A review by Brooks Rich
This is a film that I imagine some might know the plot of but maybe have never seen it. It's a familiar situation that has been used in other films and television shows. It is a classic noir plot and turns into one of Hitchcock's best films. Hitchcock owned the '50s, try to find a director with a better track record in any decade, and Strangers on a Train was his first big hit of the '50s.
Farley Granger plays Guy Haines, a tennis pro whose wife is dragging out a divorce, so Farley is unable to marry the lovely Anne Morton. On a train Guy has a chance encounter with Bruno Anthony, a chilling Robert Walker. The two get to talking and begin discussing how to get away with the perfect murder, basically swapping murders, where Bruno would kill Guy's wife and Guy would kill Bruno's father. Guy doesn't take this conversation but Bruno very much does. When he kills Guy's wife, he expects Guy to hold up his end of the bargain.
This is one of Hitchcock's classics. It falls not only into the best suspense films he made but also has a recurring theme that plays through a good number of his films, the wrong man accused of a crime. The wrong man scenario can also be seen in films like Saboteur, The 39 Steps, North By Northwest, and The Wrong Man. It does play into the plot of this film but not as prevalent as some of the others. The police and Guy interact with each other often where for example the man character in The 39 Steps is always fleeing the police.
One of the best dialogue scenes in film history is the first conversation between Guy and Bruno. Hitchcock brilliantly chooses to have Bruno notice Guy after Guy accidentally bumps Bruno's foot. A harmless accident that turns into a nightmare for Guy. It's so well done and quickly shows how cunning and calculating that Bruno is. He slowly ensures Guy in his trap, pushing him towards the talk of murder, making Guy admit how much he hates his wife.
Strangers On a Train was Hitchcock's transition from the '40s to the powerhouse reign he would have in the '50s. It still feels like one of his '40s films but the filmmaker he would become in the '50s is clearly there. I adore this film and recommend it to anyone. One of Hitchcock's best.
This is a film that I imagine some might know the plot of but maybe have never seen it. It's a familiar situation that has been used in other films and television shows. It is a classic noir plot and turns into one of Hitchcock's best films. Hitchcock owned the '50s, try to find a director with a better track record in any decade, and Strangers on a Train was his first big hit of the '50s.
Farley Granger plays Guy Haines, a tennis pro whose wife is dragging out a divorce, so Farley is unable to marry the lovely Anne Morton. On a train Guy has a chance encounter with Bruno Anthony, a chilling Robert Walker. The two get to talking and begin discussing how to get away with the perfect murder, basically swapping murders, where Bruno would kill Guy's wife and Guy would kill Bruno's father. Guy doesn't take this conversation but Bruno very much does. When he kills Guy's wife, he expects Guy to hold up his end of the bargain.
This is one of Hitchcock's classics. It falls not only into the best suspense films he made but also has a recurring theme that plays through a good number of his films, the wrong man accused of a crime. The wrong man scenario can also be seen in films like Saboteur, The 39 Steps, North By Northwest, and The Wrong Man. It does play into the plot of this film but not as prevalent as some of the others. The police and Guy interact with each other often where for example the man character in The 39 Steps is always fleeing the police.
One of the best dialogue scenes in film history is the first conversation between Guy and Bruno. Hitchcock brilliantly chooses to have Bruno notice Guy after Guy accidentally bumps Bruno's foot. A harmless accident that turns into a nightmare for Guy. It's so well done and quickly shows how cunning and calculating that Bruno is. He slowly ensures Guy in his trap, pushing him towards the talk of murder, making Guy admit how much he hates his wife.
Strangers On a Train was Hitchcock's transition from the '40s to the powerhouse reign he would have in the '50s. It still feels like one of his '40s films but the filmmaker he would become in the '50s is clearly there. I adore this film and recommend it to anyone. One of Hitchcock's best.
Comments
Post a Comment