In an attempt to provide a variety of movie selections for 18 Cinema Lane, I chose to review Strangers on a Train. Introduced to me by a close friend, this is the fourth Alfred Hitchcock film that I’ve seen. I’ve also watched Rear Window, Psycho, and The Birds. After watching Rear Window for the first time, I’ve come to have an appreciation for the story-telling abilities and movie making talents of Alfred Hitchcock. If the story is intriguing and the movie is entertaining, I am more than willing to expand my cinematic horizons to include “classic” films. I also am more than happy to recommend films to others, introducing movies to those who are traveling on their cinematic journeys. So, no matter where you are on your movie-viewing adventure, let me share my thoughts with you about Strangers on a Train!

Things I liked about the film:

• The acting: As good as the acting was in Strangers on a Train, the one actor that stole the show was Robert Walker. His portrayal of Bruno Antony was so convincing, it was unsettling whenever Bruno came on-screen. The character of Bruno, in my opinion, was disheartening because he was so determined to get what he wanted right up until the very end, believing that what he was doing was right. Robert’s performance was very versatile, as he was able to effortlessly display different emotions and characteristics. His performance was one of the best I’ve seen in an Alfred Hitchcock film!

• The suspense: In Strangers on a Train, the suspense reminded me of the suspense in Rear Window. In both films, the suspense was a slow and steady build-up. It allowed for the character and plot developments to grow to their fullest potential. This build-up led to the culmination of the suspense in the climax, which was very entertaining and engaging!

• The cinematography: There was some really cool looking cinematography that came across as being ahead of its time. I won’t give anything away, but whenever a scene involves a pair of glasses, the way it is filmed is really creative. Also, there is a scene involving the character of Bruno sitting in an audience that is well filmed.

What I didn’t like about the film:

• A slower pace: For about the first thirty minutes, the pace of Strangers on a Train was slow. However, when Bruno and his parents show up at a tennis match, that’s when the pace picks up.

  

My overall impression:

I really enjoyed this movie! Strangers on a Train is one of the better of Hitchcock’s films and it reminded me of Rear Window. My appreciation for Hitchcock’s directing talents have grown ever since I saw my first Alfred Hitchcock film. If you’ve never seen any of Hitchcock’s films before, I think Strangers on a Train is a good introduction to his cinematic collection. It has the right amount of suspense that will keep you on the edge on your seat. This movie also has such a well-written story that is engaging as well. Please check out Strangers on a Train because I think it’s totally worth it!

Overall score: 8 out of 10

Have you seen Strangers on a Train? What’s your favorite Alfred Hitchcock film? Please tell me in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Since I haven’t done a movie review in about two weeks, I decided to change things up a little bit. Recently, Turner Classic Movies (a.k.a. TCM) held a marathon on their network called “Mental Illness in the Movies”. Out of all the movies that were selected for the marathon, Bedlam was the film that sparked my curiosity the most. My interest for the film heightened when I watched a video clip on TCM’s website involving the characters of Nell Bowen and Tom, the Tiger (don’t worry, I’ll talk more about those characters later in my review). As the events were unfolding on my computer screen, I wanted to know more about these characters, as well as the significance of their interaction. Fortunately, I did watch this movie two days ago, so now you can read about how I feel about Bedlam!

Things I liked about the film:

• The acting: The cast of Bedlam was talented. Everyone came across as very believable. The two strongest performers, though, were Boris Karloff and Anna Lee. Their portrayals of George Sims and Nell Bowen were very expressive and memorable. Boris’ performance was so good that it provided a good reason to not like his character. Similarly for Anna Lee, her performance was talented to the point that it gave a good reason to root for her character. Both of Boris and Anna’s portrayals were captivating in this film.

• The story: Bedlam’s story was well-written. There were some mysteries in this movie, which I did not expect. However, I found this to be a pleasant surprise. Each of these mysteries kept me guessing as it added to the intrigue of the story. Because of this, there were a few surprises that took me off guard.

• The character of Nell Bowen: Nell Bowen was a well-written and well-acted character. Throughout the movie, Nell goes on a journey of personal growth that came across effectively on-screen. She changes from a woman in high society to putting her morals and beliefs over everything else. This made Nell a character that someone would not only want to root for, but also a character someone would want to see succeed.

What I didn’t like about the film:

• The dialogue: Bedlam takes place in 1761, so the way the characters speak is reflective of that time period. I can honestly say that it was difficult, at times, to understand what the characters were saying. However, the dialogue in the film can be understood, even if it does take some getting used to.

• An inconsistent pace: The first half of Bedlam, the build-up leading to Nell going to the hospital, was slower than the second half. When Nell gets to Bedlam, the pace quickly picks up. The second half of the film is also where most of the intrigue and engagement takes place.

• Some characters getting less development than others: Most of the characters outside of Bedlam received more character-development than the characters inside of Bedlam. One good example is the character of Tom, the Tiger. After I saw the video clip on TCM’s website, I became curious about this character and wanted to know more about him. Sadly, Tom, the Tiger got the bare minimum when it came to character-development. This was not the only character I felt this way about, as there were also characters within Bedlam that acquired even less character-development than Tom (the character of Dan, the Dog is an example).

  

My overall impression:

Bedlam is a hidden gem! While the film has its flaws, it also has its merits. I honestly had no idea that this movie existed until, literally, this week. However, I’m grateful that I stumbled across it when I did. Sharing recommendations for movie selections is something that I try my best to do on 18 Cinema Lane. Like I mentioned in my very first blog post, this film does deserve a “standing ovation”. Bedlam truly deserves to be viewed, so please watch it if you get the chance!

Overall score: 7.5 out of 10

Have you ever heard of Bedlam? Would you be interested in seeing the film? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Link to the article about the movies featured in TCM’s “Mental Illness in the Movies” marathon: http://www.tcm.com/this-month/article/1383885%7C0/Mental-Illness-in-the-Movies-3-5-3-6.html

Link to the video clip I referenced in my review: http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/video/189565/Bedlam-Movie-Clip-A-Pretty-Chamber.html