The true Hitchcock universe begins with “The Lodger: a Story of the London Fog”
Alfred Hitchcock, “The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog” (1927) Only the third film made by a young Alfred Hitchcock, “The Lodger …” already has…
Alfred Hitchcock
Films directed by Alfred Hitchock
French and French-language Films
Les Diaboliques aka The Devils: psychological horror film thin on plot but thick with suspense and twisted endings
Henri-Georges Clouzot, “Les Diaboliques” aka “The Devils” (1955) At first “Les Diaboliques” doesn’t seem anything like director Henri-Georges Clouzot’s previous film “Wages of Fear”: one is…
North by Northwest: fun escapist enjoyment that encapsulates Hitchcock’s inner world
Alfred Hitchcock, “North by Northwest” (1959) After the intense “Vertigo” which initially wasn’t a great box office success, Hitchcock chose to film a light-hearted chase thriller…
Strangers on a Train (dir. Alfred Hitchcock): film labours under director’s favourite themes and obsessions
Alfred Hitchcock, “Strangers on a Train” (1951) As with many other films made by English-American director Alfred Hitchcock, “Strangers on a Train” plumbs the theme of…
The 39 Steps (dir. Alfred Hitchcock): the movie with the secret code that cracked success for Hitchcock
Alfred Hitchcock, “The 39 Steps” (1935) Very loosely based on John Buchan’s novel “The Thirty-Nine Steps” – it’s best if you don’t read the novel first…
Vertigo: a beautiful film with disturbing themes of obsession and control
Alfred Hitchcock, “Vertigo” (1958) For a mainstream Hollywood drama, this famous film by Alfred Hitchcock, regarded by some as his greatest work, features some very disturbing…
Hitchcock gives plenty of “Rope” in excellent interior murder mystery
Alfred Hitchcock, “Rope” (1948) Adapted from a play by Patrick Hamilton and based on an actual murder case in which two young men strangled a teenage…
Psycho (dir. Alfred Hitchcock): good psych horror thriller about predestination / free will and men’s oppression of women
Alfred Hitchcock, “Psycho” (1960) This movie is a good psychological horror thriller with excellent performances from its two leads Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates and Janet Leigh as…
Not “Frenzied” enough: a re-run of familiar ideas for Hitchcock but no more
Alfred Hitchcock, “Frenzy” (1972) Coming at the tail-end of the UK film director’s illustrious career, “Frenzy” is a straightforward murder thriller set in London in the…
To Catch A Thief: there’s fluff and then there’s fluff, Hitchcock-style
Alfred Hitchcock, “To Catch A Thief” (1955) A clever light-hearted comedy crime caper set in southern France, this was one of Grace Kelly’s last films before…