Alfred Hitchcock - are his movies any good?

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princes

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lol, the title of the thread is a bit tongue-in-cheek. ;)

I must confess to have never seen any of Hitchcock's movies, but I keep hearing about him again and again as being a great filmmaker. I really am curious to find out what hitckcocks movies are rated so highly.

Can someone recommend me a few of his top films?

And also, are his films appealing to most people or is it a genre of films only a minority find appealing.
 
God, where to start here?!!

Not only is Hitch the greatest British director of all time, many would consider him THE greatest director of all time. With his body of work, it's not difficult to see why. Don't get me wrong, he made a few duRAB - but even those were worth watching.

My personal favourite is Rear Window. Classic in every sense of the word. Followed by, North by Northwest, The BirRAB, Notorious, Vertigo, oh and some film he made called Psycho. I think Rope is superb too. That should do you for a while....Is early work beofre he headed off for Hollywood is also worth a look.
 
No offense but this quote is classic. I mean, he's hardly a "cult" director is he? His films are considered some of the greatest and most popular in the history of cinema. I thought every Tom, Dick and Harold knew that. I can't believe you've never seen Psycho :eek:
My God, the youth of today *in best Rigsby voice*
;)
:D
 
Anybody who likes movies simply has to see Rear Window, Vertigo and North By Northwest.

Beyond the ones already mentioned in the thread, Strangers On A Train, Rebecca, Dial M For Murder and Lifeboat are also pretty damn great.
 
Don't try and watch them like that.
Just watch them.
I think if you try and approach any film like it's a cerebral artistic exercise then it's an endeavour which is doomed to failure.

I think you're only going to have a problem with any good film if you have conditioned yourself to only accept 'modern' films and think that flashy visuals and/or good special effects make good films in themselves.

I think that you just have to throw off any preconceptions or habits you may have and just sit down and watch a film like any other film and just enjoy it for whatever it is.

I think that if you have this hangup where you think you might not like something because you fear it might be too old or something then it may be a big problem in the future where you may miss out some of the truly great films of the 20th century.
Many of the older films do some things better than many, if not most, of the modern era films.
 
I was fortunate enough to watch Psycho without knowing too much background on the film other knowing the shower scene is extremely well known. It is a cracking film and full of suspense if you are lucky enough to not too much about it which is hard as the film has become very well known and there have been sequels. Never had the same luck with the Usual Suspects.

Rear Window, Vertigo, Strangers on a Train and the BirRAB are all very good films. But if you have not seen Psycho and don't know alot about it, watch it.
 
By the way I don't know if anybody has mentioned this yet, but by sheer coincidence there just happens to be a season of Alfred Hitchcock films showing on BBC2 over Christmas.:)

Maybe somebody could take the time to list the ones which are showing over Christmas in this thread?
 
Okay folks, I have finally seen my first ever Alfred Hithcock film in North to Northwest, which I borrowed from a work mate.

I can only describe in one word - EXCELLENT!!!

I really mean that, the film was just superb... the story, the plot, the great acting, the dialogue/script, and the camera work ---- it was a fine work of art... but a very entertaining film, which I really enjoyed! :D

I am convinced after just one film -- this was a masterpiece!

As I have already confessed, having grown up as a kid in the late 80s and early 90s, I have been watching nothing but action and gangster-style films in all these years, as I have grown up with Rambo and Die Hard mania at its peak -- and now we have the special effects era.

But after watching the Dollars trilogy recently, starring Clint Eastwood and now North to Northwest --- I can see why people say OLD is GOLD !!

I look forward to the Alfred Hithcock movies on BBC2 over XMAS -- anyone know which ones are coming on and when?? can't wait!! :)
 
I like Frenzy as well, although it looks far more dated then his earlier stuff, ages since I've seen it, but I remember spending half the time laughing my head off, and the rest of the time hiding behind a cushion.

Clint Eastwood westerns - you have to check out The Outlaw Josey Wales - magnificent film, long but extremely brilliant
 
I love Marnie as well - brilliant.
Such a shame that his films are not shown more on TV.............I remember when I was in my late teens or early twenties they were always on - especially over Xmas - this year I could find nothing in the schedule.
 
North by Northwest is a pretty good place to start - it was my first Hitchcock experience too!

Now seen about 30 of his films, I think, but not...

Suspicion (BBC2 29/12 10.05am)
Notorious (BBC2 29/12 11.40am)
or Spellbound (BBC2 31/12 10.20am)

...very much looking forward to them!
 
I was pleasantly surprised when I saw Psycho II. The other two sequels are pretty damn terrible. I couldn't believe what I was seeing with part three, it literally is a spoof of the original film and I am sure Anthony Perkins didn't intend for it to have turned out as it did (it's hilarious but not in a good way *shakes head*). The second film however is almost as good as the original... yes, you heard me right "almost as good as the original!" It has simply been given a bad reputation primarily because it was a sequel to a Hitchcock classic and the sequels that later followed.

I even watched the first two films back to back, watching part two in black and white also instead of as filmed in colour and the films support each other remarkably well. If you had told me Hitchcock had directed part two and I didn't know any better I would very likely have believed you. Richard Franklin's direction should be commended.
 
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