Thursday, August 29, 2013

A Hitchcock interlude

Last weekend was a long weekend (again!) here in the Philippines. And I'm feeling the burn of finishing the book of the month for the book club. To say that I'm not getting the book is an understatement.

So I decided to just spend the day downloading movies. The weather last weekend was a bit gloomy, so I thought—suspense, classic movies, Hitchcock! I did a quick Google search on the movies made by Hitchcock and decided to watch 3: Rear Window, Rope, and Strangers on a Train.

Was James Stewart one of Alfred Hitchcock's favorite actors? He seems to be in most of them, no? Anyway, I didn't like Rear Window that much. I felt that it wasn't suspenseful enough. Grace Kelly is probably the most gorgeous woman ever though.


Now Rope was the movie that satisfied my craving for suspense. The murder happened in the opening scene, so the movie focused on whether the two murderers would actually be caught. Such chutzpah these two men have! They even hid the body in a trunk and then invited people to a party!


I've read Patricia Highsmith's novel, Strangers on a Train, which the movie is based on. The book was more menacing though. But Highsmith's plot was just perfect for Hitchcock: 2 strangers meet on a train and decide to commit murders for one another. Goosebumps!


I'm still loving my Hitchcock phase. So I'll probably see The Birds, To Catch a Thief, and Dial M for Murder next.

4 comments:

Unknown said...

I think he used either Jimmy Stewart or Cary Grant in at least half of his major Hollywood movies.

For suspense, check out Sabauteur (sp) which is the one with the famous bomb on the trolly scene. That scene alone makes me very nervous.

Peter S. said...

Oh, I will check that out! Thanks, James!

Louize DG said...

Hmmm, interesting choice of movies to perk up your weekend. :) I only remember seeing Psycho and Vertigo. I should probably educate myself with Hitchcock.

Peter S. said...

Ooooohhhh! I have yet to see Vertigo!