Stage Fright
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Movie Reviews of Stage Fright
Movie Review: It was perfection
Summary: 5 Stars
This is the best Hitchcock and one of the best movies I have ever seen. It was perfect. In fact, it had only one flaw, and that no doubt was the government's doing, not Hitchcock's. A Porter tune and I think a signature tune of Dietrich's and sung by her in this flick ("The Laziest Gal In Town") goes "It's not cause I wouldn't. It's not cause I shouldn't. And lord knows it's not cause I couldn't. It's simply because I'm the laziest gal in town." Well, the censors had their way and changed the line to "And you know I couldn't." Bleah! But that is the only thing wrong with this wonderful, suspenseful, surprise and twist filled, humorous (and I mean genuinely funny!) movie. The acting was perfect. The directing was perfect. And the whole thing was fascinating and great! I loved it.Movie Review: HITCH
Summary: 5 Stars
There are only so many Hitchcock movies around. Some of the reviews sandblasted this movie...not I. Watch it and enjoy the Master.Movie Review: Hitchcock in Exceptionally Deceptive Form...
Summary: 4 Stars
Alfred Hitchcock was the master of deception. His films brought countless cinematic moments with aesthetic framing, precise mise-en-scene, ingenious editing, inspiring sound effects and much more in regards cinema. The combination of all cinematic aspects are present in each scene displayed of all his films where he expresses his thoughtfulness for his audience, as he knew that each viewer was a critic. However, he did not try to please others with his talent. Instead his talent drew the attention of millions, as he brought people to the dark theaters to see his creative approach to cinema. In present day, many filmmakers study his works for inspiration and the technical aspect of creating film and therefore, the legacy of Hitchcock continues to affect people in dark theaters. The only difference between when his films were made and today is that now people can bring home the marvelous deceptions of Hitchcock.
Stage Fright was released in 1950 between his film Under Capricorn (1949) and his brilliant Strangers on a Train (1951). In this film he returns to his traditional theme where an insignificant man escapes the accusations of murder with the help of a woman who feels affectionately about him. The first scene brings the audience to a convertible coupe driving away from possible followers. It is revealed that the man in the car, Jonathan Cooper (Richard Todd), has taken the possible blame of his mistress, Charlotte Inwood (Marlene Dietrich), husband's murder by trying to help her by getting a dress. At the crime scene he tired to make it look like a break in, but someone did see him leave the crime scene and now he has the police after him. The woman driving, Eve Gill (Jane Wyman), has agreed to help bring him to a remote location away from the city where they can try to find a solution to the problem.
In flashbacks the audience is enlightened about the events prior to Jonathan and Eve's escape from the Scotland Yard. Through the flashbacks it becomes evident that the film is told through flashbacks and that Charlotte is the true killer since her intentions seem to be to pass off the guilt to her nobody secret lover Jonathan. However, Jonathan still insists on her innocence while making the situation even worse for himself. Eve on the other hand is a resourceful woman and a beginning actress, and she is about to take on the hardest part in her life to find out the truth - Charlotte's maid.
Through several both suspenseful and comic scenes the story unveils the truth for the law. However, the story takes it time by generating subplots and intriguing dilemmas for Eve and her made up character. Many of these scenes deal with Eve trying to get out of trouble with both the criminal and the law enforcement, as she has helped a criminal. Yet, she comes out on top, but the story has left many viewers upset through a sense of deception. Nonetheless, there are clues for the audience to try to discover throughout the film.
Hitchcock's Stage Fright might seem like a film that followed his traditional footsteps, but here he experimented with storytelling and the deception of storytelling. It is understandable that most people do not like to feel tricked or cheated, but when one is watching Hitchcock one cannot expect the expected, as he develops and visually creates a false sense of security to suddenly pull the rug from underneath the feet of the audience. Admiration for his craftiness must be in its place, because he always conducted tests through his cinematic creations and Stage Fright is no exception. Stage Fright is a masterpiece in many aspects, but also within its brilliance a trivial weakness can be experienced.
Movie Review: Several great performances elevate this film over minor problems with the plot.
Summary: 4 Stars
This review is for the 2004 Warner Brothers DVD.
The movie 'Stage Fright' opens with Jonathan Cooper (Richard Todd) and Eve Gill (Jane Wyman) fleeing London in a car. As they are driving off eluding the police, Jonathon tells Eve of the mess that he's in. His story in a nutshell is that a famous actress named Charlotte Inwood (Marlene Dietrich) killed her husband in their home and splattered blood on her dress and came to Jonathon's apartment for help. Jonathon explains that he ended up going back to the murder scene to get Charlotte a clean dress but was seen, thus making him the primary suspect. From this point on Eve does a number of things to protect and exonerate him including working as an operative so that she can find evidence to convict Charlotte of the murder.
The film uses some shameless chicanery to misdirect the audience. To avoid spoiling the plot, my problem wasn't so much that a subterfuge was used, but that it carried on this charade for just about the entire movie (until the final few minutes of the film). But that wasn't the biggest flaw for me. My bigger problem with the film is that its obvious that Jonathan is grossly infatuated or in love with Charlotte, and this becomes crystal clear to Eve, yet she still does everything possible to help him get out of this mess. Another significant problem is that Eve, who lives in London and has British parents speaks with an American accent except when she's a spy.
But in spite of these problems, Marlene Dietrich gives a mesmerizing performance that's truly Oscar-worthy. Even beyond her radiant beauty, she exudes confidence and poise in every scene she's in. Alastair Sim, who plays Eve's father in a supporting role, gives a very witty and extremely entertaining performance. If you get past the American accent, Jane Wyman does a decent job too. The movie is still very entertaining and fun to watch - again mainly due to Marlene Dietrich.
The B&W picture quality of this DVD is sharp but the presentation is marred by specs of film deterioration throughout the film. Sadly, a severe vertical scratch appearing for at least 6 or 7 seconds severely distracts the final scene of the movie. The sound was good for a film this old. The only worthwhile bonus on the DVD is a short commentary about the film `Stage Fright'.
Movie: B+
DVD Quality: B
Movie Review: Fun and suspenseful--but is it fair?
Summary: 4 Stars
Jane Wyman and Marlene Dietrich and Alfred Hitchcock?! Who can resist?? I certainly couldn't when I stumbled upon this movie at the library and checked it out based on star power alone.
I certainly wouldn't have chosen it based on its tag line: "Hands that applaud can also kill!" That certainly set me up to expect a cheesy, B-grade thriller.
Fortunately, the movie was much better than the publicity department's promo writing!
The cast is superior, the story alternately humorous and suspenseful...all with HItchcock's trademark cinematographic touches. Wyman is both brave and vulnerable as the ingenue, Eve, caught up in a murder investigation and trying to prove her sometime-boyfriend innocent.
Dietrich is marvy as the self-absorbed stage star (as a side note: There are many famous singers who make me wonder how they ever thought they could get into that line, much less succeed at it. Cindy Lauper comes to mind as does the Doobie Brother's Michael McDonald...people with voices that tend to be screechy or off-key or thin...and yet somehow they make it big. Dietrich's voice is low and sultry, but certainly not full or true...and yet, somehow when she sings in this film, it works terrifically. Style over substance, I guess).
Anyway, the supporting cast is marvelous, too, esp. Alistair Sim and Sybil Throndike in the roles of Wyman's gadabout father and her humorously repressed mother. There are other good minor characters, too, esp. the woman at the carnival inviting people to "shoot the lovely duckies" in order to win a doll.
The trick Hitchcock used in the film has been much discussed in these reviews. Suffice it to say that, like Agatha Christie's "Murder of Roger Ackroyd" which made her famous because of a similar deception, you'll either laugh along at it or be annoyed by it (or maybe both alternately).
Either way it's a fun and suspenseful movie that keeps moving along at an excellent clip, that keeps you guessing, and that keeps you entertained with the superb job done by the cast...and the director.