The 10 Best Alfred Hitchcock Movies

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Alfred Hitchcock was the first director I learned to know by name.  I’ve always been an Alfred Hitchcock fan so I was delighted to see Nate Williams and ComingSoon present the 10 Best Alfred Hitchcock Movies.  Here are three of my favorites with my comments (and Hitchcock films that didn’t make the cut that should have)…

  • Rope: I love that Hitch was able to film the movie (in 1948 no less) as if it was shot in one complete take.  He did this in order to give the feeling of real time as if seeing the action unfold on stage as in a play.  So, kuddos to Hitchcock for this technical achievement.  Unfortunately, many times I think this technical aspect overshadows the fact that Rope is a suspenseful movie.  And the question isn’t who will be murdered or who committed the murder, but how will they be caught — what will trip them up?
  • Psycho: was a groundbreaking film well ahead of its time.  I love the fact that it starts off like a crime caper, moves into a murder mystery and wraps up as a horror film.  Hats off to Hitch!
  • North by Northwest:  For my money,  North by Northwest is Hitchcock’s finest film.  Cary Grant was never better and the supporting cast (Eva Marie Saint, James Mason, Leo G. Carroll, Martin Landau…) were perfect.  There was the right blend of action, suspense and humor.  It doesn’t get any better than North by Northwest.

Three Hitchcock films that would have made my Top 10, but didn’t make Williams’ list are Lifeboat; Saboteur and The Birds!