Ha! Even Hitch is undone by 3D.
The triple threat of his post-Birds 60s – Marnie, Torn Curtain and Topaz – all put me to sleep.
I had difficulty appreciating Grace Kelly and Robert Cummings; however, I thought Ray Milland, John Williams, and Anthony Dawson were excellent. Like Brad S. I saw the film in 3D, but I think it is the best use of the process of any film from the 50s or the past decade.
I disagree, Brad S. Flat “Dial M” is . . .well, flat. In 3-D its’ pretty marvelous. Not deep or anything mind you but great visual fun.
I don’t hate Dial M (regardless of the dimension), But it just doesn’t seem up to Hitchcock standards, especially since its in the middle of his most creative period.
what Ari said, but including Birds
See NUMBER SEVENTEEN. You’ll appreciate the comparative mastery of DIAL M.
Allan: Birds is at least solid popcorn fun, Grace Kelly’s presence though in Dial M is pure boredom. Talentless actress to the bone. I have problems appreciating Rear Window because of her.
Kelly was awfully reserved from movie one (almost like she knew she was gonna be a royal one day)
she was the icy blonde sure but Tippi had more charisma.
Dial M isn’t great, but it’s better than The Paradine Case, Under Capricorn, Stage Fright, I Confess, Torn Curtain and Topaz.
Apparently none but Matt Parks has seen Under Capricorn.
I Confess is way better than most people give it, though there are definitely a few missteps in it.
I’m with Nathan- I Confess is definitely much better than its reputation, the cinematography alone is worthy enough to see it. As for Dial M, its a pretty good film imo.
“Dial M isn’t great, but it’s better than The Paradine Case, Under Capricorn, Stage Fright, I Confess, Torn Curtain and Topaz.”
I would have imagined you to be a champion of the very underrated Under Capricorn, Matt.
-I would have imagined you to be a champion of the very underrated Under Capricorn, Matt.-
It’s interesting—I actually like most of the those films—but it doesn’t really work for me at the level of Hitchcock’s best work. I’m surprised you don’t like Marnie, Ari. That one I could be provoked into making a case for.
@Matt I agree with you on The Paradine Case – very un Hitchcock, probably because much of it was apparently written by Selsnick as the film was being made. Gregory Pack just doesn’t look comfortable in the role of Keane, and Valli will have to wait a few more years for a role that makes the most of her miserablist stanger-in-a-strange-land persona. Louis Jourdan is also a little too sophisticated in the role Latour. However, I would live to hear you make a case for Marnie – not one of my Hitchcock favourites.
UNDER CAPRICORN is one of Hitchcock’s most justly underrated films.
TOPAZ…I tried it several times & just can’t get into it.
Under Capricorn is forgettable, I mean literally so since I’ve rented it three times because forgotten I had seen it before, and even now I don’t remember anything about it other than that. Stage fright is great and doesn’t deserve to be considered a “lesser” Hitchcock to my mind, Marnie, Topaz, and Torn Curtain all have a good many things I like about them, but Dial M and The Paradine Case are just so-so. I never really took to either Suspicion or Spellbound that much but they aren’t awful, and although it wasn’t yet mentioned, I love Mr. and Mrs. Smith so don’t even think of trying to suggest that one as a lesser film to me. Frenzy was tacky and Family Plot would have been truly bad if it wasn’t for Bruce Dern and Karen Black, and even with them it didn’t rise far above poor, but since it was his last film I don’t hold it against him. (I get the feeling it would have been better served if Black and Harris had switched roles, mostly because that would have given Black more to do.) None of those films really sink to the level of Jamaica Inn though which is a stinker despite having the considerable talents of Charles Laughton and the considerable charms of Maureen O’Hara. I think there were at least a couple of dozen directors in Hollywood at the time that wouldn’t have screwed up that film as badly as Hitchcock did. It’s his one real failure out of all the films of his I’ve seen, which would be all of his films after 1932 except I Confess, Waltzes from Vienna, and The Wrong Man and about half of the ones before that.
I don’t mean to blaspheme, but I think I’ve seen Psycho too many times that now I really don’t like it. I tried watching Dial M for Murder once and I just couldn’t get into it. I think Montgomery Clift in I, Confess is great and worth the watch. I wouldn’t consider it one of his worst.
Look I don’t hate Dial M for Murder, I just don’t think is my favorite of Hitchcock
The Wrong Man is great, Greg.
i liked it more than Family Plot ;-0
Lifeboat is pretty dead in the water, as well.
And I’m with Matt on Marnie, it’s criminally underrated.
Under Capricorn was highly regarded by the Cahiers crowd in the old days. In and of itself it “proved” (as far as they were concerned) that Hitch made more than mere thrillers. Plus they were intoxicated by Ingrid Bergman (as was Hitch) and her climactic confession plucked their Catholic strings — and connected in their mind to waht Rossellini was doing with her shortly thereafter in Stromboli, Europa ’51, Viaggio in Italia etc.
On its’ own terms I find it interesting. A Hitch maudit
Dial M for Murder is my least fav of what I’ve seen of him, I’m pretty sure he did worst movies but I just haven’t seen them.
Maybe I need to rewatch Marnie. I remember it just being flat, poorly cast, and having a terrible ending.
Yes, I’m glad someone else can appreciate Under Capricorn. It is definitely Hitch’s film maudit but it’s far more interesting than given credit for. Some beautiful long takes in it.
Lifeboat is great! I was hoping somebody wouldn’t say that is wasn’t good, but I was sadly mistaken.
MARNIE I never cared for much (because of Sean Connery mostly) but I’ve been thinking I should give it a second chance lately.
I recently viewed UNDER CAPRICORN, and as much as I love Ingrid Bergman, Joseph Cotten and Hitch..this was a dud.
Lorena
Don’t know why but that’s one of the only Alfred Hitchcock movies that can make me sleepy