On the maverick filmmaker’s birth anniversary, we have rounded up few of his most thrilling and suspenseful movies
Los Angeles, USA - August 4, 2016: Alfred Hitchcock star in Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, CA.Pic/iStock
August 13 marks the English director, producer, and screenwriter Sir Alfred Hitchcock’s 122nd birth anniversary. Known as the ‘Master of Suspense’, Hitchcock directed over 50 feature films over a period of six decades and gained international fame for his stylised visual storytelling, use of music, and recurring themes of voyeurism and subversion. Despite being nominated five times, he never won the Academy Award for Best Director but has sustained a cult following. His illustrious legacy spanning genres, from horror to comedy, is dotted with cinematic gems. To celebrate his legendary career, we have rounded up the best of Alfred Hitchcock’s movies for cinephiles to indulge in.
ADVERTISEMENT
Psycho (1960)
Arguably the most famous movie by Hitchcock, Pyscho is a psychological horror film that is consistently ranked among the greatest movies of all time. Nominated for four Academy Awards, the movie follows Marion, who disappears after stealing a huge amount of money from her employer. On the run, she ends up reaching a motel and meeting the owner and manager of the family establishment, Norman Bates. Laced with nerve-wracking moments and an iconic murder-scene, the riveting story takes viewers on an unpredictable journey.
Watch: YouTube, Google Play
Vertigo (1958)
Based on the novel D'entre les morts by Boileau-Narcejac, this noir psychological thriller movie continues to capture the imagination of audiences around the globe. Vertigo follows Detective Scottie who suffers from acrophobia (fear of heights) and is hired to follow and investigate the strange behaviour of Madeleine, an acquaintance's wife. She eventually dies by suicide which leaves the deeply troubled protagonist obsessed with her. The depressing storyline contributed to the commercial failure of the movie in 1958 but is unanimously accepted to be ahead of its time by contemporary critics. Vertigo is an unconventional movie with a hypnotizing score and layered characters that delve into the human psyche like never before.
Watch: YouTube, Google Play
Rebecca (1940)
Hitchcock’s first American movie, Rebecca is based on a novel of the same name by Daphne du Maurier. The romantic psychological thriller follows a woman who marries an aristocratic widower and must live in the shadow of his former wife, Rebecca, who died mysteriously several years earlier. The movie received critical acclaim for its suspenseful storytelling and nuanced acting, and garnered eleven Academy Award nominations, winning in the Best Picture and Best Cinematography categories.
Watch: YouTube
Dial M for Murder (1954)
Fans of crime thrillers are sure to love this timeless classic. Dial M for Murder follows retired tennis player Tony who plans to murder his wife Margot after finding out about her affair with an American writer. His plan to blackmail an old associate doesn’t work out as planned, but he manages to frame his wife for murder. What ensues is an inversion of the whodunit mystery that keeps the audiences on the edge of their seats.
Watch: YouTube, Google Play
The Birds (1963)
An unusual film that ranks among Hitchcock’s most parodied works, The Birds focusses on a series of unexplained violent bird attacks on the residents of Bodega Bay, California. While movie buffs and critics have long debated the allegorical subtext of this natural horror-thriller movie, the stylised editing, special effects, and overall aesthetic has been praised without exception. If you enjoy haunting slow-burn narratives, this movie is indeed unmissable.
Watch: YouTube
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
