Drama > H Drama > Hitchcock, Alfred > Universal

Advantages: Clever dialogue, decent plot, classic Hitchcock
Disadvantages: Simply too dated for 99% of people

...films deemed too irrelevant for the common movie-goer. Alas I just can't seem to give this DVD the thumbs up. You see, the thing is -if a black and white film, handicapped with the inevitable restrictions of movie-making in yesteryears, is to be an enjoyable experience for an audience today, it must have certain qualities of timelessness to it. Casablanca, The Seventh Seal and The Lady Vanishes are adored, remastered and distributed widely today ...
...to people still. I watched The Lady Vanishes (Hitchcock's last British film before he moved to America to make such international blockbusters like Vertigo and Psycho) prior to this DVD and found that to be suspenseful enough despite it being made around the same time with this film. However I must say that The Man Who Knew Too Much proved just too boring and sketchy for me despite having such a promising plot and such a decent cast. Vintage Hitchcock ... Read review

Advantages: Superb performance by Ingrid Bergman
Disadvantages: Quite slow to begin with

Introduction Just in case you haven't noticed, I'm a big fan of Hitchcock films, particularly the psychological thrillers, and although this film does not quite fit into that category, it is still a strong story directed by a master. Those of you who don't like to watch older films like this because they are black and white and old-fashioned don't know what you are missing. There may not be the special effects of today's films, but there is superb ...
...rarely seen today. And when they're free with newspapers, like this one, there's no excuse really. The director Although Alfred Hitchcock made his best-known films while in Hollywood, he was born in the East End of London and spent the first part of his career in the UK. When he finally moved to the US in 1940, he was already a well-known director, with films such as The Thirty-Nine Steps and Sabotage under his belt. The plot Alicia Huberman's ... Read review

Advantages: Classic, good cast, some suspense, some comedy.
Disadvantages: Old fashioned

The original Lady Vanishes was released in 1938 and directed by the late, great Alfred Hitchcock. The film is set in a fictional country just prior to the Second World War. This country has many similarities to Austria, Switzerland and Germany. The Lady Vanishes is one of those thrillers which has elements of comedy amongst the tension. We are introduced to the main characters, who are all travelling on a long train journey, as they are held up ...
...hotel we get to meet the main players. A young Michael Redgrave plays the male lead Gilbert, who is a somewhat eccentric English Gentleman.The female lead is taken by Margaret Lockwood, Iris, who I suppose is what would be termed a wild child these days. The train resumes it's journey the next day and we see more of the passengers. As well as Iris and Gilbert, these consist of:- A couple of frumpy guys who are 'typically British' and talk of nothing ... Read review

Advantages: The reason why everyone should watch old films!
Disadvantages: Begone from my sight if you think there is a single flaw here

...steps. In many ways The 39 Steps is a comfort film for me; one of those films you can shrug on like a warm old overcoat and luxuriate within. Perhaps this is because The 39 Steps is just such unashamed good fun and at the same time so remarkably well constructed. The 39 Steps marked the emergence of Hitchcock as a major talent, for though this came on the back of his hugely successful, for the time and certainly in Britain, The Man Who Knew Too Much, ...
...the two films and the first of his films to have that central theme that so many Hitchcock movies have: the innocent man on the run from the law, having to prove his innocence. In many ways Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps bears no relationship to John Buchan’s novel. Hitchcock took the main idea and a few key scenes and allowed his screenwriter, Charles Bennett (though Alma Reville [the future Mrs Hitchcock] and Ian Hay are also credited though the script ... Read review

Advantages: Can be tense, shocking and unpredictable
Disadvantages: Appears to be a typical chick-flick on the surface

My reason for purchasing Match Point in the first instance was quite simple, Jonathon Rhys Myers was in it and for me that was as good an excuse as any to buy a new film. I'm so glad however that I did buy this film because not only does Rhys Myers play a fantastic part and look extremely handsome for the main but the film has become a firm favourite of mine. Chris (Jonathon Rhys Meyers) is an Irish tennis coach who after coaching Tom, the son of ...
..."There are moments in a match when the ball hits the top of the net and for a split second it can go either forward or fall back. With a little luck it goes forward and you win. Or maybe it doesn't and you lose." This line sums up the double-edged sword that the film is, as on more than one occasion the ball may go forward and Chris may uphold the life he has dreamed of but just as easily it may fall backwards and the world he has come to love may ... Read review