Every once in a while, for some strange reason, I get a thought in my mind that just won't get out, an inexplicable passion to do something I haven't done for a while. The curious thing is, by some bizarre coincidence, synchronicity, whatever you want to call it, that thought happens to coincide with something else going on in the world. No, I'm not psychic, whatever that might mean. More likely than not I've caught sight of something out of the corner or my eye and it's triggered something subliminal. Today, anyway, I felt an urge to see a Hitchcock movie. It might have had something to do with the 50th anniversary re-release of North By Northwest, maybe. Whatever it was, you can always look for spooky coincidences after the fact.
Don't get me wrong. I am not a big Hitchcock junkie - there are really only a handful of his movies that I like. I'm not, for instance, particularly fond of either Psycho or The Birds, which hardcore Hitchcock fans would consider absolute sacrilege. I think he could have done a lot better with his choice of leading ladies - he's very fixated about blondes who are all wetter than a haddock's bathing costume - and I don't read too much into the suggestions that his movies are full of sexual innuendo - just like being told what Stairway to Heaven is supposed to say when played backwards, it's really easy to spot in retrospect. I don't know - nor even really care - where he makes his legendary cameo appearances. However, the handful of movies I do admire are, quite simply, absolutely great movies. And here's another strange fact. I rarely watch movies over and over again. Most movies, once I've seen them, it can be several years before I have any motivation to see them a second time - even movies I really liked. I guess I can remember too much of them. For some reason, however, there's a few Hitchcock movies from the 50s that, quite simply put, I get really antsy if I don't get to see them once in a while.
Anyway, I've resolved to watch a Hitchcock movie tonight - so the question is, which one? And the second question is, what do my favorites say about my psychological profile? Here's the rundown of my favorites (in chronological order, because I'm a bit peculiar that way) - and, seriously, I haven't tried to keep this list 'spoiler-free'. If you haven't seen these movies yet, I don't care who you are, you need to stop reading right now, go up to Netflix or something, and rectify that. There's a serious part of your pop-culture missing if you haven't seen these movies.
Strangers on a Train (1951) - Tennis player Farley Grainger meets psychopathic Robert Walker on a train where they discuss how to perform the perfect crime, swapping each other's murders leaviong each murderer with no connection to the victim. It's all idle fun and games until Walker's "Bruno" actually goes ahead and carries his side of the bargain out. This has to be one of the most under-appreciated of Hitchcock's movies, the suspense is handled perfectly, complete with some stunning directing touches, such as the reflections in the girl's glasses. The carousel finale is quite easy to dismiss over 50 years later, but it's memorable and masterful. Apparently there's a remake due for 2011.
Rear Window (1954) - Over a half-century before Disturbia Hitchcock showed how to make this movie, and make it right. James Stewart is confined to his wheelchair in his apartment with a broken leg and ends up doing exactly what anyone would do in this situation - peek in on his neighbors. Fairly harmless until he's convince the mysterious occupant opposite has murdered his wife; and not helped by girlfriend Grace Kelly and his nurse all joining in, speculating, and of course wishing to solve the crime themselves. There's a fair dose of dark humor in here - nurse Thelma Ritter in particular has some priceless lines that reduce Grace Kelly to mere window dressing (let's face it, she was never much of an actress). More fun than most.
Vertigo (1958) - Jimmy Stewart again - if you hadn't guessed, one of my favorite actors of all time - acting the type of role he excels at, an ordinary man caught in an extraordinary situation, after saving Kim Novak from drowning herself in San Francisco Bay. You can always sympathize with Jimmy Stewart, even when he's having to grapple with a situation as complex as trying to dress up the lady he's currently obsessed with as the presumed-dead Kim Novak even though she's really Kim Novak after all but he doesn't know that. She's only blonde for about half of this movie, in case you're wondering. (That makes her sound like Hannah Montana). I must admit, I had one serious crush on her in this movie when I was a kid.
North by Northwest (1959) - This movie contains some of the most iconic scenes in history - the crop-duster chase, the Mount Rushmore finale - and this time it's Cary Grant being the ordinary man in the extraordinary situation. This is the mistaken identity movie par excellence - and Cary Grant gets to deliver some incredible deadpan lines. It's frantic, it's elegant, it's gripping, and, most importantly, it's pure movie magic at its finest. Suspend your disbelief for this one and enjoy the ride, the villains, the girl (Eva Marie Saint this time) and make the most of it. Must admit, I'm torn between this one and Vertigo as to which is my favorite, although Grant's classic line "No, mother, I have not been drinking. No, no. These two men, they poured a whole bottle of bourbon into me. No, they didn't give me a chaser" might just swing it for me.
Not sure which one I will watch tonight, although at the moment I'm beginning to lean towards North By Northwest. Anyone else have any preferences?
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