The Man Who Knew Too Much

     Alfred Hitchcock had wanted to remake his 30's thriller "The Man Who Knew Too Much" since around 1940.  And thankfully, he did remake it.  The result is the very underrated 1956 mystery that is slowly emerging as a lost Hitchcock classic.  It deserves it.

     Ben and Jo McKenna (James Stewart and Doris Day), an American couple vacationing family in Morocco, accidentally and unwittingly become part of an assassination plot.  Before they know it, their son is kidnapped, and the two are knee deep in a web of murder, intrigue, and suspense. This is classic Hitchcock here, kids.  For many reasons.  First off, it's got James Stewart in it, and we know how all the other Hitchcock/Stewart collaborations ended up.  I'm not a fan of James Stewart, but I love his Hitchcock films.  What does that say?

      Doris Day holds her own here, and delivers an often overlooked but superb performance.  The film offers some gorgeous photography, and we're even treated to Doris delivering one of her signature tunes, "Que Sera, Sera".  The film builds to a stunning climax chock full of suspense, and the usual Hitchcock humor shines throughout.  It's all around enjoyable on all levels.

     I grew up watching this on the Late Show, and I love it just as much as "Rear Window", "Vertigo", or "North By Northwest".  Hitchcock was in his prime throughout the 1950's, belting out one classic film after another.  "The Man Who Knew Too Much" is one of those films.  Virtually ignored for many years, it's now slowly but surely finding an audience.  It's a great rainy day flick, or part of a Hitchcock marathon.  Thumbs up.  Way up.

Charade

     A woman, Regina Lampert, plans to divorce her husband, until she learns that he's been murdered.  Upon meeting a mysterious man at a ski resort, she's suddenly thrust into a thoroughly engaging spy plot.

     Take the delightful Audrey Hepburn, pair her with the suave Cary Grant, throw in a delicious Henry Mancini score, and presto!  you've got the wonderfully entertaining comedy/thriller "Charade" from 1963.  It's almost impossible not to have a goofy smile plastered across your face while watching "Charade".  Apart from the heavenly pairing of the two lead actors, who have impeccable chemistry, by the way- we also get Walter Matthau, George Kennedy, and James Coburn in fabulous supporting roles.  Almost at times coming off like an Alfred Hitchcock film, "Charade" echoes not only Hitchcock but Blake Edwards as well.  To describe "Charade" best, think "Breakfast At Tiffany's" meets "North By Northwest", and you get the picture.  Full of running jokes and colorful characters, "Charade" is an oddly underrated classic- I'm not sure why, because it has all the ingredients of a great movie.  Director Stanley Donen, as mentioned above, directs as if he actually is Hitchcock, and Hepburn and Grant spout off sparkling dialogue throughout the film.  To make matters worse, this was Hepburn and Grant's only screen pairing together, which is a shame.  They both shine here, and seem to fully enjoy working together.
     So if you're in the mood for a clever and witty mixture of suspense, intrigue, romance, and humor, complete with some fantastic location shots, "Charade" is the perfect cocktail for you.  A lovely time capsule of the 1960's, "Charade" is a thoroughly enjoyable and funny "whodunit" that will keep you guessing right up to the climax.  And it's damn near impossible to get Henry Mancini's sensational score out of your head, especially the title tune!

Niagara

       Two innocent honeymooners at Niagara Falls stumble upon a sinister plot of love, betrayal, and murder.

 
     On the verge of superstardom, Marilyn starred with Joseph Cotton in 1953's "Niagara", a somewhat dark tale of an unhappy woman who wants to murder her jealous husband.  Marilyn showed at this early stage that she could handle dramatic roles convincingly- in this film she already has a presence.  The look and atmosphere are prime 1950's and the film moves along at a deceptively leisurely pace.  Before you know it, you're caught in a web of intrigue and revenge that builds to a gripping climax.  Marilyn is riveting- her natural beauty combined with an earnest performance are quite the pair.  Look closely at Marilyn's performance, and you might find more than just her being the blond bombshell.

      "Niagara" is a great rainy-day kind of movie.  The lush cinematography and the gorgeous shots of Niagara Falls, on top of an intriguing murder mystery of greed and infidelity all make for an underrated classic that's just interesting enough to be fascinating.  Almost Hitchcockian at times, it's a genuinely suspenseful murder mystery that looks great today.

 

Mildred Pierce

     Joan Crawford won her first and only Oscar in 1945 with "Mildred Pierce", a deliciously watchable film-noir/mystery/soap opera.  The movie opens with the murder of a slimy lounge lizard, Monte Beragon.  Upon dying, he croaks a single word, "Mildred".  This begins the mystery of "Mildred Pierce".  Joan Crawford delivers a sensational performance as Mildred, proving once and for all that she was an actress to be reckoned with.

     Joan plays a woman who leaves her philandering husband and makes a life for herself and her two daughers- the oldest being a cold-hearted, spoiled bitch played to icy perfection by Ann Blyth.  This is classic film-noir- add up the top notch acting, spectacular cinematography, lighting, and sets, and you've got a great way to spend a rainy afternoon.  Possibly Crawford's finest performance, "Mildred Pierce" is an Oscar-winning classic that also boasts a sparkling supporting performance by Eve Arden.

Sunset Boulevard

A dead Hollywood writer is found floating in the pool of an aging Hollywood mansion.  Thus begins the great noir classic "Sunset Boulevard"...

     One of the greatest film-noir movies of all time, Billy Wilder's dark and moldy "Sunset Boulevard" is Hollywood at its most daring. Wilder was one of the greatest directors of the period, and it's easy to see why. Gloria Swanson gives one of the most unforgettable performances ever in the fabulously morbid film, which is a snide and scathing look at old Hollywood.  Her Norma Desmond is larger than life, over the top, and completely sensational.  Hunky William Holden holds his own against the lioness that is Swanson.

     Crisp, iconic dialogue and direction, plus fantastic black and white photography help solidify its classic status.  It's gloriously over the top and lurid.  Full of memorably strange scenes, with some almost chilling at times, "Sunset Boulevard" is fascinating considering the light, fluffy films coming out of Hollywood at the time.  This move has balls, and big ones.  It's a dark and cynical look at how Hollywood treats its royalty once they reach a certain age- and what people will desperately do to remain in the spotlight.

     How they even released this movie in the first place is mind-boggling- it's so ahead of it's time.  Swanson's portrayal of Norma Desmond is the stuff of legend, and surely one of the greatest female acting feats on film.  You cannot take your eyes off of her when she's on the screen. She is smashing in the role and her performance is not only brilliant, but high camp as well.

     The film went on  to accumulate 11 Academy Award nominations, winning 3.  "Sunset Boulevard" also introduced the iconic line "I'm ready for my closeup , Mr. DeMille" to pop culture.  It was one of the first films to be selected for preservation in the National Film Registry and ranked #12 on the American Film Institute's 100 Best American Films of the 20th century.  A wonderfully weird film-noir classic!

Vertigo

     A retired detective, Scottie Ferguson, who suffers from a paralyzing fear of heights, is called to follow an old school chum's wife and her strange actions.  Ferguson soon finds himself falling in love with her, but this is no ordinary love story.  Scottie becomes entangled in a dark, dangerous web of deceit and obsession.

     "Vertigo" is one of the most exquisitely made movies in history.  Filmed like a fever dream, Alfred Hitchcock's masterpiece is a triumph of cinema.  Almost lost forever, it's been painstakingly remastered, and the picture and sound quality are nothing short of astonishing. It's dark, haunting, and hypnotic- there is just something about this movie that gets under your skin. It still has an effect on me, and I've seen it way too many times to count.

     To give away anything about this movie is a crime- trust me, it just needs to be seen.  Part of a string of outstanding movies made by the master of suspense, "Vertigo" is such a classic that I get a bit tongue-tied just trying to talk about it.  I'm such a Hitchcock junkie that I can never find anything bad to say about any of his movies, much less "Vertigo".  Unbelievably, this was a huge flop when it was first released in 1958- how this is possible is beyond me.  James Stewart delivers the performance of a lifetime here.  It's almost hard to imagine good ole' American Stewart in such a dark role, but he pulls it off beautifully.  Kim Novak is also unforgettable- she doesn't even speak until almost an hour into the film, yet she immediately makes a lasting impression.

      Hitchcock mixes a complicated story, lavish visual detail, Bernard Hermann's unearthly and mysterious score, tension stretched almost to the point of discomfort, incredible San Fransisco locations and unbelievable matte shots to make a movie that's simply astonishing.  The restoration edition DVD  is a must-have, and the documentary detailing the movie's restoration is completely and utterly fascinating.  Honestly, I could blab all night about "Vertigo", or you could just watch it for yourself and hopefully fall under its mysterious and enchanting spell.