234. Strangers on a Train (1951)

Running Time: 101 minutes
Directed By: Alfred Hitchcock
Written By: Raymond Chandler, Whitfield Cook, Czenzi Ormonde, from novel by Patricia Highsmith
Main Cast: Farley Granger, Robert Walker, Ruth Roman, Leo G. Carroll, Patricia Hitchcock

HITCHCOCKTOBER FEST!: PART V

I had seen this movie twice before, but despite that, it wasn't until today when I really realized just how good it is. "Strangers on a Train" gives us some of the best scenes that Hitchcock ever filmed and the suspense level is cranked up to a full blown ten, with a great cast, including an outstanding Robert Walker.

The film starts on a train with Guy Haines (Granger), a promising young tennis star and Bruno Anthony (Walker) literally bumping into each other. They chit chat for a bit, and after they've become a bit more comfortable and after a bite to eat in Bruno's compartment, Bruno springs his grand idea on Guy. Since both men have someone in their lives that they'd rather be without (Guy's estranged wife and Bruno's overbearing father), Bruno suggests that they swap murders...criss cross. Bruno will kill Guy's wife so that he can freely marry his current love interest Anne Morton, and Guy will kill Bruno's father, leaving him to be all alone with his loving mother. The only problem is that Guy is a sane man and wants no part of Bruno's insane idea. However, when Bruno the idea in his head, he goes through with it, killing Guy's wife and then blackmailing him to kill his father. Guy must be careful with the on edge Bruno, as Bruno threatens to tell the police that the entire idea was Guy's and that he was only the killer, and then Guy would be just as guilty.

"Strangers on a Train" works really well and sticks out like a sore thumb as a definite Hitchcock movie. It has all of his trademarks, the unique shots (my favorite being the sight of Bruno murdering Guy's wife, Miriam and we see the whole thing unfold through the lenses of her eyeglasses, that have fallen from her face and dropped to the ground), the suspense woven throughout, the extremely nail biting climax, the crazy characters (Bruno ranks right up there with the real nuts of the Hitchcock universe) and the beautiful women (or woman...Ruth Roman was gorgeous). Everything is there, you have all the elements for a superb Hitchcock film and that's just what you get. I love so many aspects of this film, I'll try to go through them as best I can.

I love the opening and how, at first, all we see are the walking feet of our two main characters. Somehow just by looking at the chosen footwear of the characters, we already know who's the villain and who's the good guy. Bruno has on a more eccentric shoe and Guy is conservative with his black dress shoes. Prior to even seeing their faces, Hitchcock is telling us who's who here and I think it's a great introduction. The entire segment at the amusement park, when Bruno is stalking Miriam is also a lot of fun. Absolutely no dialogue from Walker, as he just lurks like a rattlesnake, waiting for the moment when he'll snap his head forth and strangle his victim. Then we get into the blackmailing, as Bruno begins to badger Guy, wondering when Guy will do "his murder". We get some really memorable shots, like the one of Bruno standing at the top of a pair of steps and Guy spotting him. The camera never zooms into Bruno's face, but instead we stay back and get Guy's perspective of the shot. Also, when Bruno is seated in the crowd at one of Guy's tennis matches and the entire crowd around him is following the tennis ball with their eyes...back and forth go their heads and then we see Bruno, starring straight ahead, piercing a hold through Guy Haines. I won't talk about the ending, for fear of spoiling it for you, but it's utter brilliance and has you sitting on the edge of whatever seat you're in with so many combustible elements at play.

Well then...I guess this review has really turned into me swooning over some of my favorite scenes from the film, but that's okay. I hope you realize that this means that I loved the movie, because I promise you, you'll never find me swooning over scenes for a movie that I disliked.

RATING: 9.5/10 I deducted 1/2 point, simply because as good as the film was, it just didn't feel like a full blown '10'. I'm sure I'll be re-thinking my rating decision later, but that's my initial rating. Next up is "Rear Window".

MOVIES WATCHED: 162
MOVIES LEFT TO WATCH: 839

October 16, 2010 12:44pm