knowledge of the affair a secret and proceeds to plan the perfect murder. He figures that by having his wife killed he not only gets his revenge, but will also get the money left to him in her will. So, Tony gets in touch with a low-level criminal who happens to be an old college classmate of his, lays out the plan, and offers the man a substantial amount of money to carry out the murder. But, not everything goes as planned...

This movie was filmed in 3-D but it isn't one of those that looks ridiculous if you just watch it on your TV without 3-D glasses. There is the occasional object in the foreground that looks a tad off, but Hitchcock pretty much filmed it like he would any other film, and didn't resort to 3-D tricks like things popping out at the audience. The acting is solid, the story is interesting throughout, and I recommend checking it out if you've never seen it.

It's a classic and I give it a 5 out of 5.

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A Look Back At 'Psycho' (1960)

One of Alfred Hitchcock’s great cinematic masterpieces (and I would even argue his best) is 1960’s Psycho. I had previously placed it on my ’10 Movies to Watch in October’ list (which you can check out here: http://onlyinthemoviesblog.blogspot.com/2016/10/10-movies-to-watch-in-october.html) but I still felt like I should have given it a little more of a in-depth review.

 This is not only a great psychological horror film but a great film overall, with iconic moments, a great score, solid acting (particularly Anthony Perkins) and wall-to-wall suspense. It’s spawned a couple of sequels, a remake, and TV show. Much like Hitchcock urging theater owners not to let people to enter the theater late, because it would ruin the experience, I’ll give the setup and end it there just in case anyone reading this has not seen the movie.

The Film starts out in Phoenix, Arizona. During a hotel rendezvous while on her lunch hour, a secretary at a real estate office named Marion Crane (played by Janet Leigh) discusses with her boyfriend, Sam Loomis (played by John Gavin), why they can’t afford to get married because Sam is in pretty substantial debt. When Marion returns from lunch, a client comes by the office and drops off a $40,000 cash deposit for a property. Her boss asks her to deposit the money in the bank, and she asks him if she can take the rest of the afternoon off afterwards. But, she doesn’t go to the bank and instead decides to steal the money to give to Sam. So, Marion heads out of town and toward California where Sam lives. That evening, she pulls over on the side of the road and falls asleep, only to be awakened in the morning by a state trooper. He asks her a couple of questions and is suspicious about her nervous behavior but lets her to drive on anyway. Shaken by the run-in with the officer, Marion stops at a dealership and trades in her car for another and then continues on her way.

Later during her travels, it starts raining pretty heavily so she decides to stop for the night at the Bates Motel where she meets Norman Bates and the whole film take a sudden and violent turn.

Like I stated earlier, I think this is one of the all-time great films and it’s always especially good to watch around Halloween. So, if you’re one of the few who hasn’t seen it -or- if you just haven't watched it in a while, go check it out. You’ll be glad you did.

I give this film a 5 out of 5.

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...and for some more good reads check out this Book, Video game, and Comicbook blog:
Boredenthusiast.blogspot.com 

10 Movies To Watch In October

Well, it's October that time of year when people are carving jack-o-lanterns, kids are thinking about all the Halloween candy they're going to eat, and department stores are setting up for Christmas...

With Halloween fast approaching it's also a great time of year to sit back and watch some awesome movies. So get ready to curl up with your pumpkin spice latte, because here are the 10 movies you should watch this October:

1) Halloween -1979
Directed by John Carpenter
For me, this is the standard that all other slasher movies get compared to. There would be numerous sequels featuring the menacing Michael Myers, but it is the original that has become a horror classic and one of my all-time favorites.

2) Frankenstein -1931
Directed by James Whale
I like to grab some popcorn, relax, and enjoy this one every October. An iconic monster movie with an incredible cast (Boris Karloff, Colin Clive, Mae Clarke, Dwight Frye). This is one that will get anyone into the Halloween spirit.

3) The House on Haunted Hill -1959
Directed by William Castle
Five strangers are invited to a party at a supposedly haunted house and they're told they'll each be given $10,000 if they can stay all night. On top of that, the husband and wife who are hosting the party are both planning to kill each other.

4) Psycho -1960
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock
From the suspenseful pacing to the great acting (particularly Anthony Perkins) to the iconic shower scene to the amazing score, this movie hits you with everything. It's a Hitchcock masterpiece worthy of putting on during any night of pumpkin carving.

5) Re-Animator -1985
Directed by Stuart Gordon
The movie is solid all the way through, there are some awesome and gory special effects and the main character Herbert West (played by Jeffery Combs) is awesome.

6) Alien -1979
Directed by Ridley Scott
It's a great movie. It's full of suspense, the special effects are still awesome, and as an added bonus you can watch it back-to-back with its equally great sequel 'Aliens'.

7) House of 1000 Corpses -2003
Directed by Rob Zombie
This is a favorite of mine and one I always recommend to people. It's one of those movies that's crazy, twisted, and really entertaining. Plus, Sid Haig is awesome.

8) A Nightmare on Elm Street -1984
Directed by Wes Craven
It's kind of unfortunate that as the Elm Street series went on Freddy Kruger became sort of a joke, becoming less intimidating and delivering one-liners with each kill. While this movie isn't without it's flaws, it's still a pretty great horror flick and a good choice to have on during Halloween parties.

9) The Exorcist -1973
Directed by William Friedkin
The movie centers around Regan (played by Linda Blair) a young girl who becomes possessed by a demon. It's always good for a couple of scares, but stay clear of the sequels.

10) The Wolf Man -1941
Directed by George Waggner
“Even a man who is pure at heart and says his prayers by night may become a wolf when the wolfsbane blooms and the autumn moon is bright.”
...it's a perfect film to watch as Halloween night approaches.

10 Alfred Hitchcock Movies Everyone Should See

     

          I've already looked at Sean Connery, John Travolta, and Arnold Schwarzenegger in these '10 Movies Everyone Should See' pieces. So, I thought today it would be fun to look at an iconic Director's career, and my all-time favorite Director is Sir Alfred Hitchcock. As in previous posts, this isn't meant to be a ranking of a person's films but instead, a list of films that I think best represent a person's career and are some movies that like the title suggests"Everyone Should See".

1)      Psycho  -1960

I think most film lovers have a favorite Hitchcock film and this one is mine (narrowly edging out the #2 film on this list ‘Vertigo’). Norman Bates (played by Anthony Perkins) is a fantastic character, I love the music, the pacing, the cinematography, and the plot draws me in even though I’ve seen the film countless times.

2)      Vertigo -1958

I’ve already written an article on why this is a masterpiece so I won’t go into this one too much. It’s a great psychological thriller about fear and obsession. It’s also often regarded as Hitchcock’s best work, and for that alone it’s worth checking out.

3)      Rebecca -1940

This film has an eerie, haunting quality, and it’s full of mystery that really draws you in. It also has the distinction of being Hitchcock’s first American film and it did win ‘Best Picture’ at the 1941 Academy Awards.

4)      Rear Window  -1954

Photographer L.B. Jefferies (played by James Stewart) is recovering from a broken leg with nothing better to do than to look out the back window at the people in the apartments across the courtyard from his own. Then one night he hears a woman scream and soon realizes that one of his neighbors (played by Raymond Burr) may be a murderer. This was the second pairing of James Stewart and Alfred Hitchcock (the first being ‘Rope’) and they hit a home run with this one.

5)      North By Northwest –1959

Whether it’s the scene where Cary Grant running down a dirt road while being shot at by a plane or the chase scene atop Mt. Rushmore, this movie is a fun ride from start to finish.

6)      The Lady Vanishes –1938

An English tourist (played by Margaret Lockwood)is traveling by train in Europe. She meets a kind elderly woman on the train and they talk for a bit. A little later, it seems that the old woman has disappeared from the train, and all of the other passengers deny having ever seen her. From there the search is on for clues that may lead to the missing woman.

7)      The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog -1927

This silent film is one of Hitchcock’s earliest, and actually one of my favorites. In the film there is a ‘Jack the Ripper’ type serial killer on the loose and after the most recent murder, a strange man who matches the description of the killer happens comes to town. Could he be the killer or is this just a coincidence?

8)      Marnie -1964

This one also made it onto my ’10 Sean Connery Movies Everyone Should See’ list and for a similar reason; it’s a damn good movie. However, because Sean Connery would play more iconic roles (like James Bond) and Hitchcock would make more memorable films, this is underrated and often forgotten classic.

9)      Rope -1948

This is one I recommend to people constantly. Just for the thrill of it, two guys murder one of their friends, put the body in a chest in the middle of their living room, and then hold a dinner party with the body still in the room. It’s such a simple, yet suspenseful movie.

10)   The Birds -1963

This might not be one Hitchcock’s strongest film but at the same time it is remarkable how good he was able to make a movie that’s about birds attacking a small seaside town. Also, Tippi Hedren is fantastic.

Honorable Mentions: Frenzy (1972), The 39 Steps (1935), The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956), To Catch a Thief (1955)


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A Look Back at The Lady Vanishes (1938)

The Lady Vanishes

This was one of the last British films Hitchcock made before  coming to the U.S. and it's a really solid movie.

It's about a English tourist named Iris Henderson (played by Margaret Lockwood) travelling by train in Europe. She meets a kind elderly woman on the train and they talk, they have tea, then Iris takes a short nap. When she wakes up it seems that the woman has disappeared from the train, and all of the other passengers deny having ever seen the elderly lady.

Very determined, and with the help of a musician (played by Michael Redgrave) the search is on for clues that may lead to the missing woman.

It's a really well put together movie, very entertaining with likable characters. However, if you're a big fan of mysteries and are looking for something to really challenge you, this won't give you much more than an episode of 'Scooby-Doo'.

Still, despite being a little predictable, there is a lot to like about this movie. I definitely recommend it.

I give this one a 4.5 out of 5

The Greatness of 'Vertigo'

Released in 1958, this Alfred Hitchcock classic can be found on nearly every 'all-time greatest films' list. 

It is ranked # 9 on the AFI's 100 Greatest American Films of All-Time list and #1 by British film magazine 'Sight & Sound'.
It also holds a 97% 'Certified Fresh' rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

So what makes 'Vertigo' so great?

On the surface, sure you'd expect it to be good. Hitchcock is regarded as one of the all-time great directors, and it stars James Stewart (Who Hitchcock had previously worked with on other classics 'Rear Window' and 'The Man Who Knew Too Much' ) and Kim Novak.

Right from the start, the opening credits begin with a close-up of a woman's eye that then transitions to a swirling of colors and an eerie yet beautiful theme by Bernard Herrmann. This immediately draws you into the film.

From there we have a suspenseful movie about love, obsession, deception, and a spiral into madness. The plot isn't overly complicated and the acting solid.

The thing that I think sets this movie apart from other good thrillers and makes it great is the atmosphere.
There is this perfect blend of characters, mystery, music and cinematography that give the film a surreal, dream-like quality. 

There is a sense of uneasiness highlighted buy all the characters experiencing unbalance in there lives.

James Stewart plays John 'Scottie' Ferguson, a policeman who suffers from acrophobia.
Barbara Bel Geddes plays Midge, a former love interest of Scottie who is still in love with him. And Kim Novak plays Judy, a woman hired to make Scottie follow her as part of a plot to cover a murder.

In the end, the true strength of 'Vertigo' may be actual vertigo: 'A sensation of whirling and loss of balance...'

Have a recommendation for a review? Leave it in the comments.