FredCDobbs Posted May 31, 2006 Share Posted May 31, 2006 I think I read somewhere that ?Vertigo? had a last-minute title change. Link to post Share on other sites
RobertEmmettHarron Posted May 31, 2006 Share Posted May 31, 2006 Wowser. Musta been a harder question than I thought? Sorry, gents. "Spellbound" was "Spellbound" pretty much from day one, and Hitch stuck to his guns on "Vertigo," insisting on that title for months, even though the studio hated it. (The suits figured few people in the audience knew what vertigo was.) We'll have a hint later tonight, if no one has guessed the right title by then. Link to post Share on other sites
RobertEmmettHarron Posted May 31, 2006 Share Posted May 31, 2006 Dear CineSage-- Thanks for the amendment. I swear I've seen the composition listed as Storm Cloud Cantata in reference books that I have, but you phrase things like an expert. (Experts always underline.) Must file away your tip in the old noggin' Cordially, Robert. Message was edited by: RobertEmmettHarron Message was edited by: RobertEmmettHarron Link to post Share on other sites
MrWriteLA Posted May 31, 2006 Share Posted May 31, 2006 "Notorious" Link to post Share on other sites
RobertEmmettHarron Posted May 31, 2006 Share Posted May 31, 2006 No-No-Notorious. (Sorry. Couldn't help it.) That answer also is wrong. Keep trying. Link to post Share on other sites
wordmaster Posted May 31, 2006 Share Posted May 31, 2006 I'll take 'a shot in the dark', if I may...[oops] "Young and Innocent" (1937) seems to have a movie poster accompanying it, showing the title "The Girl Was Young" [pause to scratch head]...Is there a story behind this? Link to post Share on other sites
RobertEmmettHarron Posted May 31, 2006 Share Posted May 31, 2006 Yep, there's a story behind that. Unfortunately, it's not the right story. "Young and Innocent" aka "The Girl Was Young" (as it was titled for U.S. distribution, well before it's actual release) is not the title I'm looking for. Link to post Share on other sites
path40a Posted May 31, 2006 Share Posted May 31, 2006 Well, Sabotage also has a US title - A Woman Alone (e.g. Sylvia Sidney). Could that be it? Link to post Share on other sites
wordmaster Posted May 31, 2006 Share Posted May 31, 2006 "Downhill" also has a US title, "When Boys Leave Home"? Are we on the right track...or should we be seeking a film that has an alternate British title? I think I will explore this possibility further... Link to post Share on other sites
RobertEmmettHarron Posted May 31, 2006 Share Posted May 31, 2006 All right, all right. Time for hint #1. Forget about the Brithish period. You're looking for a film made after Hitchcock came to America in 1940. Link to post Share on other sites
wordmaster Posted May 31, 2006 Share Posted May 31, 2006 Was it also really the first movie to show a flushing toilet on camera? "Psycho"...which seems to have had the working title "Wimpy" [!?] or another title: "Production 9401" [oooooh...how spine-chilling!] Link to post Share on other sites
MrWriteLA Posted May 31, 2006 Share Posted May 31, 2006 > All right, all right. Time for hint #1. > Forget about the Brithish period. You're looking for > a film made after Hitchcock came to America in 1940. No kinda hint for me. I knew from your wording of the clue it couldn't have been a British one. I'm going to take a completely random stab and guess "I Confess." Link to post Share on other sites
RobertEmmettHarron Posted May 31, 2006 Share Posted May 31, 2006 Yeah, I apologize Mr. Write. I also thought the original question made it clear I was referring to an American film, but I was concerned about all the fine folks starting to tread down the primrose path that was leading to titles like "The Mountain Eagle" and "The Manxman." Anyhow, neither "Psycho" nor "I Confess" is the title in question. Let me try another clue, which may be a little more helpful. Hitchcock wasn't any too happy with the film that is at the center of this inquiry. Link to post Share on other sites
RobertEmmettHarron Posted May 31, 2006 Share Posted May 31, 2006 And here, I think are the incorrect titles guessed so far: Frenzy; Psycho; North By Northwest; Vertigo; Topaz; Family Plot; Suspicion; Spellbound; I Confess; No-No-Notorious (sorry, did it again); Shadow of a Doubt; Foreign Correspondent; and The Trouble With Harry. Apologies if I missed any. Remember, lads, it's a title issued after 1939. Link to post Share on other sites
MrWriteLA Posted May 31, 2006 Share Posted May 31, 2006 Well, I don't think he was that happy with any of my remaining guesses (I've of course ruled out ones with famous sources)... but I'm going to go with "Stage Fright" this time. Link to post Share on other sites
RobertEmmettHarron Posted May 31, 2006 Share Posted May 31, 2006 Yeah, I thought that too, that he wasn't real pleased with any of the plausible candidates remaining. But "Stage Fright" isn't the title I'm looking for. Here's one more hint, and if this doesn't give away the game, I suppose I can supply a cast list or something. Physical evidence of the last-minute title dithering remains to be seen on all extant prints of this film to this very day. Link to post Share on other sites
MrWriteLA Posted May 31, 2006 Share Posted May 31, 2006 Well...narrowing it down... "Under Capricorn"? Link to post Share on other sites
RobertEmmettHarron Posted May 31, 2006 Share Posted May 31, 2006 Keep narrowing. Link to post Share on other sites
TOOMANYNOTES Posted May 31, 2006 Share Posted May 31, 2006 ' Message was edited by: TOOMANYNOTES Link to post Share on other sites
RobertEmmettHarron Posted May 31, 2006 Share Posted May 31, 2006 No. And it isn't that other short French thing, either. (I got 'em once on DVD and thought them both unwatchable.) But that's another story. Link to post Share on other sites
MrWriteLA Posted May 31, 2006 Share Posted May 31, 2006 "The Wrong Man"? Link to post Share on other sites
RobertEmmettHarron Posted May 31, 2006 Share Posted May 31, 2006 No. Link to post Share on other sites
wordmaster Posted June 1, 2006 Share Posted June 1, 2006 "Torn Curtain"? Link to post Share on other sites
FredCDobbs Posted June 1, 2006 Share Posted June 1, 2006 The Birds? Link to post Share on other sites
RobertEmmettHarron Posted June 1, 2006 Share Posted June 1, 2006 Well, well, well. I was wondering when someone would finally guess "Torn Curtain." Not that it's the right answer, mind you, but I was just wondering when someone would finally guess it. "The Birds" ain't right, either. Link to post Share on other sites
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