3 reviews
A movie like "Stage Fright" is a bit of a strange product. It is directed by the remarkable Alfred Hitchcock, it has loads of talented actors, & it contains a plot ("the stage") that has very interesting potential. Sadly, that potential is never realized as the film just wanders about.
For a basic plot summary, "Stage Fright" sees Eve Gill (Jane Wyman) drawn into a murderous situation surrounding her love interest Jonathan Cooper (Richard Todd) & his controlling lover Charlotte Inwood (Marlene Dietrich). Also thrown into the mix is Detective Smith (Michael Wilding), who struggles to decipher the strange circumstances surrounding an acting troupe.
The trouble with this movie is that it is just "blah" all the way through. The plot is a familiar murder mystery, with its climax coming just minutes into the movie. The rest is a uninspiring mix of prolonged dialogue and (in a rare Hitchcock miss) very little actual suspense.
Despite the acting talent, I can't remember watching any other Hitchcock movie that falls flatter in that regard. Never once did I feel as if I was drawn into any of the characters whatsoever.
Simply put, "Stage Fright" is a subpar Hitchcock effort that ranks among the lowest of his wide collection of works. Only a decent twist at the end gives this movie any sort of exciting jolt whatsoever. A stodgy old "thriller" that just doesn't hold up in any way, shape, or form.
For a basic plot summary, "Stage Fright" sees Eve Gill (Jane Wyman) drawn into a murderous situation surrounding her love interest Jonathan Cooper (Richard Todd) & his controlling lover Charlotte Inwood (Marlene Dietrich). Also thrown into the mix is Detective Smith (Michael Wilding), who struggles to decipher the strange circumstances surrounding an acting troupe.
The trouble with this movie is that it is just "blah" all the way through. The plot is a familiar murder mystery, with its climax coming just minutes into the movie. The rest is a uninspiring mix of prolonged dialogue and (in a rare Hitchcock miss) very little actual suspense.
Despite the acting talent, I can't remember watching any other Hitchcock movie that falls flatter in that regard. Never once did I feel as if I was drawn into any of the characters whatsoever.
Simply put, "Stage Fright" is a subpar Hitchcock effort that ranks among the lowest of his wide collection of works. Only a decent twist at the end gives this movie any sort of exciting jolt whatsoever. A stodgy old "thriller" that just doesn't hold up in any way, shape, or form.
- classicrun
- Sep 17, 2020
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