To Catch a Thief

To Catch a Thief

Paramount

August 5, 1955

Mystery?

DVD

C-

I didn't care about the story, but I did like the look of this, especially the aerial shots.  This is based on the novel by David Dodge.  Director Hitchcock's cameo is on the bus, fairly early on.

Strangers on a Train

Strangers on a Train

Warner Bros.

June 30, 1951

Mystery

DVD
D+

Contrived, and the "evil wife" is the most interesting character in the first quarter hour.  Raymond Chandler, Ben Hecht, and others adapted the Patricia Highsmith novel.  Hitchcock of course directed.

Saboteur

Saboteur

Universal Pictures etc.

April 24, 1942

Mystery

DVD
C-

This is so early in Bob Cummings's career, his 25-year-old character is referred to as a kid.  Hitchcock directed and co-wrote, including with Dorothy Parker.

Rebecca (1940)

Rebecca (1940)

United Artists

April 12, 1940

Mystery, Romance, Crime Drama, etc.

DVD
B-

I've read the Daphne Du Maurier novel multiple times and gave it a B+ (https://rereadingeverybookiown.blogspot.com/2012/05/rebecca.html ).  I've seen this movie once or twice before, and watched the scene about it in Celluloid Closet multiple times.  This time, I was still entertained, but I wasn't wowed, and I couldn't help wishing I was watching a better George Sanders movie (All About Eve of course).  Hitchcock directed, which is why it crosses genres so much.

Rear Window

Rear Window

Paramount

September 1, 1954

Mystery, Romance, Dramedy

DVD
B

I'd seen this once or twice before and, although it's one of my favorite Hitchcock movies, I don't regard it as perfect.  To be honest, it would probably be a B- without that amazing set, since it's hard for me to like or care about any of the characters but the always incredible Thelma Ritter.  That said, I think the movie does get better as it goes on and it sucks the viewer in more.

Psycho (1960)

Psycho (1960)

Paramount

September 8, 1960
Crime Drama

DVD
C-

I watched the first quarter hour and found it cliched, but perhaps that was intentional.  Hitchcock of course directed, based on the novel by Robert Bloch.

The Man Who Knew Too Much (1935)

The Man Who Knew Too Much

Gaumont-British Picture Corporation

4 February 1935

Mystery

DVD
C-

I wasn't really drawn into this version of the story, although it was nice to see Young and Innocent's Nova Pilbeam again.

Number Seventeen

Number Seventeen

Associated British Picture Corporation

7 November 1932

Mystery

DVD
D

There are only two characters in the first quarter-hour and one of them has a near incomprehensible accent.

The Skin Game (1931)

The Skin Game

British International Pictures

26 February 1931

Drama

DVD

D

Direction so bad it's hard to believe it's Hitchcock, with the camera just sitting there like a lump most of the time, no matter who's talking or moving.

Juno and the Paycock

Juno and the Paycock

British International Pictures

27 April 1930

Dramedy
DVD
D

What I could understand through the accents sounded like stereotypical and unfunny lines, and the direction is a little static.

Young and Innocent

Young and Innocent

Gaumont Film Company

November 1937

Mystery, Romance

DVD
B+

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie, which is warmer, sweeter, and more charming than most Hitchcock, although not without danger and suspense.  There are times it's like a romcom (with an admittedly offbeat meet-cute), and I instantly shipped Erica/Robert, she so earnest and he so playful, although a wanted man.  I also enjoyed many of the supporting performances, especially of her relatives, from her understandably suspicious aunt to her four lovable and individualized brothers, although Will the hobo offers a lot of the laughs.  I can even forgive the blackface, since it does figure into the plot and is used relatively un-racistly.  This time Hitch's cameo is, appropriately, as a photographer.  The movie is based on the Josephine Tey novel A Shilling for Candles.

The Ring (1927)

The Ring

British International Pictures

1 October 1927

Sports Drama

DVD
D

Gratuitous racism in this silent about boxing at a fair.

The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog

The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog

Gainsborough Pictures

14 February 1927

Crime Drama

DVD
D+

Everyone is talking about a murderer, but it's a silent, so we can't hear them.  I thought the policeman was going to turn out to be the killer, especially after his creepy (title-card) line about liking blondes as much as "the Avenger" does, but apparently not according to the Wikipedia synopsis.  I tuned out before Ivor Novello showed up as the lodger.  This is based on the novel (and play) by Marie Belloc Lowndes.

Blackmail

Blackmail

British International Pictures

28 July 1929

Crime Drama

DVD
D+

The first quarter hour of this early semi-talkie (which it looks like gets more violent and dramatic later) is mostly the dullest start to any Hitchcock movie I've ever seen, although I went up from a D because of, one, the cute Hitchcock cameo, and two, the joke about a movie-within-the-movie being directed by a criminal for authenticity.

Champagne

Champagne

British International Pictures

20 August 1928

Comedy

DVD
D+

A frivolous heiress, a then topical reference to Charles Lindbergh, and a sinister man in this silent.  I liked the fashions but not much else.

Secret Agent

Secret Agent 

British International Pictures

May 1936

Mystery

DVD
C

While I liked some of the writing, particularly the wit and the basic plot, the Lorre character was too creepy (even for Lorre), so I gave up after twenty minutes.  This is based on two W. Somerset Maugham short stories.

Rich and Strange AKA East of Shanghai

Rich and Strange AKA East of Shanghai

British International Pictures

13 June 1932

Comedy

DVD
C

Although I'm not really a silent-movie fan, my favorite aspects of this talkie were carryovers from the previous era, including the title cards and the way some scenes were shot.  Still, I didn't care that much about the characters or story.  This is based on the novel by Dale Collins.

The Manxman

The Manxman

British International Pictures

21 January 1929

Romance?

DVD
D+

Despite the date, still a silent.  Neither of the male leads is appealing, although their love interest is.  This is based on the novel by Hall Caine.

The Farmer's Wife

The Farmer's Wife

British International Pictures

2 March 1928

Comedy
DVD
C-

A housekeeper is in love with her employer, I think.  Also there's a comical drunk.

The Lady Vanishes

The Lady Vanishes

MGM

7 October 1938

Mystery

DVD
C-

This is on a Hitchcock collection, alphabetized under H at my library.   I didn't get up to the mystery part and it was more like mild humour at an overcrowded Swiss hotel (but I'm still using the "mystery" tag of course).  This is based on Ethel Lina White's novel The Wheel Spins.