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Quote of the Day [9.05.13]

"And then what did he do? Did he train you? Did he rehearse you? Did he tell you exactly what to do, what to say? You were a very apt pupil too, weren't you? You were a very apt pupil! Well, why did you pick on me? Why me?"

Scottie (Jimmy Stewart), Vertigo

Labels: Hitchcock, NewsRadio quote, qotd

Quote of the Day [9.01.13]

Look at the birds in the sky: They do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them.

Matthew 6:26

Labels: disaster, Hitchcock, NewsRadio quote, qotd

A hidden gem in Hitchcock's oevre? It's never mentioned as one of his greatest, but it's a great early film from the master.

Labels: Hitchcock, Ingrid Bergman, movies

I'm sure I've embedded this before, but you can never get enough Vertigo.

I recently saw it again over the weekend. It was awesome. I really dig the madness of both Madeleine and Scotty.

And it had the greatest nun scene ever: "I heard voices."

Maybe, one time, I should go out to SF and check out the places in the film. Perhaps a ghostwalk style endeavor of SF. Vertigo by the Bay.

Labels: Hitchcock, movies

"There's nothing wrong with you Lisa. You've got this town in the palm of your hand."
"Not quite it seems... Goodbye Jeff."
"You mean 'Good night.'"
"I mean what I said."
"Well Lisa, couldn't we just... couldn't we just keep things status quo?"
"Without any future?"
"Well, when am I gonna see you again?"
"Not for a long time... At least not until tomorrow night."



L.B. 'Jeff' Jeffries (Jimmy Stewart) & Lisa Carol Fremont (Grace Kelly), "Rear Window"

Labels: Grace Kelly, Hitchcock, qotd

It took me three sitting, but I finally finished Millenium Actress. The first time it put me to sleep in twenty minutes. The second time just under ten. This last time was the pure sitting and then I found out how good of a love story it was.

Millennium Actress is an animated film by Satoshi Kon. He's another celebrated Japanese animation director famous for Paprika and Three Godfathers. I've seen Paprika but didn't think anything of it. I've partially seen Three Godfathers but didn't think anything of it. I almost didn't finish this film, but glad I did. Satoshi Kon while not as great as Miyazawa is a cut above Makoto Shinkai.

In Millennium Actress, a documentary crew goes to interview the reclusive titular actress, Chiyoko Fukiwara. Her story is told in flashbacks that are filmed like the movies she starred in. It plays around with the settings. What era are we in? Is this one of her movies? Are they saying the script or what she said in real life? And her story is one of finding the love of her life. She helps an left-leaning artist escape for a time from the police and falls in love with him. She doesn't seem him again until she follows him to Manchuria under the guise of being an actress. But the times are tough for them to meet as war follows and he is imprisoned because of his politics.

The movie plays out in how she yearns to reunite with him. She lives her life always looking for him and a chance to find him once again.

There is a prop that reminds me of Notorious. It is a key that Chiyoko longs to return to her love. And just like the key to the wine cellar in Notorious that was given back to Hitchcock from Ingrid Bergman at a celebration before he died. I liked how Millenium Actress reminded me of that.

One thing I love about animation is that it can tell many stories well. It is a stylistic choice that a strong creative person can use to great effect. I wish it would expand from the children story ghetto we've currently got it slotted into in the US.

4 of 5 stars.

Labels: anime, Hitchcock, Ingrid Bergman, movies, Netflix Queue, nostalgia, thoughts

"I look up. I look down. I look up. I look down."

Scottie (Jimmy Stewart), Vertigo

Labels: Hitchcock, qotd

Which one of you did it? Which one of you killed my dog?

You don't know the meaning of the word 'neighbor.' Neighbors like each other, speak to each other, care if anybody lives or dies, but none of you do. But I couldn't imagine any of you bein' so low that you'd kill a little helpless, friendly dog - the only thing in this whole neighborhood who liked anybody.

Did ya kill him because he liked ya?

Just because he liked ya?

Wife living above Thorwalds, "Rear Window"

Labels: Hitchcock, qotd, that sinking feeling

Psycho was playing at The Charles. I've never seen it straight through, so what better way to watch it but on celluloid in a revival theatre.

And it was great. I got chills when "mother" comes out and kills the detective. It was enough to make me jump a bit.

Afterwards, I got to arguing with the seed about if it was a modern movie or not. He says it was because of the editing. I said no because of the staging and framing. I'll give him the editing as it is more modern than the studio films of 40s and 50s, but I feel that it had some of the mise-en-scene you get from a film noir of the earlier era. The closeups and the tight shots highlighting the tension of the story. It's a toss up. I won't give ground and he won't either.

It's a good movie for this fact.

4 of 5 stars.

Labels: Hitchcock, movies, review

"Only one is a wanderer; two together are always going somewhere."

Madeleine/Judy, Vertigo

Labels: Hitchcock, movies, qotd

It's interesting finding out that the most recent film I watched is celebrating its fiftieth year since release. And it's always a pleasure to read another's take on the nature of that film in particular since it is one of Hitchcock's greatest.

While not originally loved, it has gained in stature every year since it's release. It's great film to know and appreciate. If you have time, The Charles still has one more showing this week.

Labels: Hitchcock, movies

Marge and I caught the latest Hitchcock film at the Charles, Vertigo. After sitting in traffic and getting to the theatre just in time, we settle in for a really great film.

Jimmy Stewart's character's obsession is one of the loneliness and sad realizations in film. Novak's Madeliene/Judy should've gotten out of there when she had the chance. She should've forgotten all about Scotty.

My reaction to the film was very different from the one I had when I saw it on DVD. I think that in private, at home, I was able to connect with Scotty's obsession. It was more intimate and immediate. At the theatre, that feeling of obsession out in public was replaced with apprehension and I connected more with Judy. It is like I was acutely aware of my obsessiveness, and I was embarrassed by it so I chose to be appalled for my self like Judy was for Scotty's choices. I don't need her to wear a grey suit.

5 of 5 stars.

Labels: Hitchcock, movies, review

Once again I catch the matinee showing of a Hitchcock film at the Charles. This time it's Suspicion with Cary Grant and Joan Fontaine. My original review still stands.

Waking up early for a Saturday then catching the noon matinee has been fun to do. One of these times we'll have to make it a party. Eat a big breakfast. Drink lots of coffee. Then catch the showing completely wired and ready for some fun. The most likely film for this fun is North by Northwest. That silly film of mistaken identity would go well with chocolate chip pancakes, eggs and sausage links.

Mmm. I can't wait.

Now I have to find the place that serves those pancakes.

Labels: Hitchcock, movies

It's saturday, and the Seed and I sitting in the dinner having breakfast. It's bacon, eggs, coffee, and corn beef hash. We wonder if this will upset our stomach or make us have to use the bathroom before seeing the Hitchcock flick, Rebecca, down at the Charles. It's from 1940 with Joan Fontaine and Sir Lawrence Olivier, and it's an early Hitchcock from his move to Hollywood.

Joan Fontaine plays the second Mrs. de Winter married to Olivier's Maxim de Winter brooding over the recent death of his wife. She stops him from jumping to his death in Monte Carlo. They meet cute later on and begin a romance. She falls for him, because of his worldly airs. She was as meek as a librarian, and she desperately needs him. He accepts her love, brings her to Manderlay, and lets her run the house. At Manderlay, she meets the housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers who adored Mrs. de Winters I and loathes the second Mrs. de Winters. They test their strength of wills until the second Mrs. de Winters, defeated, makes it known that she's now boss of the house. She overcomes Mrs. Danvers, learns of the reason for the first Mrs. de Winters death, and lives to relieve her husband of the guilt he felt over her death.

Joan Fontaine is cute in this one. She's always cute (I find her irresistable in her next Hitchcock role in Suscpicion). I feel that she's the ur-Hitchcock blonde, the original that gives meaning to the rest. She's unlike the rest of the blondes in Hitchock's oevre. She's somewhat different because of her mousiness. I describe her as a librarian more so in Suspicion with her glasses. It's something to think about as she's occupies the place of Hitchcock blondes like Buffalo Bill's original victim close to giving an insight to the director.

I didn't think too much of this film when I saw it on DVD. Good but not as awesome as the director's best. I think the ambiance of the Charles makes a difference in the viewing experience. You see it with lots of people. It becomes fun. And the film becomes even more better. I want to see more Hitchcock at the Charles.

4 of 5 stars.

Labels: Hitchcock, movies, review

The Charles Theatre offers you a chance to catch some really good films. They're doing a revival on Hitchcock. Twenty-five films from here to June.

The question becomes should I watch the ones I haven't seen or watch the ones I have on the big screen?

I know for a fact that I want to catch Grace Kelly and Ingrid Bergman on 35mm so I don't want to miss Notorious or Rear Window. The rest? We'll see.

Labels: Grace Kelly, Hitchcock, Ingrid Bergman, just asking, movies

Labels: Grace Kelly, Hitchcock, screenshot

Labels: Grace Kelly, Hitchcock, screenshot

Lisa: How's your leg?
Jeff: Hurts a little.

Lisa: And your stomach?
Jeff: Empty as a football.

Lisa: And you're love life?
Jeff: Not too active.

Lisa: Anything else bothering you?
Jeff: Mm-hm. Who are you?

Is there are more dramatic entrance than Grace Kelly in Rear Window? She's beautiful.

Labels: Grace Kelly, Hitchcock, movies, romance, screenshot, wishing for a pony

Suspicion won Joan Fontaine an Academy Award for Best Actress. It is said that she received it because of missing out on it the year before for Rebecca. While I certainly liked the Rebecca, Suspicion was good. If flawed.

Flawed?

Yes. The ending didn't particular suit the film. Everything leading up to it said, "Murder!" But we get some curt explanation, some hilarious mistaken motives, and a really fun, action at the end. All is wrapped us neat and tidy to fit in with the Hollywood production code. This was one movie where the original ending (see the extras) would have made this movie more satisfying.


This is also Cary Grant's first movie with the master director. And he plays it like a cad with a dark and mysterious past. Yet, Grant seems to me too bright. For me, he doesn't have the dark, rightening, murderous persona beneath his gentlemanly persona like I believe James Stewart to possess. Still he is one of Hitchcock's iconic leading men. I still prefer Stewart, but Grant is good because he is playful and makes Hitchcock a more sly and sinister storyteller. Who believes these men to be all-star, all Americans knows not of the dark and ugly evil lurking in all men?

My Hitchcock obsession continues.

4 of 5 stars.

Labels: Hitchcock, movies, Netflix Queue, review

The second DVD that I had enqueued in my Netflix queue was Vertigo. I had previously seen it in fragments. The beginning here. The middle part I can't recall when or when. The ending, the classic ending, there. My concept of it as a whole was somewhat disjointed. While many people see it as Hitchcock's masterpiece, by only seeing it piecemeal, I was unable to make that call.

Tonight that was rectified.

It is his best. I have to rave about it. Previously, I had Rear Window as my favorite. Grace Kelly being the most prominent of reasons why it was my favorite.

Where Vertigo lacks the hottie blonde (I'm sorry Kim Novak). It more than makes up for it by the absolute performance of Jimmy Stewart as a man obsessed. When he to her to get some clothes, I knew that this character was unhinged. The man can want a woman with such obsessiveness that it was ridiculous. Then he changed her hair. And at that point it had me.

Damn. Grace Kelly is coming in second place.

And next on my Netflix queue is North by Northwest. Please, Eva Marie Saint, don't knock out Grace Kelly.

Labels: Hitchcock, movies, Netflix Queue, review