Question About Old Hitchcock movies

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TaylorTRoom

1,000+ Posts
Which of the old Hitchcock movies would you recommend for somebody just looking for a good, entertaining film (and which ones are drug down by the dated methods of composition)?
39 Steps?
The Lady Vanishes?
The Man Who Knew Too Much (either version)?

others?
 
I like "Strangers on a Train, but he has many older movies than that one.

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"Frenzy," his next to last movie, is one of my favorites.

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"Rebecca" is older and I'll recommend it.

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My favorite is The Lady Vanishes.

I like 39 Steps, but I have to be honest. The version I have on DVD has such horrible audio that I find it hard to stay interested. It's hard to keep up with the story when you can only understand every other word. It may just be my copy though...

Personally, I'd recommend The Lady Vanishes, Psycho, Rear Window, and Dial M for Murder.
 
I've seen "Strangers on a Train"- enjoyed the premise, enjoyed some visual touches (during the tennis match when Bruno was the only one whose head did not follow the volleys), but the characters seemed to make a lot of unlikely leaps in decision-making to move the plot along. It seems a lot of significant stuff (that a modern movie would cover at a slower pace) was dealt with in shorthand.

The aspects I didn't like- is that typical of the older Hitchcocks?

Oh, and I'm interested in "The Lady Vanishes", and would get it in the Criterion version, which I understand has an improved audio track.
 
I enjoyed "Lifeboat" also.

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Here's an interesting link:

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Scroll down to Hitchcock's credits as an actor.

You're probably aware that he had little, uncredited appearances in many of his movies and this is a list of those.

In "Lifeboat," he appears in an ad in the newspaper they have on the isolated lifeboat where the whole flick takes place.

I didn' t see that one on the IMDb list.

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I remember going to see his films in the theater and everyone was looking to see him appear on screen.

When he did, someone would shout out, "There he is," and then everyone would relax and watch the rest of the movie.

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Dial M for Murder
North by Northwest
Rear Window
The Man Who Knew To Much
Vertigo

I one of my definite favs, "Rope."
 
Spellbound is by far the best one. I also like Rebecca. The Man who Knew Too Much gives me goose bumps every time she sings que sera.

Spellbound
Rebecca
Dial M for Murder
The Man Who Knew Too Much
Rear Window
Suspicion
North by Norhtwest

A little trivia. I believe that Rope was done in ONE continuous shot.
 
LadyDee, have you seen "In The Cut?"

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It's a sleazefest that I enjoyed, but it might not even be worth a rental for some viewers.

Anyway, the reason I mention it is that "Que Sera, Sera" is the opening credit song in it.

But it's a different, dischordant version of the perky, Oscar winning Doris Day song that sets the tone for the perverse nature of that Meg Ryan, Jennifer Jason Leigh flick.

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North by Northwest is easily the most accessible of Hitchcock's films.

Recommended viewing
Rear Window and Vertigo

tho really you should watch all of them, theres no such thing as dated methods of composition when it comes to Hitchcock
 
Yes I saw that movie. It was a special movies for moms the theater was having. I brought my infant son with me(4 months). Oh my it was a bit much. Not the type of movie I felt comfortable breastfeeding my child in if you know what I mean. pervert. LOL
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The big ones are obvious...

Vertigo
Rear Window
North by Northwest
Dial M for Murder
The Man Who Knew Too Much

I'm a big fan of Rope and the way it was shot. Also, The Trouble with Harry is entertaining. Marnie's an odd one.
 
I loved watching his old TV series, where he would stroll out and make some dry humorous remark about someone who just got dismembered or something-greatness.
 
To Catch a Thief or Rear Window. Even if you hate them, at least you get to look at Grace Kelly for a few hours.
 
Rear Window is considered his best movie
North by Northwest is a close 2nd.

My favorite is The Birds.

If you watch North by Northwest, near the end, when their is a certain loud noise, watch for a little boy in the background anticipate it by putting his hands over his ears. The most famous mistake in Hollywood history to make it into a big budget movie.

Also I assme you know that Hitchcock's trademark is to have a very small personal every movie. I mean very small, most miss him entirely.
 
funny you posted this cuz i did this same thing about a month ago. i'd never seen any hitchcock movie except "psycho" and wanted to check out more of his stuff.

so i rented "vertigo" and "rear window" just cuz those were the 2 that seemed to get the most praise... and i enjoyed 'em both. i liked "vertigo" the best.

and try to go in "fresh" with "vertigo." it's best if you know NOTHING about it.
 
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