Hitchcock

[BenjaminCornelius-Bates 16]

I've noticed that Hitchcock has not appeared yet on The Canon. I'm particularly fond of Vertigo, but that feels too easy. So does The 39 Steps, though I don't know how well modern audiences know Hitchcock's early British films. So many good choices! Any thoughts?

[Dale Cooper Black 340]

The problem with Hitchcock is that he is basically a canon unto himself. There are at least 30 movies in his filmography that could be considered slam dunks for the Canon. It would be easier to create a podcast devoted entirely to Hitchcock than to debate which two or three of his films might be considered "definitive."

 

Having said that, I just re-watched The Lodger last week, and I do think it would make for an excellent episode of the Canon. Hitchcock considered it his first "real" film, but it is most definitely not a slam dunk. I know Andrew Pulver of the Guardian is a big fan of the film, he would probably be a great guest host.

 

(BTW @DrEricFritz when I first read the title of your post, I thought you were nominating the film "Hitchcock" starring Anthony Hopkins!)

[Dale Cooper Black 340]

"Hitchcock" starring Anthony Hopkins

Or, as I like to call it, "Toby Jones Gets Overshadowed by Big Hollywood Star, Vol. 2"

[Threshold 93]

Vertigo

Strangers on a Train

Psycho

 

So many great thrillers with intensely repressed sexual themes.

 

With the current Weinstein-train, there's an interesting thought experiment, considering how abusive Hitchcock was to his women that I'm sure it would affect our view of his (pretty terrific regardless) films.

[Chet Hiatt 1]

Almost any Hitchcock film is too easy. I think you'd have to do a versus. Maybe Shadow of a Doubt vs Vertigo or Psycho?

[jonesjxd 0]

Yes, I think Hitchcock would be best suited for a versus episode, though The Birds could be an interesting movie to debate since it's more polarizing than his other "top shelf" movies.