On that list I have to go with North by northwest. I liked most of those films. I haven't seen Vertigo or The Wrong man. Marnie was okay but not great. Every other film was really good but that's my favorite one.
On that list I have to go with North by northwest. I liked most of those films. I haven't seen Vertigo or The Wrong man. Marnie was okay but not great. Every other film was really good but that's my favorite one.
i'll have to re-visit 'Marnie' as i only saw it twice and not since 1991. I vaguely recall that it was a psychological love triangle with Tippi Hedren, Sean Connery and another female in the cast.
To promote the film, Nat King Cole was hired by Alfred Hitchcock to record lyrics for a "Marnie" theme song.
Bernard Herrmann himself wrote the theme which was then recorded by Nat King Cole and producer Ralph Carmichael.
The promotional advertising read: "Nat the King sings the beautiful lyrics of the tune inspired by the brilliant Alfred Hitchcock production for the Capitol Records Label"
The single was later released on the album "The Beautiful Ballad" (Capitol ST-2820) in 1967.
I found myself going with Vertigo, I Confess,Psycho, North by Northwest and Strangers on a Train for the first five. I agree with Hugh that a sixth is more difficult. Can you leave out Rear Window? Well,I have because I think it has been over-egged somewhat by critics and academics (possibly Vertigo has been too).
The rest are all flawed in one way or another, but I went with Frenzy for my final choice, probably because it's the most interesting of the others rather than because it's the best. It's an elderly Hitchcock trying to recapture the great movie-making he hadn't really produced in over a decade, and I admire its style, its brutality, and the fact it is pure Hitchcock in a way that the remaining. Movies really were not.
I found myself going with Vertigo, I Confess,Psycho, North by Northwest and Strangers on a Train for the first five. I agree with Hugh that a sixth is more difficult. Can you leave out Rear Window? Well,I have because I think it has been over-egged somewhat by critics and academics (possibly Vertigo has been too).
The rest are all flawed in one way or another, but I went with Frenzy for my final choice, probably because it's the most interesting of the others rather than because it's the best. It's an elderly Hitchcock trying to recapture the great movie-making he hadn't really produced in over a decade, and I admire its style, its brutality, and the fact it is pure Hitchcock in a way that the remaining. Movies really were not.
I’m certainly fond of Frenzy, although Family Plot has never really found much interest and quickly became obscure, or certainly overshadowed by Hitchcock’s better-known and more renowned films. And coming at the end of his career, being his last film, in fact, that can elevate a film’s status, or render it inconsequential in light of what has come before, if we’re discussing a career like Hitch’s.
What I like about Family Plot, is the way it plays with coincidence and in telling a story in such a meticulous, yet subtle, way, it’s almost like a Swiss watch in having so many moving parts. I think it’s delightfully well-crafted, although he done this before, and to better effect. But this film really works for me. And the cast is great. I think it warrants a revisit from anyone who hasn’t seen it in a while.
I confess I used to be rather fond of Family Plot until I saw it again a few years ago and was rather disappointed by it that time around. But I certainly think it's a much better film than it's given credit for, and a relative high note for Hitch to end his career on, especially given that he was making Topaz seven years earlier.
If this thing does resonate and becomes a grower, we'll mix things up with a themed-films poll here and there, such as I put up a carefully selected poll where film titles that (for one example) featured the word 'Sweet'. What do you think ? Will it work ?
If this thing does resonate and becomes a grower, we'll mix things up with a themed-films poll here and there, such as I put up a carefully selected poll where film titles that (for one example) featured the word 'Sweet'. What do you think ? Will it work ?
Some words in a title may be more tricky to think about than others, but I’m all for more film polls, and if you don’t mind some suggestions, maybe years, decades, perhaps more themes or musical elements would be worth thinking about.
thank you greystoke. Decades theme would be good to have such as the 1960's...
Poll has become a two horse race with North by Northwest and Psycho.
Surprised, however, that Rear Window is not faring well.
Also, surprised to find To Catch a Thief hasn't brought about any votes, so far.
I think that, like most things, films go in and out of fashion. Fifteen years ago, Rear Window would probably have been in the top three - but perhaps it was the critics and academic's darling for too long, and the shine has gone off it, at least temporarily. As for To Catch A Thief, I saw it a few weeks back and wrote on here how disappointing and generally dull I find it. Conversely, I think that I confess is faring much better than it would have done a decade ago. It seemed to be underrated for so long, but a quality blu ray release (which it has had) then makes it grab some attention, and I wonder if Clift has become more of a cult figure over the last decade, too. Certainly much has been written about him recently.
The two that genuinely surprise me as doing poorly are The Trouble with Harry and The Wrong Man - there was a time not very long ago when these were being hailed as unjustly neglected masterpieces. I don't like either of them, but I'm surprised that sentiment is more widespread!
Poll has become a two horse race with North by Northwest and Psycho.
Surprised, however, that Rear Window is not faring well.
Also, surprised to find To Catch a Thief hasn't brought about any votes, so far.
I think that, like most things, films go in and out of fashion. Fifteen years ago, Rear Window would probably have been in the top three - but perhaps it was the critics and academic's darling for too long, and the shine has gone off it, at least temporarily. As for To Catch A Thief, I saw it a few weeks back and wrote on here how disappointing and generally dull I find it. Conversely, I think that I confess is faring much better than it would have done a decade ago. It seemed to be underrated for so long, but a quality blu ray release (which it has had) then makes it grab some attention, and I wonder if Clift has become more of a cult figure over the last decade, too. Certainly much has been written about him recently.
The two that genuinely surprise me as doing poorly are The Trouble with Harry and The Wrong Man - there was a time not very long ago when these were being hailed as unjustly neglected masterpieces. I don't like either of them, but I'm surprised that sentiment is more widespread!
The Trouble With Harry is a bit of a curio, and a film I haven’t watched in maybe twelve years, or more, in fact. I think it’s far from Hitchcock’s best, but I’ve always liked its quirky gallows humour. I do like The Wrong Man, though. It’s well written and acted, beautifully photographed and it’s a film that I find slowly involving. The Blu-ray is great, I might add.
I saw it a number of years ago and must've found it boring certainly unmemorable.
Still that's not an excuse for me not to have featured it on the poll list.
Poll has become a two horse race with North by Northwest and Psycho.
Surprised, however, that Rear Window is not faring well.
Also, surprised to find To Catch a Thief hasn't brought about any votes, so far.
I think that, like most things, films go in and out of fashion. Fifteen years ago, Rear Window would probably have been in the top three - but perhaps it was the critics and academic's darling for too long, and the shine has gone off it, at least temporarily. As for To Catch A Thief, I saw it a few weeks back and wrote on here how disappointing and generally dull I find it. Conversely, I think that I confess is faring much better than it would have done a decade ago. It seemed to be underrated for so long, but a quality blu ray release (which it has had) then makes it grab some attention, and I wonder if Clift has become more of a cult figure over the last decade, too. Certainly much has been written about him recently.
The two that genuinely surprise me as doing poorly are The Trouble with Harry and The Wrong Man - there was a time not very long ago when these were being hailed as unjustly neglected masterpieces. I don't like either of them, but I'm surprised that sentiment is more widespread!
The Trouble With Harry is a bit of a curio, and a film I haven’t watched in maybe twelve years, or more, in fact. I think it’s far from Hitchcock’s best, but I’ve always liked its quirky gallows humour. I do like The Wrong Man, though. It’s well written and acted, beautifully photographed and it’s a film that I find slowly involving. The Blu-ray is great, I might add.
We are certainly in alignment here. With a great cast The Trouble With Harry just never seemed to work.
The Wrong Man, Henry Fonda was terrific. As was the location shooting inside and out.
Alfred Hitchcock best films 1950 - 1976 poll has ended.
Predictably it comes down to North by Northwest and Psycho, with the former taking out top honors.
Thanks, everyone for your votes, comments and support, particularly after a few months break. I have more polls coming up of this kind and some complimentary themed ones too
