The Virgin Spring (1960)

Posted on October 13, 2013 by 4 Star Films

Directed by Ingmar Bergman and adapted from a Swedish ballad, this film revolves around a Christian Medieval family. Their only child is a beautiful, care free girl who they cherish. They sned her off to church with a maid servant. Along the way the two of them must pass through the forest. The girl leaves her servant behind to rest and then she goes on, meeting some herdsman on her way. She shows them hospitality by sharing her food, but the two men brutally rape and kill her. Ironically, that night they seek shelter with the girl’s family unknowingly. By accident the parents discover what became of their daughter and they must then decide what action to take. Bergman’s films certainly bring up questions about morals, religious faith, and evil. None of the characters were perfect but instead human, because they all make mistakes and must ask for God’s forgiveness

4/5 Stars

Wild Strawberries (1957)

Posted on October 12, 2013 by 4 Star Films

Directed by Ingmar Bergman and starring Victor Sjostrom, the film follows an elderly doctor who travels by car to receive an honorary degree. Over the course of the day the old man has strange dreams and he also reminisces about his summers as a child with his family. He travels with his daughter in law and along the way they pick up energetic young people, deal with an unhappy married pair, stop at a gas station, and visit the old man’s lonely mother. The days events force him to face his past and realize his various faults. He also recognizes soon enough he will die. However, he finally comes to terms with it all and as a result he treats his daughter in law, son, and housekeeper differently. As with many Bergman films, this one is thought provoking. Some of the dream sequences were a bit odd but many of the characters and scenes were enjoyable.

5/5 Stars

Rebecca (1940) – Alfred Hitchcock

Posted on October 9, 2013 by 4 Star Films

This film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Laurence Olivier with Joan Fontaine, was adapted from the Daphne du Maurier novel of the same name. The story begins in Monte Carlo where Max De Winter (Olivier) and a young woman (Fontaine) have a chance meeting as she is working for an older lady. Soon she learns that his previous wife died the year before. Fairly soon the two of them are attracted to each other and Max has plans of marriage and returning to his Manderley. However, back home the fairy tale is over and the new Mrs. De Winter is constantly tormented by the housekeeper Mrs. Danvers. Pretty soon Max himself seems to have changed. Confused Mrs. De Winter must learn what happened to Rebecca, the lady who was so enchanting. When she actually finds out the truth it is almost too much to bear. Like many Hitchcock films this one is certainly worth watching and it was actually his first American film. Olivier, Fontaine, George Sanders, and Judith Anderson all have very good performances.

4.5/5 Stars

Foreign Correspondent (1940) – Alfred Hitchcock

Posted on October 8, 2013 by 4 Star Films

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, this film stars a cast including Joel McCrea, Laraine Day, Herbert Marshall, and George Sanders. Wanting a good scoop about events in Europe a newspaper editor sends a reporter off to dig something up. Joel McCrea’s character finds himself entangled in a complicated kidnapping scheme and assassination. On top of that he falls in love while on the job. With no one believing him at first, he must try and gather the facts that ultimately might lead to a war. Dodging two attempts on his own life, he knows he is getting close. However, little does he know how near he actually is. After more twists and turns McCrea finally gets his story and the girl but at a cost. From the scenes in the windmill until the tense moments on the plane, this movie does much to intrigue. It serves a double purpose, a decent piece of propaganda and a good thriller.

4/5 Stars

The Lady Vanishes (1938) – Alfred Hitchcock

Posted on October 5, 2013 by 4 Star Films

Margaret Lockwood plays an American socialite in Europe in this Hitchcock mystery-thriller. The night before she is to leave, Lockwood meets a kindly middle-aged lady who is fascinated with European music. The next day the two ladies sit together on the train to talk. Being a bit disoriented, Lockwood takes a short nap however when she wakes up Ms. Froy is mysteriously gone. Seemingly no one remembers seeing the woman and no one will believe Lockwood. Finally, she teams up with a man who she had a run in with the night before (Michael Redgrave). Together they try to figure out what has happened to the lady. Finally discovering the truth, they come under great danger and must fight for their lives and those of the other passengers. Hitchcock does it again, bewildering the mind and making us intrigued at the same time.

4.5/5 Stars

39 Steps (1935) – Alfred Hitchcock

Posted on October 3, 2013 by 4 Star Films

In one of Hitchcock’s great English films, he plays with the idea of a man on the run. Robert Donat is just an ordinary Englishman until a strangle woman tells him a deadly secret. Upon finding her murdered by a dangerous foe he flees. However, that puts him under suspicion and the hunt is on. He makes his way up to Scotland and gets some assistance however soon trouble brews. Somehow he finds himself cuffed to a woman he detests and he drags her away with him in order to escape. Due to their predicament, the unlikely pair soften to each other and try to discover the truth. After running for so long the answer finally comes to Donat in the theater. He finally discovers what the 39 Steps are.

4.5/5 Stars

Walk the Line (2005)

Posted on October 2, 2013 by 4 Star Films

Starring Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon, this biopic opens with Johnny Cash recalling his past as he gets ready to perform at Folsom prison. JR is the son of an abusive share cropper and his brother Jack dies when he is just a boy. He goes off to Korea and comes back with a few songs under his belt. Cash marries his girlfriend and they move to Memphis where Cash tries to get work. On a whim he tries to form a gospel band to audition at Sun Records. Initially it goes poorly until Cash begins to Sing Folsom Prison Blues. Soon Johnny Cash and The Tennessee Two are signed and touring with many different artists. There Cash meets the likes of Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley and of course June Carter. Cash begins to fall for the recently divorced Carter but she rejects his initial advances leading Cash to go to drinking and drugs. They part ways but then later on they begin to tour again. His music is a success but his relationship with June causes his marriage to go down the tubes. He continues to takes more pills. This is the low point in his career but June gives him a second chance. They perform together at Folsom in 1968 and then after one rejection of marriage, June finally accepts while they are performing a duet. The two of them continue to perform and raise a family together. Phoenix was commendable as Cash and Witherspoon’s vivacious performance gave life to this film. One things is for sure, johnny Cash had a hard life that was full of mistakes. That’s what made his music so good. It was often personal and most importantly human. Because humans make mistakes. Thank you Man in Black for giving us what you did. 4/5 Stars

Director of the Month: Alfred Hitchcock

Posted on October 1, 2013 by 4 Star Films

With no shame whatsoever I would have to say Alfred Hitchcock is my favorite film director because he had so many great movies. His films are entertaining from one standpoint but also skillfully crafted with many unique touches and techniques. His career spanned from the silent era to modern films into the 1970s making the breadth of his work expansive. Furthermore, he made the transition from England to the United States and his style changed as a result. He is now an icon for the quirky persona he created promoting his films and narrating his TV shows. Whether it be by his choice of lead actors and actresses, locations, subjects, plot devices, or cameos, he left an indelible mark on his work. I have watched over 20 of Hitchcock’s best films and I have some of his other most famous ones listed. I will let you make your own opinion but hopefully you can enjoy his films as much as I have. In the following days I hope to release reviews of some of the films I have watched and really enjoyed.

Greatest Hitchcock Movies:
Rear Window
North by Northwest
Psycho
Vertigo
Notorious
Strangers on a Train
Shadow of a Doubt
Rebecca
The Lady Vanishes
39 Steps
The Birds
To Catch a Thief
Dial M for Murder
Foreign Correspondent
Lifeboat
The Man who Knew to Much
The Wrong Man
Spellbound
Rope
Suspicion
Frenzy
The Lodger: The Story of London Fog
The Girl Was Young
Secret Agent
Sabotage
The Trouble with Harry
Marnie
Saboteur
I Confess
Blackmail

*Bold I have seen

Psycho (1960) – Alfred Hitchcock

Posted on October 1, 2013 by 4 Star Films

Alfred Hitchcock is much appreciated now but this film especially stands out in American culture because it was a first rate horror film when that was an anomaly. It has a chilling score, a notorious villain, and a sequence that is one of the most famous in film history.

*May Contain Spoilers

Directed by Hitchcock and starring Janet Leigh, Anthony Perkins, and Vera Miles, this film is intense from the opening sequence. Marion Crane seems to be your average love-struck woman stuck in her job. However everything quickly changes for her after she runs off with $40,000 that had been entrusted to her. Before she can get it to her boyfriend she must stop for the night at the Bates Motel. She rents a room and meets the timid, unassuming proprietor Norman. Soon it becomes obvious that he likes her but his domineering mother does not approve. Then later when Marion is taking a shower she is brutally murdered. Soon the situation becomes even more confused when a private investigator winds up missing. Marion’s sister and boyfriend resolve to go to the motel themselves. Little do they know the shocking events that await them. Undoubtedly Hitchcock’s most famous film, Psycho shakes the nerves and excites. Furthermore, it solidified Norman Bates as one of the most notorious villains of all time .

5/5 Stars

Vertigo (1958) – Alfred Hitchcock

Posted on October 1, 2013 by 4 Star Films

*May Contain Spoilers!

Vertigo is an intriguing Hitchcock thriller, set in San Francisco, that has you cheering for Jimmy Stewart as he falls in love and struggles with his fear of heights. Right away you are met with the haunting opening credits and the dramatic opening sequence where Scottie (Stewart) acquires his vertigo. From then on Scottie must cope with his dizzying condition however, he has no time to remedy it since he suddenly finds himself tailing a beautiful woman for a friend. Much of the rest of the film seems surreal with minimal dialogue and interesting cinematography, leading up to the death of Madaleine (Kim Novak). Then the film switches gears and is mostly about the impact on Scottie who had become infatuated with Madaleine. Often he appears to be in a trance and he becomes obsessive after meeting Judy who looks strikingly like Elster’s dead wife. Scottie becomes controlling, trying to make Judy into the image of the woman he loved. She just wants him to love her for who she is but that cannot be. Fittingly, the film ends the way it began with drama and tragedy. This certainly is a fascinating view of human psychology and complex emotions. In order to appreciate this film it is almost necessary to watch it at least twice, once to understand the plot and then another time to spot the little details. Of all of Hitchcock’s work, I would say I still enjoy Rear Window or North by Northwest better but this film at least deserves a viewing or two.

5/5 Stars

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