Hitchcock Obsession

I remember the VHS copies of Vertigo, The Birds, North By Northwest, Psycho, Rear Window and others that had permanent resting spots near our television. It was not until a few weeks ago that my appreciation for Hitchcock's masterpieces was realized.

 Now I had fallen in love with Rear Window and Psycho years ago. The idea that I could be entertained watching a man in a wheelchair for nearly 2 hours seemed impossible, but Hitchcock and Jimmy Stewart pulled it off in Rear Window. There remains a fear of road-side motels in the middle of nowhere because of Psycho and not to mention all of the influences the film has had on later non-Hitchcock projects (Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Silence of the Lambs and others). 

There is remorse that it took me over 20 years to appreciate what Hitchcock has done for film making. My recent watches of the Hitchcock portfolio are Vertigo, To Catch A Thief and North By Northwest. 

In Vertigo, Jimmy Stewart is a detective for hire. He assists an old friend by following the man's wife due to the suspicion that she might be losing her mind and contemplating suicide. After Stewart meets her his commitment to the cause changes and the plot thickens. Hitchcock has a way in this film, as he does so masterfully in others, of allowing the location (San Francisco) to tell a great deal of the story. 

The locations speak in his films, they are another character  and this adds an unexpected and thrilling dimension to Vertigo as well as North By Northwest (the final scene at Mt. Rushmore) and To Catch A Thief (French Riviera).

North By Northwest is solid alone because it heralds Cary Grant. From Grant's profile on IMDB it reads 

that he was once told by an interviewer, "Everybody would like to be Cary Grant," Grant is said to have replied, "So would I." His acting genius and suave presence onscreen continues in North where he plays an Advertising Executive who is mistaken for a government agent by a group of spies.He is caught in a series of adventures and mishaps across the country amidst of stormy relationship with Eva Marie Saint. 

This film is fantastic, hands down my favorite Hitchcock...along with Rear Window. I love the suspense and the thrill of waiting to see what curveball Hitchcock throws at the audience next. His cinematography is brilliant, especially in the scene where Grant's character flees the United Nations building. Hitchcock loved lines/shapes and prolonging the anticipation, almost a heightened reaction to the moment - a sure way to make you feel like you are there. I could go on and on. An equation for excellence: Alfred Hitchcock + Cary Grant + Great Plot + Significant Locations = SOLID GOLD on screen.

Another round of DVD's to add to your Netflic que. Again, what did we learn? Hitchcock is a genius, M. Night Shymalan has read a few textbooks on him and done okay at times but there is truly only one Alfred Hitchcock.