Marnie Reviews

(OK) Schematic and that is the limit and the grace. Going back to Baltimore, and the mother, but why Connery had to be so demonstrative; Hitch in a variation on expositios, no doubt.

I had actually already seen this movie but it was a long time ago, so I was really eager to check it out again. Eventually, I think it is a rather minor work in Hitchcock's otherwise prestigious career but even so, it was quite entertaining and I really enjoyed it. The main issue, in my opinion, is that, at that point, Alfred Hitchcock had done already quite a lot of those thrillers and, sometimes, I had the feeling he was just going through the motions. As a result, it is highly reminiscent of some of his better movies, above all 'Vertigo', and I believe he never really cared about all the psycho babble displayed here. Still, the plot was entertaining and I thought that there was a great chemistry between Sean Connery and Tippi Hedren. Connery was also a nice choice and an interesting substitute to the usual suspects Cary Grant and James Stewart. There was also something quite messed up in their relationship which was quite spellbinding to behold, it's too bad it was not more developed because it wad definitely the most interesting aspect in this movie. To conclude, all in all, it is and remains a decent thriller and it is definitely worth a look, especially if you are interested in Alfred Hitchcock's work.

I love this film, in fact it's not far from being by favourite Hitchcock, certainly his most powerful work in my opinion - I know others would say Vertigo. Some question Tippi Hedren's acting credentials but I think she does a fine job and, to be honest, as much of a wonderful actress Grace Kelly was, I can't see her taking on a role of this kind, for Marnie isn't the typical Hitchcock blonde that Kelly defined. Sure, Marnie is icy cool and mysterious, but she is of course practically asexual, hence she lacks eroticism which is an essential trait amongst the Hitchcock blondes à la Eva Marie Saint or Kim Novak. I'd say this is Connery's finest performance too, although I haven't seen The Hill. Rutland's fetish could have been explored a bit more. I mean, it doesn't have to be completely conspicuous, but it would have added more depth and weight to his character and in turn his relationship with Marnie had it been more obvious. I dunno. It all comes together so well during the final scene, and it features one of Herrmann's best scores in my view. The lighting is terrific at times too, most notably the kiss in the stable and Louise Latham's shadowy figure at the top of the stairs early on in the film. The theft at Rutland's is one of my favourite Hitchcock sequences, very well conceived. And the artificiality? I like artificiality. Besides, I've seen worse back-projection and backdrops.
Yeah, it's just a brilliant film.

5/5