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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.
Movie Quote of the Day – September Affair, 1950 (dir. William Dieterle)
David Lawrence: That was entirely premeditated.
Manina Stuart: I didn’t think it was gravity. [beat] And I don’t think we should make a habit of it.
Movie Quote of the Day – Design For Living, 1933 (dir. Ernst Lubitsch)
Tom Chambers: That’s one way of meeting the situation. Shipping clerk comes home, finds missus with boarder. He breaks dishes. It’s pure burlesque. Then there’s another way. Intelligent artist returns unexpectedly, finds treacherous friends, both discuss the pros and cons of the situation in grownup dialogue. High-class comedy, enjoyed by everybody.
George Curtis: There’s a third way. I’ll kick your teeth out and tear your head off and beat some decency into you!
Tom Chambers: Cheap melodrama. Very dull.
Movie Quote of the Day – Guys and Dolls, 1955 (dir. Joseph L. Mankiewicz)
Sky Masterson: We just got time to catch the last plane to New York.
Sergeant Sarah Brown: People miss planes. It happens.
Sky Masterson: Yeah? It also happens that people win with loaded dice.
Sergeant Sarah Brown: I know what I’m doing.
Sky Masterson: Do you, kid? [beat] I don’t.
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 – Kiss of Death, 1947 (dir. Henry Hathaway)
Tommy Udo: I’m askin’ ya, where’s that squealin’ son of yours? [maniacal laugh] You think a squealer can get away from me? Huh? [maniacal laugh] You know what I do to squealers? I let ’em have it in the belly, so they can roll around for a long time thinkin’ it over.
Movie Quote of the Day – Gilda, 1946 (dir. Charles Vidor)
Ballin Mundson: Gilda, are you decent?
Gilda: Me?
[beat]
Gilda: Sure. I’m decent.
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 – The Shop Around The Corner, 1940 (dir. Ernst Lubitsch)
Alfred Kralik: Can you see her?
Pirovitch: Yes.
Alfred Kralik: Is she pretty?
Pirovitch: Very pretty.
Alfred Kralik: She is, huh?
Pirovitch: I should say, she looks, she has a little of the coloring of Klara.
Alfred Kralik: Klara, Miss Novak of the shop?
Pirovitch: Now, Kralik, you must admit Klara is a very good looking girl, and personally I’ve always found her a very likable girl.
Alfred Kralik: Well this is a fine time to talk about Miss Novak.
Pirovitch: Well, if you don’t like Miss Novak, I can tell you right now you won’t like that girl.
Alfred Kralik: Why?
Pirovitch: Because it is Miss Novak.
the diary of a film history fanatic 