Extremely stellar list, didn't want a Hitchcock list to seem unnoticed. The only slight surprise is Rope, but I recall you discussing that movie in the past and saying how much you liked it.
I've watched Vertigo at least six or seven times. Somewhere here on Listology, I posted a lengthy explanation of why I find the film lacking. If I find, I'll try to point you that way.
I'm thrilled you also like Rope.
You should post a Hitchcock list soon. I'd be very curious to read it.
Judge dont bother, Mr Bangs while very well versed in many things has a severe mental block when it comes to Vertigo. We are allowed to be wrong once in a while...Even the god-like L.Bangs.:)
No offense was intended. In the truest sense of the word you are correct opinions can not be wrong but then what would you need a site that lists the ten best movies, books etc... Shouldnt they all just be my ten favorite lists. Its all just semantics. Vertigo is not overrated.
I've been demoted. Once a god, now I am simply god-like!
Ah, well. One day, the truth will come out, and I'll be known simply as the art-obsessed-yet-rather-ordinary L. Bangs.
:)
You know what, I will rent Vertigo one last time. We'll see if I can find more to like in the film this time round (especially since I haven't seen the restored version yet and it is on DVD), but this will probably be its last chance for the next five years or so...
Hey! Les, you're god like! By the way, Vertigo is the BEST Hitchcock film. Also, I'm struggling with the Fact The Birds is not on here. What a great film.
I liked The Birds, but not as much as you seem to like it. To be honest, though, I haven't seen this one in many a moon. I know AMC reruns it often. I'll try to catch it and give it another go.
Hey there . . . Doing some Hitchcock searching in the wake of my recent Rear Window viewing brought me back to this list. Did you ever rent Vertigo "one last time"? I watched it once in college and didn't care for it (but I was only beginning to have passable taste in movies then, so that's not saying much).
It would be difficult for me to rate my top 10 Hitchcock movies, but your list is pretty dang good. However, I personally would replace The Lady Vanishes with Young and Innocent, which, although the premise is at least as silly, is much more fun.
Definitely time well spent! I enjoyed them all, and many would find their way onto my own top 10, although I'd probably rank them differently. And I'd find room for The Birds. I'm not sure precisely how I'd reorder, but I'd have to put the rather conventional choices of Rear Window, Psycho, and The Birds in the top three. The next tier would probably include Strangers on a Train and Rope. Then the rest. I don't think Vertigo would find it's way onto my top 10. :-)
Seen 50 Hitchcock (all or almost all). Do not believe there are really any bad ones, just ones that are not as good as other. For me, the top four are (1) Vertigo (2) Pshyco (3) Rear Window (4) North By Northwest. To add 6 others for a top ten is difficult. Best I can do is:
Vertigo
Psycho
Rear Window
North By Northwest
Rebecca
Notorious
Strangers on a Train
Birds
39 Steps
Foreign Correspondent
Jim, you must know the best thing about movies is that you can never really be finished watching great movies.
I hate to see anyone think they are complete, especially when it comes to Hitchcock.
So I would like to give you another 10 Hitchcock movies worth watching. I dont know if Mr bangs would agree these are the next 10 best of Hitchcock (we Will leave Vertigo out of the discussion) but here goes in no particular order.
Shadow of a Doubt -this would be in my top 5 Hitchcock movies
The Wrong Man
The Trouble With Harry - As close as he came to a Comedy
To Catch A Thief -The Most stylized of his 50's big movies
Dial M For Murder - Would probably crack my top 10
Suspicion
Foreign Correspondent
Sabotage
The Man Who Knew to Much -The remake is better than the original
Frenzy - A glorious misstep but worth a viewing
Dammit, just when I thought I had that particular niche in the cinematic landscape all sewed up. :-)
Thanks! I can't turn down one of your top 5; I've added Shadow of a Doubt to my Netflix queue. And the rest are on my larger To See list.
I'm glad to hear the remake of The Man Who Knew Too Much is better than the original, which I didn't care for. Did your memory of my over-simplified review prompt that note?
Well, Vertigo is certainly a special case for me. I don't like it too much, but surely every Hitchcock must see it, if only once...
Let's see, my next ten must see Hitch films would probably be:
Shadow of a Doubt (which I frankly forgot about and might have to add here soon)
Foreign Correspondent
The Birds
The Man Who Knew Too Much (both versions, although I confess to favoring the original)
To Catch a Thief
Dial M for Murder
Spellbound
The Trouble with Harry
Blackmail
To be honest, that's about all, in my book. While Al made some great films, I confess I don't hold him in quite the esteem most do today, and I certainly think he made a fair amount of mediocre and flat-out awful (Topaz, stand up) films.
So I think we're pretty close. I've only seen a bad videotape copy of Frenzy, and while I was very disappointed, I'll hold final call until I've seen the new (from what I hear very well-done) DVD version.
I actually really like Frenzy, and Vertigo is probably not only my fave hitch but one of my top 5 movies ever. However Hith movies i found to be missing from your top 20 were Family plot, and Marnie, neither are his greatest movies but surely amongst his 20 best. To answer an earlier post about the trouble with harry 'the closest he came to comedy' family plot is better and much funnier, i found harry to be just plain bad.
As for Hitch and comedy, Mr. and Mrs. Smith IS an outright screwball comedy, and even though I haven't watched it since junior high, I remember liking it somewhat...
It has been much too long since I've watched Family Plot for me to say much more than I thought it was passable. The touches of black humor were rather tasty. I really, however, hate Marnie; I'm not sure that it doesn't have one of the worst endings to a film I've ever seen in my life. Until that point, it isn't too bad, but an 'intense' ending that leaves me in stitches really hurts a film.
Vertigo, well, search around the site for my reactions to Vertigo. It has certainly been discussed aplenty!
Thanks for the comments. I will absolutely give Frenzy a second shot on DVD at some point.
It has been a little while since I caught Lifeboat, so maybe you should not trust me.
Strangers on a Train, however, is up there with Rope as one of his most neglected. Why do I have the sad feeling in Stranger's case it may have to do with the black and white film? I hope not, but fear so...
That never seemed to be a problem for Psycho. In fact, much as I love Psycho, I think it might be a tad overrated. Some place it above Rear Window and North by Northwest, and I certainly can't agree with that.
I stand by my view that Strangers has two lame holes in it: (1) that Guy would leave the gun on the bed when he knows what a psycho Bruno is, and worse, (2) that Bruno would be carrying the lighter, the one thing that can save him, his holy grail, and accidentally drop it down the sewer. I don't know if anyone else felt that way, but those things hurt the movie for me.
As a side note, if you're second-guessing your placement of Lifeboat, then there's only one film I have to see to complete this list: Rebecca.
Extremely stellar list, didn't want a Hitchcock list to seem unnoticed. The only slight surprise is Rope, but I recall you discussing that movie in the past and saying how much you liked it.
The Birds dude. The Birds...
Vertigo doesn't even make the top ten!?! Chap, how many times have you seen the movie? If only once or twice, I violently urge you to try it again.
If, however, you've viewed the flick several times, you probably won't change your mind. Your loss.
Great list. Your top 6 are especially strong, and Rope doesn't get enough attention, so I groove here.
Zeep! Zeep! Zeep!
Sigh...
I've watched Vertigo at least six or seven times. Somewhere here on Listology, I posted a lengthy explanation of why I find the film lacking. If I find, I'll try to point you that way.
I'm thrilled you also like Rope.
You should post a Hitchcock list soon. I'd be very curious to read it.
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
Judge dont bother, Mr Bangs while very well versed in many things has a severe mental block when it comes to Vertigo. We are allowed to be wrong once in a while...Even the god-like L.Bangs.:)
lbangs, isn't wrong. "how can you be wrong when you are stating an opinion?" and furthermore he's right. Vertigo is over-rated! :-)
Thanks; I rarely find allies where Vertigo is concerned.
I will give it another chance, but for now, I stand strong and proud (and now, obviously, not alone)!
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
No offense was intended. In the truest sense of the word you are correct opinions can not be wrong but then what would you need a site that lists the ten best movies, books etc... Shouldnt they all just be my ten favorite lists. Its all just semantics. Vertigo is not overrated.
I've been demoted. Once a god, now I am simply god-like!
Ah, well. One day, the truth will come out, and I'll be known simply as the art-obsessed-yet-rather-ordinary L. Bangs.
:)
You know what, I will rent Vertigo one last time. We'll see if I can find more to like in the film this time round (especially since I haven't seen the restored version yet and it is on DVD), but this will probably be its last chance for the next five years or so...
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
God like seems like a promotion to me, all the powers without the responsibilty.
Never really thought of it that way. You may be on to something there.
Now, all I have to do is figure out exactly how to become godlike.
"The next Academy Award for Dirctor goes to... Hal Hartley!"
Ah, I've a long way to go... :)
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
Hey! Les, you're god like! By the way, Vertigo is the BEST Hitchcock film. Also, I'm struggling with the Fact The Birds is not on here. What a great film.
I liked The Birds, but not as much as you seem to like it. To be honest, though, I haven't seen this one in many a moon. I know AMC reruns it often. I'll try to catch it and give it another go.
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
Hey there . . . Doing some Hitchcock searching in the wake of my recent Rear Window viewing brought me back to this list. Did you ever rent Vertigo "one last time"? I watched it once in college and didn't care for it (but I was only beginning to have passable taste in movies then, so that's not saying much).
For me, personally, Vertigo is probably my least favorite "big" Hitchcock film.
It would be difficult for me to rate my top 10 Hitchcock movies, but your list is pretty dang good. However, I personally would replace The Lady Vanishes with Young and Innocent, which, although the premise is at least as silly, is much more fun.
Shadow of a Doubt would definitely be on my list.
Thank you!
As I noted somewhere below, Shadow of a Doubt should be on this list; I simply forgot to put it in there, and I really should redo this soon.
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
I just happen to see this and thought it would be of interest here:
North by Northwest Webstudy.
Great link! I'll have to spend some more time on that site. Thanks for posting the study!
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
When you first posted this list I think I'd seen 5 of the 10. I've now seen them all. Thanks for the viewing guide!
Terrific, and you are more than welcome! I hope it was time well spent.
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
Definitely time well spent! I enjoyed them all, and many would find their way onto my own top 10, although I'd probably rank them differently. And I'd find room for The Birds. I'm not sure precisely how I'd reorder, but I'd have to put the rather conventional choices of Rear Window, Psycho, and The Birds in the top three. The next tier would probably include Strangers on a Train and Rope. Then the rest. I don't think Vertigo would find it's way onto my top 10. :-)
Seen 50 Hitchcock (all or almost all). Do not believe there are really any bad ones, just ones that are not as good as other. For me, the top four are (1) Vertigo (2) Pshyco (3) Rear Window (4) North By Northwest. To add 6 others for a top ten is difficult. Best I can do is:
Vertigo
Psycho
Rear Window
North By Northwest
Rebecca
Notorious
Strangers on a Train
Birds
39 Steps
Foreign Correspondent
Jim, you must know the best thing about movies is that you can never really be finished watching great movies.
I hate to see anyone think they are complete, especially when it comes to Hitchcock.
So I would like to give you another 10 Hitchcock movies worth watching. I dont know if Mr bangs would agree these are the next 10 best of Hitchcock (we Will leave Vertigo out of the discussion) but here goes in no particular order.
Shadow of a Doubt -this would be in my top 5 Hitchcock movies
The Wrong Man
The Trouble With Harry - As close as he came to a Comedy
To Catch A Thief -The Most stylized of his 50's big movies
Dial M For Murder - Would probably crack my top 10
Suspicion
Foreign Correspondent
Sabotage
The Man Who Knew to Much -The remake is better than the original
Frenzy - A glorious misstep but worth a viewing
Dammit, just when I thought I had that particular niche in the cinematic landscape all sewed up. :-)
Thanks! I can't turn down one of your top 5; I've added Shadow of a Doubt to my Netflix queue. And the rest are on my larger To See list.
I'm glad to hear the remake of The Man Who Knew Too Much is better than the original, which I didn't care for. Did your memory of my over-simplified review prompt that note?
Well, Vertigo is certainly a special case for me. I don't like it too much, but surely every Hitchcock must see it, if only once...
Let's see, my next ten must see Hitch films would probably be:
Shadow of a Doubt (which I frankly forgot about and might have to add here soon)
Foreign Correspondent
The Birds
The Man Who Knew Too Much (both versions, although I confess to favoring the original)
To Catch a Thief
Dial M for Murder
Spellbound
The Trouble with Harry
Blackmail
To be honest, that's about all, in my book. While Al made some great films, I confess I don't hold him in quite the esteem most do today, and I certainly think he made a fair amount of mediocre and flat-out awful (Topaz, stand up) films.
So I think we're pretty close. I've only seen a bad videotape copy of Frenzy, and while I was very disappointed, I'll hold final call until I've seen the new (from what I hear very well-done) DVD version.
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
I actually really like Frenzy, and Vertigo is probably not only my fave hitch but one of my top 5 movies ever. However Hith movies i found to be missing from your top 20 were Family plot, and Marnie, neither are his greatest movies but surely amongst his 20 best. To answer an earlier post about the trouble with harry 'the closest he came to comedy' family plot is better and much funnier, i found harry to be just plain bad.
As for Hitch and comedy, Mr. and Mrs. Smith IS an outright screwball comedy, and even though I haven't watched it since junior high, I remember liking it somewhat...
It has been much too long since I've watched Family Plot for me to say much more than I thought it was passable. The touches of black humor were rather tasty. I really, however, hate Marnie; I'm not sure that it doesn't have one of the worst endings to a film I've ever seen in my life. Until that point, it isn't too bad, but an 'intense' ending that leaves me in stitches really hurts a film.
Vertigo, well, search around the site for my reactions to Vertigo. It has certainly been discussed aplenty!
Thanks for the comments. I will absolutely give Frenzy a second shot on DVD at some point.
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
I can't stand Lifeboat, I must say. Glad to see Strangers On A Train
It has been a little while since I caught Lifeboat, so maybe you should not trust me.
Strangers on a Train, however, is up there with Rope as one of his most neglected. Why do I have the sad feeling in Stranger's case it may have to do with the black and white film? I hope not, but fear so...
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
That never seemed to be a problem for Psycho. In fact, much as I love Psycho, I think it might be a tad overrated. Some place it above Rear Window and North by Northwest, and I certainly can't agree with that.
I stand by my view that Strangers has two lame holes in it: (1) that Guy would leave the gun on the bed when he knows what a psycho Bruno is, and worse, (2) that Bruno would be carrying the lighter, the one thing that can save him, his holy grail, and accidentally drop it down the sewer. I don't know if anyone else felt that way, but those things hurt the movie for me.
As a side note, if you're second-guessing your placement of Lifeboat, then there's only one film I have to see to complete this list: Rebecca.