The World of Alfred Hitchcock

[konway87]

SPOILERS

 

Actually it was Jane Wyman in Stage Fright. Not Teresa Wright. Stage Fright (1950) foreshadows many of Hitchcock films in the future like Vertigo and Psycho. Let me take Vertigo. Flashback idea was later reused in Vertigo. In Vertigo, The Carlotta story was part real, part invented by Gavin Elster to get the attention of Scottie Ferguson. But Hitchcock didn't use it visually in Vertigo. In Stage Fright, the flashback is part real and part invented too. All of the scenes with Eve (Wyman) in the Flashback is real. But all of the scenes with Charlotte Inwood (Dietrich) in the flashback were invented by Cooper (Richard Todd) to get the attention of Eve and also the audience.

 

In Stage Fright, the audience is more of a character than his other films. For Example, Eve (Jane Wyman) comes and stands outside the room of Charlotte's room. And she only "hears" Jonathan and Charlotte talking inside. And Hitchcock takes the audience into the room to "see" visually what is going on inside. This scene takes place after the song "I am the Laziest Girl in Town."

 

So when Jonathan Cooper "explains" the flashback to Eve, Hitchcock takes Eve to "picture" the moments in the flashback into her mind, so that she can remember every detail Jonathan says. And the audience travels with her imagination. Like Norman Bates says to Arbogast "When you make a picture of the moment in your mind, you can remember every detail."

 

In Psycho, we see Norman telling his past to Marion Crane while she is eating the sandwich. By the end of the film, we find out Norman's past and realize that Norman's story to Marion Crane is part real and part invented.

[JackFavell]

I had to go look that movie up! It sounds really good and someone at IMDB compared it to Stagecoach.....although someone else said that to compare it to Stagecoach was to do it a dis-service, since it was a good movie on it's own.

 

I am going to go search for it.

[MissGoddess]

*Flame Over India* is the title I remember it as. It's also known as *North West Frontier*, which always made me think it was a western, ha!

 

Stagecoach? Hmmm....I guess it does resemble it in that you have a few disparate individuals thrown together on a conveyance and being targeted by hostiles. I haven't seen it in a while, but I remember liking it a lot and it was my first real notice of Kenneth More. Lauren is very good, too; her character reminds me somewhat of the woman she played in The Shootist. Rather stiff and proper at first, but then she learns...

[C.Bogle]

The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it. O. Wilde

 

 

I suppose it all matters what one's purpose is. For the paradoxical

thought-provoking witticism Wilde would be your man. For a longer

more minute psychological investigation, you might hang fire with

James .On the third hand, in terms of sheer physical weight, I'd guess

that James would pack more of a punch, collected works wise. Maybe

it's better just to carry a gun.

[JackFavell]

> {quote:title=MissGoddess wrote:}{quote}

> *Flame Over India* is the title I remember it as. It's also known as *North West Frontier*, which always made me think it was a western, ha!

 

I just put it in my Netflix queue. Thanks for the tip.

[misswonderly3]

"I am not young enough to know everything." Oscar Wilde

 

C.Bogle, the thing about carrying a copy of the complete works of Henry James into a bar with you is, never mind whacking potential attackers over the head with it, all you'd have to do would be to read a couple of paragraphs and your enemies would fall asleep.

 

 

Konway87, you are right about *Stage Fright.* How could I have thought Teresa Wright was in it? Although there's a kind of similarity between her and Jane Wyman. They're both kind of innocent and wholesome. I must watch that movie again.

[MissGoddess]

> In Stage Fright, the audience is more of a character than his other films. For Example, Eve (Jane Wyman) comes and stands outside the room of Charlotte's room. And she only "hears" Jonathan and Charlotte talking inside. And Hitchcock takes the audience into the room to "see" visually what is going on inside. This scene takes place after the song "I am the Laziest Girl in Town."

>

> So when Jonathan Cooper "explains" the flashback to Eve, Hitchcock takes Eve to "picture" the moments in the flashback into her mind, so that she can remember every detail Jonathan says. And the audience travels with her imagination. Like Norman Bates says to Arbogast "When you make a picture of the moment in your mind, you can remember every detail."

>

 

You're so sharp, Konway! This falls right in with what Miss Favell wrote

about the stage/audience aspects of Hitch's films.

 

I sure am getting a real Hitchcock education.

[konway87]

SPOILERS

 

Thanks, Miss Goddess. I never considered false flashback to be a mistake. As you all know, Hitchcock was way ahead of his time. Eve pictures all of those moments based on Jonathan Cooper's detailed explanations. After the false flashback, we see that its already night time. It must have been quite a long explanation. And Eve also says that the journey takes "2 hours with luck" to father's boat. In Interviews, Hitchcock always said that he liked "little details." He always kept attention to small details.

 

I believe that Hitchcock had the idea of putting a character in the wrong direction and pushing him/her almost into a horrific result or facing horrific result.

 

I think he used this idea for the first time in The Paradine Case. Eve (Wyman) believed that Charlotte was the real murderer and Jonathan was innocent. So She was in a wrong direction. And Eve moves under this wrong direction and ends up at a horrific result where she finds out the real truth.

 

Gavin Elster (Tom Helmore) creates his own version of Carlotta Valdes to convince Scottie Ferguson (James Stewart) that Madeleine is possessed by Carlotta Valdes. And Scottie falls into the wrong direction. And he ends up facing the horrific result by losing his Obsession. This is also similar with the case of Marion Crane in Psycho.

 

In Stage Fright, Wilfred "O"Smith (Michael Wilding) is a reference to Producer David "O" Selznick. This idea was later used in North by Northwest (Roger "O" Thornhill).

[MissGoddess]

> {quote:title=konway87 wrote:}{quote}

> SPOILERS

>

> Thanks, Miss Goddess. I never considered false flashback to be a mistake. As you all know, Hitchcock was way ahead of his time. Eve pictures all of those moments based on Jonathan Cooper's detailed explanations. After the false flashback, we see that its already night time. It must have been quite a long explanation. And Eve also says that the journey takes "2 hours with luck" to father's boat. In Interviews, Hitchcock always said that he liked "little details." He always kept attention to small details.

>

 

Oh, yes, I don't believe for a minute that Hitch didn't know exactly what he was doing

with every facet of his films. He was so meticulous with the pre-production and

story boarding. And he had that second set of meticulous eyes as well: Alma.

 

> I believe that Hitchcock had the idea of putting a character in the wrong direction and pushing him/her almost into a horrific result or facing horrific result.

>

 

Now this is fascinating. I can completely see it, too. It's not just "the wrong man" or

"mistaken identity", it's also false assumptions, red herrings and the road not taken.

 

 

> I think he used this idea for the first time in The Paradine Case. Eve (Wyman) believed that Charlotte was the real murderer and Jonathan was innocent. So She was in a wrong direction. And Eve moves under this wrong direction and ends up at a horrific result where she finds out the real truth.

>

> Gavin Elster (Tom Helmore) creates his own version of Carlotta Valdes to convince Scottie Ferguson (James Stewart) that Madeleine is possessed by Carlotta Valdes. And Scottie falls into the wrong direction. And he ends up facing the horrific result by losing his Obsession. This is also similar with the case of Marion Crane in Psycho.

>

 

Very good! And even in a bit of fluff like To Catch a Thief, the police are following

"the Cat", John Robie, and John is using this to, hopefully, put them on to the real

burglar and murderer.

 

 

> In Stage Fright, Wilfred "O"Smith (Michael Wilding) is a reference to Producer David "O" Selznick. This idea was later used in North by Northwest (Roger "O" Thornhill).

 

Ha! Yes, I thought that was so cute.

[konway87]

SPOILERS

I want to point out one more interesting subject in Stage Fright. Its the scene where Eve (Jane Wyman) comes and stands outside the room of Charlotte's room. And she only "hears" Jonathan and Charlotte talking inside. And Hitchcock takes the audience into the room to "see" visually what is going on inside. In this very scene, Jonathan tells Charlotte Inwood that he hasn't destroyed the blood stain dress. Charlotte becomes very shocked when she hears this. And Eve and the audience know that Jonathan is "lying."

 

But his "lie" had such a strong effect on Charlotte Inwood. This shows Jonathan's strong capability in making people believe "a lie" including the audience.

[MissGoddess]

> {quote:title=konway87 wrote:}{quote}

> SPOILERS

> I want to point out one more interesting subject in Stage Fright. Its the scene where Eve (Jane Wyman) comes and stands outside the room of Charlotte's room. And she only "hears" Jonathan and Charlotte talking inside. And Hitchcock takes the audience into the room to "see" visually what is going on inside. In this very scene, Jonathan tells Charlotte Inwood that he hasn't destroyed the blood stain dress. Charlotte becomes very shocked when she hears this. And Eve and the audience know that Jonathan is "lying."

>

> But his "lie" had such a strong effect on Charlotte Inwood. This shows Jonathan's strong capability in making people believe "a lie" including the audience.

 

Hi Konway,

 

Oddly enough, Richard Todd stars in tonight's "Bob's Picks" on TCM in The Hasty Heart. It's only this and Stage Fright that I know of him. If Stage Fright puzzles me, it's because of Todd's limited screen time. I don't quite know why or how it is he wields such influence on Charlotte. The scenario also confuses me because I have Witness for the Prosecution in my mind where again, Dietrich is covering for a guy. Your words have helped clear some of it up for me. I have the DVD, I'll have to watch it again---maybe tonight---with what you've said in mind.

[konway87]

SPOILERS

"Your words have helped clear some of it up for me."

 

Thanks. I can understand why you get confuse some scenes in Witness for Prosecution with Stage Fright. There is Marlene Dietrich in both films. And both films has lots of plot twists.

 

I am also putting here a video of Spellbound with Bernard Herrmann's score (contains SPOILERS) from All that Money can Buy (1942). I made this video couple of months ago. I hope you all like the video. I am also interested in hearing your opinions about this video.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAiXosLb0ro

[Bronxgirl48]

 

I remember Richard in STAGE FRIGHT, but haven't seen the film in a long time. After loving him so much tonight in THE HASTY HEART, I think I'll check out STAGE FRIGHT again -- it's on YouTube.

 

Edited by: Bronxgirl48 on Jun 9, 2010 10:36 PM

[MissGoddess]

Thanks, Konway, I will take a look at your video!

[MissGoddess]

Hello, Mrs. Todd!

 

Yes, do watch Stage Fright with your new love (poor Clo Clo!) and we can all compare notes.

[Bronxgirl48]

> {quote:title=JackFavell wrote:}{quote}

> > {quote:title=Bronxgirl48 wrote:}{quote}

>

> > HA! And up from the ground came a-bubblin' Satan.

>

> spit take! Really! Oh, my poor keyboard!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ever see HORROR HOTEL? (aka CITY OF THE DEAD in the U.K.)

Christopher Lee is in it, too, and you can't believe the way he overacts.

Creepy atmosphere, plot bears some slight resemblance to PSYCHO.

>

> I'll try to check out Treasure Islan....I mean The Thirty Nine Steps fifties remix version soon... I still haven't watched Gaslight with Anton yet! I am very slow....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm telling you, if I hadn't seen the credits for the '59 THIRTY NINE STEPS I would have sworn it was a Buena Vista production filmed in England. As for the original GASLIGHT, that's okay, take your time, it's not going anywhere on YouTube

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

> Poor Kenneth More. I really feel for him and Patrick Macnee. They came to movies just this much too late, and ended up in some awful stuff....I wonder what they would have done had they started in the thirties? Luckily, they each did some marvelous stuff too...mostly for TV. I just love Kenneth's Young Jolyon in *The Forsyte Saga*. He has the right mix of thoughtful rebel, old world Victorian, and romantic weakness that makes the character memorable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh my gosh you're absolutely RIGHT about those two!

 

And would you believe I've never seen THE FORSYTH SAGA, or BRIDESHEAD REVISITED? ("only" UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS)

[Bronxgirl48]

> {quote:title=MissGoddess wrote:}{quote}

> Hello, Mrs. Todd!

>

> Yes, do watch Stage Fright with your new love (poor Clo Clo!) and we can all compare notes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Och, good evenin' to ya, girl! Yes, poor Clo-Clo, he can't hold a candle to my Richard, but I was shocked (oops, poor choice of word, sorry Claude)

to find that YouTube YANKED Francois's "Belinda" clip (the one with the clumsy go-go girls) But luckily I found another one. (whew)

 

I'll probably watch STAGE FRIGHT tomorrow.

 

Edited by: Bronxgirl48 on Jun 9, 2010 10:54 PM

[MissGoddess]

> Och, good evenin' to ya, girl! Yes, poor Clo-Clo, he can't hold a candle to my Richard, but I was shocked (oops, poor choice of word, sorry Claude)

> to find that YouTube YANKED Francois's "Belinda" clip (the one with the clumsy go-go girls) But luckily I found another one. (whew)

>

 

They also yanked Fritz Lang's Secret Beyond the Door, which I had been

planning to watch for months and missed my chance. All that's up is the opening

credits. So, I'd say watch things while you can!

[Bronxgirl48]

> {quote:title=MissGoddess wrote:}{quote}

> > Och, good evenin' to ya, girl! Yes, poor Clo-Clo, he can't hold a candle to my Richard, but I was shocked (oops, poor choice of word, sorry Claude)

> > to find that YouTube YANKED Francois's "Belinda" clip (the one with the clumsy go-go girls) But luckily I found another one. (whew)

> >

>

> They also yanked Fritz Lang's Secret Beyond the Door, which I had been

> planning to watch for months and missed my chance. All that's up is the opening

> credits. So, I'd say watch things while you can!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They did? Drat, I wanted to see that one again. They also yanked the BEST clip of Claude singing the French version of "My Way" ("Comme L'Habitude") -- the one I posted in my Mom thread, where he's really intense and can put over an emotional ballad, and all they have left is him doing less interesting performances of it where he seems to be only going through the motions.

[C.Bogle]

In this world there are only two tragedies. One is not getting what one wants, and the

other is getting it. O. Wilde

 

 

Miss W, are you implying that reading from the Master's works might have a

soporific effect on your average bar patron? With some patience and attention,

I think a dose of James would keep them awake. But if Henry doesn't put

'em to sleep, perhaps brother William will.

 

 

One of the Wilde archetypes I don't remember appearing in the Hitchcock films

that I've seen is the dandy/aesthete. The boys from Rope probably come the

closest, with a slightly honorable mention for Bruno Anthony and Uncle Charlie,

but most of his leading men are relatively solid and down to earth types.

[misswonderly3]

"The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about" O. Wilde

 

Mr. Wilde would be gratified then, by his name being mentioned so often on this thread.

 

The typical Hitchcockian male hero was usually a "man's man". Not "macho", which I don't believe is the same thing. James Stewart is a good example of a Hitchcock "man", adventurous, curious, resourceful, conflicted (well, the later ones, when they became more complicated) yet vulnerable.

 

For a minute I'd misread your post, and thought you said: "...The boys from Rope probably came from the closet...", which is probably as accurate as what you actually said. Maybe Bruno too, although he was more just plain decadent. Or something.

 

I've reconsidered my Henry James defence strategy. I figure by the time I'd read my bar comrades a paragraph from just about anything he wrote, they'd have beaten me up, since his paragraphs tend to be at least a page long. Maybe you've got the right idea, Henry in one hand, and William in the other, whack any hostile comers with both at the same time. A whole new take on "The James Brothers".

 

Edited by: misswonderly on Jun 10, 2010 10:01 AM

[MissGoddess]

> I am also putting here a video of Spellbound with Bernard Herrmann's score (contains SPOILERS) from All that Money can Buy (1942). I made this video couple of months ago. I hope you all like the video. I am also interested in hearing your opinions about this video.

>

> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAiXosLb0ro

 

Very good, Konway! I also saw some of your other videos at YouTube. You know what was the

first thing I noticed in the way of similarities between Hitch movies through the years? *Glasses*.

Specifically, women who wore glasses. I am guessing this was a tip of the hat to Alma, and later,

to his daughter Patricia, both of whom wore glasses. Glasses turn up in so many of Hitch's movies,

and in Strangers on a Train they are a very key element.

[konway87]

SPOILERS

 

I agree with everything you said. We see glasses in many of Hitchcock's films. Stage Fright is one of them. I don't know if you have seen Herrmann's Original Recording of Torn Curtain. But I am posting it here so you can hear it.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epEqVCB4Y18

[C.Bogle]

The English country gentleman galloping after a fox ?

the unspeakable in full pursuit of the uneatable. O. Wilde

 

 

Wilde is one of the most quoted writers, even if people are not that familiar with

much of his work. He usually enjoyed the limelight in life, so he'd probably enjoy it

now, if he could.

 

Yes, I was mainly thinking of his mid and later 1950s heroes. They are manly, without

going overboard into macho, or making a fuss about their "manliness." Jimmy Stewart

does seem to go a bit off the rails in his artist like obsession with reconstructing Judy into

Madeleine, though he'll probably recover after her death. From the closet, now there's a true

Freudian slip. I just remembered Bruno's lobster tie. A true aesthete would walk them on a

leash. He's still one of the most interesting Hitchcock villains.

 

Whatever the possible influence of one on the other, the physical contrast between Wilde

and Hitch is amusing. Placing Wilde in full flower along Hitch in his business suit is truly

something to contemplate.

 

I can hear it now: "Quick boys, grab a bottle and vamoose. The James boys are riding

into town."

[MissGoddess]

> {quote:title=konway87 wrote:}{quote}

> SPOILERS

>

> I agree with everything you said. We see glasses in many of Hitchcock's films. Stage Fright is one of them. I don't know if you have seen Herrmann's Original Recording of Torn Curtain. But I am posting it here so you can hear it.

>

> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epEqVCB4Y18

 

Konway, was this the music that was abandoned? That Hitch took Hermann off the project because he wanted something more "commercial"? Or was that on another project? Anyway, it's very good, very strong.