Blog Archives

Oscar Vault Monday – Spellbound, 1945 (dir. Alfred Hitchcock)

This is definitely one of my favorite of Hitchcock’s films and one that is rich with imagery and ideas. I am going to give you some of my thoughts on the film, but I am not going to claim to be an expert on this film. It’s definitely one that needs many rewatchings and explorations. I would really love to hear thoughts from my readers on this film solely because it is so rife with ideas. Also, beware there will be a major SPOILER about the ending, so if you’ve never seen it, you might want to not read to the end of this post. The film was nominated for six Academy Awards, winning one: Best Score Miklós Rózsa (won), Best B&W Cinematography, Best Special Effects, Best Supporting Actor Michael Chekov, Best Director and Best Picture. The other films nominated that year were Anchors Aweigh, The Bells of St. Mary’s, Mildred Pierce and winner The Lost Weekend.

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Movie Quote of the Day – The Birds, 1963 (dir. Alfred Hitchcock)

Annie Hayworth: Did you drive up from San Francisco by the coast road?
Melanie Daniels: Yes.
Annie Hayworth: Nice drive.
Melanie Daniels: It’s very beautiful.
Annie Hayworth: Is that where you met Mitch?
Melanie Daniels: Yes.
Annie Hayworth: I guess that’s where everyone meets Mitch.

Hitchcock Blogathon: Shadow of a Doubt

This year’s Film Preservation Blogathon has a Hitchcock connection, click here to read all about it, thus I decided to write about Shadow of a Doubt. Partly because it is my favorite Hitchcock film and partly because today is Joseph Cheshire Cotten’s birthday. It’s a win-win. Look for the banner at the end of this post to donate to the cause.

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Movie Quote of the Day – Vertigo, 1958 (dir. Alfred Hitchcock)

Scottie: What’s this doohickey?
Midge: It’s a brassiere! You know about those things, you’re a big boy now.
Scottie: I’ve never run across one like that.
Midge: It’s brand new. Revolutionary up-lift: No shoulder straps, no back straps, but it does everything a brassiere should do. Works on the principle of the cantilevered bridge.
Scottie: It does?
Midge: An aircraft engineer down in the peninsula designed it; he worked it out in his spare time.
Scottie: Kind of a hobby, a do-it-yourself kind of thing!

Movie Quote of the Day – The 39 Steps, 1935 (dir. Alfred Hitchcock)

Richard Hannay: There are million women in this island, and I’m chained to you. Listen, once more. I’m telling you the truth. I told you once in the train. I tried to tell you after the election meeting. I’m telling you now for the third time. There’s a danagerous conspiracy against this island and we’re the only ones who can stop it. Think what you’ve seen happen right under your very nose.
Pamela: The gallant knight to the rescue.
Richard Hannay: All right, then I’m just a plain, common murderer who stabbed an innocent, defenseless woman in the back not four days ago. How do you come out over that? I don’t know how innocent you may be but you’re a woman, you’re defenseless, and you’re alone on a desolate moor in the dark, manacled to a murderer who’d stop at nothing to get you off his hands. If that’s the situation you prefer, have it, my lovely, and welcome.
Pamela: I’m not afraid of. . .
Richard Hannay: For all you know, I may murder a woman a week.

Movie Quote of the Day – Notorious, 1946 (dir. Alfred Hitchcock)

Alicia: This is a very strange love affair.
Devlin: Why?
Alicia: Maybe the fact that you don’t love me.

Movie Quote of the Day – Shadow of a Doubt, 1943 (dir. Alfred Hitchcock)

Uncle Charlie: What’s the use of looking backward? What’s the use of looking ahead? Today’s the thing – that’s my philosophy. [beat] Today.

Movie Quote of the Day – Strangers on a Train, 1951 (dir. Alfred Hitchcock)

Bruno Antony: Want to hear one of my ideas for a perfect murder?

Movie Quote of the Day – Psycho, 1960 (dir. Alfred Hitchcock)

Marion Crane: I am sorry. I only felt. . .it seems she’s hurting you. [beat] I meant well.
Norman Bates: People always mean well! They cluck their thick tongues and shake their heads and suggest, oh so very delicately! [beat] Of course, I’ve suggested it myself. But I hate to even think about it. She needs me. It . . .it’s not as if she were a. . .a maniac . . .a raving thing. She just goes a little mad sometimes. We all go a little mad sometimes. [beat] Haven’t you?
Marion Crane: Yes. Sometimes just one time can be enough. Thank you.
Norman Bates: ‘Thank you, Norman.’
Marion Crane: . . .Norman.