Episode 277 - Alfred Hitchcock Spotlight (part 1)

[kingstownted]

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"Goooood Eeeevening...I am Alfred Hitchcock."

Welcome to the beginning of our Hitchcock director spotlight. Arguably cinema's most famous filmmaker, the master of suspense was the forefather of more techniques that have influenced the thriller and horror genre than can be counted. When the question was posed of why people were fond of his thrillers, his response was "an audience likes to put their toe in the cold water of fear." Those words ring very true to the genre fan.

Things kick off with a quick review of auteur theory and a look at how Hitchcock as a filmmaker fits the criteria. An overview of the director's trademarks and cinematic techniques open the door to our first selection of titles from his filmography that break down as follows:

(interlude - Lovage: Lifeboat)
Lifeboat (1944) 29:37-56:18
(interlude - Rope trailer)
Rope (1948) 56:18-1:17:06
(interlude - Loveage: Strangers on a Train)
Strangers on a Train (1951) 1:17:06-1:36:43
(interlude - Leaonard Maltin on Dial M)
Dial M For Murder (1954) 1:36:43-2:02:38
(interlude - Robert Towne on Rear Window)
Rear Window (1954) 2:02:38-2:28:33

We have another group of classic films in the hopper for the next installment of the spotlight so join in the fun as we celebrate Hitch. Before things wrap up though, we check out every Hitchcock cameo appearance in schlock corner and crack open Ted's first home brew on air.

As always we welcome your comments: [e-mail]
Voicemail [phone]

[sidach]

Yes! Excited to see my favourite director gets a spotlight. I think the common features in his work you highlighted were perfect and point to some of the reasons I love his work.

1-The very English juxtaposition between horror and comedy. Some of the most apparent of these I love are Shadow of a Doubt where you have very serious perceived threat to a girl from her sinister uncle, alongside the two old guys jokingly chatting about the best way they would commit a perfect murder. Equally, the inspectors wife and her terrible attempts at French cuisine in Frenzy is a perfect example.
2-Great supporting characters. See the Freud like psychiatrist they visit in Spellbound, or the Frankenstein inspired blind man the runaway hides out with in Saboteur.
3-You were right to point out his great editorial flourishes, the best being the knife example in blackmail that really raise the films and show internal emotions rather than have them reel them out in long expositionary dialogue.

Looking forward to this series of episodes, thanks guys.

[sidach]

Was looking for a famous Hitchcock one liner I remembered reading from his dealing with Talula Bankhead during the shooting of Lifeboat and found this list of ascribed quotes that highlight his wit and philosophy.

-"I didn't say actors are cattle. What I said was, actors should be treated like cattle."
-When an actress asked Hitchcock if her right or left profile was better, he told her, "My dear, you're sitting on your best profile."
-To crew complaints that Tallulah Bankhead's habit of not wearing underpants was creating camera angle problems in shooting Lifeboat:
"I don't know if this is a matter for the costume department or the hairdresser."
-"When an actor comes to me and wants to discuss his character, I say, 'It's in the script.' If he says, 'But what's my motivation?, ' I say, 'Your salary.'"
-"Disney has the best casting. If he doesn't like an actor he just tears him up."
Source: Hitchcock.tv

[nicolecushing]

Not a bad podcast but annoyed on two fronts.

Annoyance #1: Not nearly enough attention given to the Alfred Hitchcock Presents TV show. My fave piece of Hitchcock work is actually an episode of this show entitled Breakdown...it's a wonderful wonderful piece of work that combines Hitch's sense of suspense with an almost Rod Serling-like-emotional-depth. Chilling *and* moving. You can check it out here --- > www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIw7LLE1-6o


Annoyance #2: King's Town Ted and Sometimes Doug going on and on about how they don't like dialogue-heavy movies that seem like stage plays. Fellas, if you think stage-play-like films like "Rope" look dated, wait until you see how dated all these present-day video-game-looking films will look in twenty years. This is the lost generation of film, in my opinion. Hollywood just needs to call it quits.

[kingstownted]

Wow, these comments reflect a lot of the email feedback and I'm frankly surprised.

1. This is part 1. The show ended up over 2.5 hours as is only covering 5 films, obviously we will need more time to discuss the show and the 17 episodes he directed.

2. Did we even once complain about the dialogue heavy stageplay format of Rope and Dial M? I don't believe so. Our approach was to present the films as though a listener has not seen them and give our thoughts on them. I think it's very fair to make it clear what sort of format the film fits and give notice of pacing, etc. Particularly to audiences more familiar with today's big screen bombast.


Honestly, there has been a surprising amount of negative feedback for this episode - questionning our judgement in tackling Hitchcock if we are not historians on the subject. Turns out my concerns at the outset we're valid, it's very difficult to satisfy when it comes to a subject like this.

[nicolecushing]

Yikes...apologies if my annoyances came across too strong. (Hey, I prefaced them by mentioning that it was "not a bad podcast"). On a scale from 1-10, I only hit an annoyance level of 4 or so.

You fellas can redeem yourselves by doing a five-hour special on Romero's Martin. (just kidding)

[berserker01]

I haven't seen any of these movies, yet. But, I loved this episode. Maybe film-buff Hitchcock fans are too hyper-critical. I think Ted and Doug did a great job. They piqued my interest in watching films that I would never have considered otherwise.

[sidach]

Seen most of Hitchcock's movies and I enjoyed the episode. I also don't agree that certain films are too dialogue heavy, but even if that were a criticism in the episode (which im not sure it was) I don't listen to the podcast just to have my own views repeated back at me, but to hear someone else's views on films I love. I wouldn't like to see it be the case where the hosts are worried enough about people being angry at their views that they just give it over to a listener voicemail show. I listen to the podcast because I enjoying hearing these guys and in the main its their views I want to hear whether i'm in agreement or not.

[Phibes]

I thought you guys did a great job looking at these flicks. Serioulsy, each one of them could have their own two hour episode, so I've got to respect your approach in tackling the subject.

Looking forward to Part II. Here's hoping Notorious gets a look...

[jamtomorrow]

I love Hitchcock, and I thought this episode did a great job of presenting the director and his work. Surely the movies have to be the main object of consideration, rather than the "Presents" TV series?

[JakeAwesomeSnake]

I really enjoyed the show guys, haven't really seen any of the movies but the show actually kind of got me interested in seeing some of them.

[jmodlinc]

For anyone who didn't read/hear about it, "Rear Window" is getting a stage adaptation...

popwatch.ew.com/2012/10/24/rear-window-broadway/