That's a hard one! He just made so many great films. From his better known films I find Shadow of a Doubt and Rebecca to be among his greatest. I also have a soft spot for Lifeboat. What a great concept! Put a bunch of actors in a row boat and carry a whole film with it. Only a master like Hitchcock could do it.
I have yet to see both Lifeboat and Rebecca. Both are on my watchlist, but I haven't gotten around to them yet. Psycho is, of course, a great choice. What an atmospheric movie.
Over the last couple of years our local renovated theater (from the silent era) has shown some Hitchcock films for Halloween. One of the first I went to was Psycho. Admittedly, I was one of the older people in there, but I was horrified when several people in the audience started laughing at Psycho. I wanted to stand up and shout: "There's no laughing at Psycho!" I think they were amused at how dated some of the scenes were. Was it their first time seeing anything in black and white? What they hell did they expect in a theater that has a working organ and occasionally shows silents? (Nobody laughed during Wings). These aren't really young people like a high school group or something.
So last year they show The Birds and I think surely nobody will laugh during this one. There were just a few times some people laughed inappropriately but the real gut wrencher was at the very end some girl hollered out "That was waste of ten dollars". The audience responded by applauding the movie. Maybe she had just been used to Van Diesel movies? Who knows? Anyway it was first two times I'd seen a Hitchcock film in a theater with an audience since my last one when they were new (maybe Torn Curtain or Frenzy). It was a real eye opener.
Oh, and I can't bring myself to name just one favorite. I'll have to think about it some more.
Over the last couple of years our local renovated theater (from the silent era) has shown some Hitchcock films for Halloween. One of the first I went to was Psycho. Admittedly, I was one of the older people in there, but I was horrified when several people in the audience started laughing at Psycho. I wanted to stand up and shout: "There's no laughing at Psycho!" I think they were amused at how dated some of the scenes were. Was it their first time seeing anything in black and white? What they hell did they expect in a theater that has a working organ and occasionally shows silents? (Nobody laughed during Wings). These aren't really young people like a high school group or something.
So last year they show The Birds and I think surely nobody will laugh during this one. There were just a few times some people laughed inappropriately but the real gut wrencher was at the very end some girl hollered out "That was waste of ten dollars". The audience responded by applauding the movie. Maybe she had just been used to Van Diesel movies? Who knows? Anyway it was first two times I'd seen a Hitchcock film in a theater with an audience since my last one when they were new (maybe Torn Curtain or Frenzy). It was a real eye opener.
Oh, and I can't bring myself to name just one favorite. I'll have to think about it some more.
I've noticed that although Hitchcock is revered among film lovers and his name carries with it prestige even outside of film lovers, his movies are definitely not guaranteed to be liked by younger audiences. I recently turned 25 years old but I grew up watching older movies, including several of his (especially the Birds, I've seen it a dozen times throughout my life), so I'm used to them.
There's a difference in how older movies present themselves, a very palpable difference. If someone's not used to it, they can seem boring or even poorly made. Also because what audiences are exposed to now growing up with current films, many of the wows in older films... aren't as wowing in comparison to such an audience, to be blunt. I think the Birds especially could be underwhelming :/ It takes a while to get going, the characters aren't that likable or relatable, and the horror/thriller elements are a hit or mess amongst people I know.
I think if someone actually yells out at the end of a film that it was a waste of money, then they have no tact and you shouldn't worry much over their opinion.
Reply by Will Barks
on February 18, 2017 at 2:04 PM
That's a hard one! He just made so many great films. From his better known films I find Shadow of a Doubt and Rebecca to be among his greatest. I also have a soft spot for Lifeboat. What a great concept! Put a bunch of actors in a row boat and carry a whole film with it. Only a master like Hitchcock could do it.
Reply by NotoriousRio
on February 18, 2017 at 2:47 PM
So many to choose from, I too loved Lifeboat, another fave is 39 Steps but my all-time favourite Hitchcock has to be Psycho.
Reply by JumpinJack
on February 18, 2017 at 6:03 PM
It so hard to look past Psycho its so well made.. but i think Vertigo is right up there also.
Reply by Smitty1776
on February 18, 2017 at 7:42 PM
I have yet to see both Lifeboat and Rebecca. Both are on my watchlist, but I haven't gotten around to them yet. Psycho is, of course, a great choice. What an atmospheric movie.
Reply by manfromatlantis
on February 18, 2017 at 8:45 PM
I choose the birds.
Reply by Trey Wills
on February 18, 2017 at 9:26 PM
Very hard to choose...I would go with Vertigo, Lifeboat, Rebecca and believe it or not Marnie😳
Reply by Dawn Of The Ed
on February 18, 2017 at 10:47 PM
Psycho would be my favorite. Followed closely by Rear Window and Rope.
Reply by Smitty1776
on February 19, 2017 at 10:15 PM
I love Marnie. Engaging characters, interesting story. I know it gets flak, but I've always thought this was a great movie.
Reply by Trey Wills
on February 20, 2017 at 12:08 AM
Great minds Smitty1776😊
Reply by Lemon Juice
on February 22, 2017 at 2:29 PM
Over the last couple of years our local renovated theater (from the silent era) has shown some Hitchcock films for Halloween. One of the first I went to was Psycho. Admittedly, I was one of the older people in there, but I was horrified when several people in the audience started laughing at Psycho. I wanted to stand up and shout: "There's no laughing at Psycho!" I think they were amused at how dated some of the scenes were. Was it their first time seeing anything in black and white? What they hell did they expect in a theater that has a working organ and occasionally shows silents? (Nobody laughed during Wings). These aren't really young people like a high school group or something.
So last year they show The Birds and I think surely nobody will laugh during this one. There were just a few times some people laughed inappropriately but the real gut wrencher was at the very end some girl hollered out "That was waste of ten dollars". The audience responded by applauding the movie. Maybe she had just been used to Van Diesel movies? Who knows? Anyway it was first two times I'd seen a Hitchcock film in a theater with an audience since my last one when they were new (maybe Torn Curtain or Frenzy). It was a real eye opener.
Oh, and I can't bring myself to name just one favorite. I'll have to think about it some more.
Reply by Irina Spalko
on February 22, 2017 at 3:45 PM
Vertigo, Psycho and Rear Window are my 3 favorites.
Reply by rudely_murray
on March 2, 2017 at 9:43 PM
Psycho. Although my favourite Hitchcock period is the 1940s run (Rebecca, Foreign Correspondent, Shadow of a Doubt, Lifeboat, Notorious, Rope...).
Reply by JohnSteed
on March 3, 2017 at 9:30 AM
Saboteur is my no. 1, and easily the most underrated of all his films.
After Saboteur, it would be North by Northwest and Rear Window.
Reply by AusFem
on March 4, 2017 at 8:31 AM
Wow so many to chose from.. My favourites are: Rebecca, Rope, Strangers on a Train, North by Northwest and Spellbound.
Reply by RainingBullets
on March 4, 2017 at 3:36 PM
My favorite is Rear Window for sure.
I've noticed that although Hitchcock is revered among film lovers and his name carries with it prestige even outside of film lovers, his movies are definitely not guaranteed to be liked by younger audiences. I recently turned 25 years old but I grew up watching older movies, including several of his (especially the Birds, I've seen it a dozen times throughout my life), so I'm used to them.
There's a difference in how older movies present themselves, a very palpable difference. If someone's not used to it, they can seem boring or even poorly made. Also because what audiences are exposed to now growing up with current films, many of the wows in older films... aren't as wowing in comparison to such an audience, to be blunt. I think the Birds especially could be underwhelming :/ It takes a while to get going, the characters aren't that likable or relatable, and the horror/thriller elements are a hit or mess amongst people I know.
I think if someone actually yells out at the end of a film that it was a waste of money, then they have no tact and you shouldn't worry much over their opinion.