Hitchcock Reviews: “Frenzy” (1972)

Barbara Leigh-Hunt’s last moments in “Frenzy”

Welcome back to the latest installment of my Hitchcock reviews. Today, I want to ask the question, “Why do we still revere Hitchcock?” And, to do so, let’s take a look at his penultimate film – in which he returns to Britain, and so many of his greatest themes.

“The police as usual have got these things arse about face.”
– Rusk (Barry Foster), “Frenzy”

Mad Men’s “Megan Problem” (or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Jessica Paré)

The sixth season of critical darling/reviewers’ bugbear Mad Men is but one scant week away and, as usual, creator Matthew Weiner is keeping his cards close to his chest. In turn, wary fans are already tearing each promotional photo to pieces while having all-caps forum debates on such subjects as “MATTHEW IS A GENIUS AND YOU LEAVE HIM ALONE!” or – more likely, it seems – “THIS GUY IS RUINING TELEVISION BY LYING TO US WHEN WE ASK ABOUT PLOT DETAILS!”

Jessica Pare as Megan and Jon Hamm as Don in “Mad Men”

Now, it’s risky business to throw oneself into the world of internet fandom but as I’ve rewatched the end of the show’s ball-breaking fifth season, part of my research has involved visiting forums and keeping up to date with what fans (and detractors) of the show are saying. A large part of this discussion – the part not centering around the anatomy of certain other  cast  members - seems to involve fandom’s dislike for one character: Megan Draper, nee Calvet. And it’s intrigued me so much, I just had to throw my thoughts into the ring.

Hitchcock Reviews: “Topaz” (1969)

 Welcome back to my Hitchcock reviews. As we near the end of Hitch’s career, let’s take a look at one of the director’s last – and most debated – films.

“To be a man of principle is one thing, but a man doesn’t cut his throat on principle.”

– Jacques Granville (Michel Piccoli), Topaz

Hitchcock Reviews: “Torn Curtain” (1966)

 This week, in my complete Hitchcock reviews, we arrive at the Cold War, and Torn Curtain.

“Big deal. You still have that expression, ‘big deal’?”

– Walter Gromek (Wolfgang Kieling), Torn Curtain.

Hitchcock Reviews: “Marnie” (1964)

Tippi Hedren as Marnie

Welcome back to my complete Hitchcock reviews, as we arrive at 1964. Alfred Hitchcock was a household name after four decades in film, appearing regularly on television introducing episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents (now The Alfred Hitchcock Hour), and continuing to startle audiences with films like Psycho and The Birds. We’ve moved into Hitchcock’s late period now, and I’ll be exploring his final films one by one.

“You Freud, me Jane?”

– Marnie Edgar (Tippi Hedren), Marnie

Hitchcock Reviews: “The Birds” (1963)

This week in my complete Hitchcock reviews, we come to a milestone: The Birds. It’s also the starting point for a bit of divergence in Hitchcock commentary and criticism…

“Birds have been on this planet, Miss Daniels, since Archaeopteryx, a hundred and forty million years ago. Doesn’t it seem odd that they’d wait all that time to start a war against humanity?”

– Mrs. Bundy, The Birds

The Birds (1963)

written by Evan Hunter, from Daphne Du Maurier‘s novel.

The town of Bodega Bay, California, is besieged by bizarre, vicious bird attacks, which seem to centre on a visiting socialite (Tippi Hedren) and the family of a handsome lawyer (Rod Taylor).

Hitchcock Reviews: The TV Episodes, Part 2

Welcome back, for more of my complete Hitchcock reviews. Before I move on to his final films, I’m following up on my previous post about the director’s TV series, Alfred Hitchcock Presents. Today, I’ll take a brief trip through the nine episodes that weren’t covered in that post.

“Television has brought back murder into the home — where it belongs.”

– Alfred Hitchcock

Hitchcock Reviews: “North by Northwest” (1959) and “Psycho” (1960)

Cary Grant in “North by Northwest”

Welcome back to my Hitchcock reviews, where I attempt an informal look at the vast bulk of the legendary director’s canon. It’s only a brief perusal of the films and TV episodes, but I’m hoping it will encourage others to continue appreciating Hitch’s legacy, and to evaluate the films on their individual contexts and merits, rather than simply the commonly-accepted beliefs about each of them.

Last time, I looked at one of the director’s masterpieces: Vertigo. Today, I’m tackling two of his most popular films: North by Northwest and Psycho.

“That wasn’t very sporting, using real bullets.”

— Phillip Vandamm (James Mason)

The "And Then There Were None" awards

Reblogged from The Agatha Christie Reader:

This week, I've watched and reviewed all five major film adaptations of Dame Agatha's And Then There Were None. Today, I'm awarding the winner in each category. So please join us...

Read more… 2,119 more words

I review all five film versions of Agatha Christie's masterful "And Then There Were None", and then pit them off against each other to find the best of the best...

Hitchcock Reviews: “Vertigo” (1958)

Barbara Bel Geddes in “Vertigo”

Welcome back to my Hitchcock reviews. This week, I’m narrowing the focus to just one film: Vertigo.

“Only one is a wanderer; two together are always going somewhere.”

- Madeleine, Vertigo