The following two recent releases bring the total number of Hitchcock's films which have been represented on Super 8 to twenty features exactly half his sound output .
MARNIE (1964) p.c. Universal colour plus SEXTETTE (1977 - d. Ken Hughes) 3 mins. colour.
With appearances in his films, and 350 introductions to his television series, Hitchcock became one of the most instantly recognisable characters in the world, and one of the few film directors the public were aware of.
He knew his name above the title would promote the film more then anything else , so like DeMille before him he often chose to present his own trailers.
But whereas DeMille was in earnest (see the last issue), Hitchcock chose a more whimsical approach, and this lengthy trailer is a good example.
Accompanied by Bernard Hermann's theme music, Hitchcock swings down into frame, seated smugly on the camera crane. In his engaging manner he tells us that 'MARNIE' is coming to this theatre soon and is a sex mystery.
He introduces Mark (Sean Connery) and Marnie (Tippi Hedren) and silent excerpts from the film which he proceeds to send up with his wry comments.
During a storm sequence outside Mark's office, a tree crashes through the window terrifying Marnie. Hitchcock wonders if "she forgot her umbrella". As Mark comforts her and their lips meet he says "Now he's giving her mouth to mouth resusitation". He then gives proof that it is a talking picture by showing several other scenes from the film.
The print, a bit on the blue side, is reasonably sharp. Essential for any Hitchcock fan. Print B Sound A.
SEXTETTE of course, is not a Hitchcock film, but a brave, if misguided attempt by Mae West at the age of 85 to recapture some of the style of her old films.
She plays a Hollywood star whose honeymoon is interupted by ex-husbands so there is plenty of scope for double-meanings, including one which she couldn't have got away with forty years ago, let alone in a trailer- "I'm the girl that works at Paramount all day and Fox all night".
Joining in the fun are Tony Curtis, Ringo Starr, Walter Pigeon, Timothy Dalton and George Raft. Print A Sound A.
TORN CURTAIN (1966) p.c. Universal. 3 mins.
THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH T1955) p.c. Paramount.
THE TROUBLE WITH HARRY (1955) p.c. Paramount. 4 mins. colour. I must confess to being one of the few people who found Julie Andrews far sexier than Bo Derek in "TEN".
Since that film she has made a deliberate effort to change her rather prim image with films like "S.O.B" and "VICTOR, VICTORIA", but it was Hitchcock who first noticed that her cool sensuality fitted his idea of the perfect heroine, and he cast her against type in "TORN CURTAIN".
Not his most engaging film perhaps, but this trailer tries hard to sell the film with plenty of clips and captions.
The trailer to "THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH" starts with Doris Day singing "QUE SERA SERA" one of her hit songs of 30 years ago, which many may not associate with this film.
This is interrupted by a gunshot and James Stewart appears and introduces us to the film: "It started as a holiday and ended as a nightmare".
It concludes with a cymbal crash as the cue for murder in the well-known Albert Hall finale. the master from which this is duped contains several white scratches.
"THE TROUBLE WITH HARRY" has a travelogue type start, with the VistaVision camera showing scenes of tranquil autumnal beauty in the New England woods.
A small boy at play discovers a corpse, and the commentary tells us the trouble with Harry is that he's dead, and we meet characters who think they may have caused his death.
Titles proclaim the film is in VistaVision, and that it introduces Shirley Maclaine, for this was her first film..
This is reputed to be Hitchcock's favourite film, but although popular with critics, it was not a commercial success.
These last two titles have been out of circulation for many years but Universal have now acquired the rights along with "ROPE", "VERTIGO" and "REAR WINDOW", for a reputed S6,000,000, which may prove to be a bargain, for "REAR WINDOW" was the hit of the recent New York Film Festival, and then continued in three cinemas there, as well as the Plaza in London, and re-releases of the others are planned as well as screenings on ITV this year, and release on video. . Print B Sound A
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This page was last updated 02 Dec 2002