Dial M For Murder

 Dial M For Murder is a clever little movie. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, the movie is set in motion when we see Margot (Grace Kelly) and Mark (Robert Cummings) in a living room, talking about old times. We find out that they were once upon a time lovers, and Margot has married another man while Mark was away. The husband is Tony Wendice (Ray Milland) who is a old, has been, tennis player. It is unknown to Margot and Mark that Tony is fully aware of his wife's love affair, and is planning on killing her in order to gain her money and be rid of her.

Tony blackmails a old college acquaintance into killing Margot while he and Mark are conveniently at a party, away from the scene of the crime. He has every detail planned on how it is to be done, overlooking nothing. What Tony was not planning on, was Margot killing the intruder instead of it being the other way around! When Tony finds this out, he must quickly come up with a new plan before his secret is found out.

This movie is not Hitchcock's best film, in my opinion, but it still is a good watch due to the clever ending. I became intrigued watching this movie because I was waiting for the husband to make a mistake. Lie after lie he wasn't caught and I was amazing at how well things seemed to be turning out for him. Dial M For Murder was produced in 1954, and it won three awards.

Always,
Avery

Sources Used:
http://www.imdb.com
Picture

Rebecca

Rebecca was directed by Alfred Hitchcock in 1940. So of course, its a great movie. A young women (Joan Fontaine) marries a rich widowed man named Maxium' de Winter, (played by Laurence Olivier), and moves into his mansion. His previous wife, Rebecca, has her personal touches throughout the entire house, and nothing has change since her death. The new Mrs. de Winter has a hard time living up to Rebecca, in every way. The house maid was very close with Rebecca, so when the newly married couples move in, she convinces Mrs. de Winter that Maxium doesn't love her. Eventually, the bride becomes jealous of a dead women, and uncovers secrets that were never meant to be found.

One particular scene in the movie takes place on Halloween, and the de Winter's are throwing a party. The maid suggests that Mrs. de Winter dress up as a previous family member, whose painting hangs on the wall.When Mrs. de Winter makes her grand entrance to the party, her guests are shocked and stare with their jaws on the floor. She cant figure out what is wrong, until she learns Rebecca had worn the same costume the previous year. That is when things really start to get interesting. Everything unfolds and gets more exciting as the audiences starting piecing information together.

Rebecca won the 1941 Oscar for best picture as well as best cinematography. This movie is interesting and contains drama and mystery. The end is truly creative, and your heart breaks for Mrs. de Winter. Maxium is a good husband, but doesn't pick up on the manipulation between the maid and his new wife.

This movie is somewhat similar to Gaslight (1940) because of the mind tricks and a women going mad. Other than that, nothing is similar. Rebecca truly is a one of a kind movie, and a must see. The scenery and details are special while the story line and actors keep you on the edge of your seat.

Sorry this post is so long. But it really is a good movie.

Always,
Avery

Sources Used:
http://www.imdb.com
Picture

Rear Window

Rear Window was directed by the best man ever, Alfred Hitchcock! It was made in 1954 with Grace Kelly (I think she is so pretty) and James Stewart who you might know from "Its a Wonderful Life". The movie is a mystery and thriller. Stewart is temporarily in a wheelchair and lives in an apartment complex. Being in a wheelchair, he gets bored and people watches. As he starts taking an interest in his neighbor behind him, he comes to believe that the man has killed his wife!

As the weeks go on, Stewart is convinced that he has seen a murder, and even has his maid and girlfriend (Kelly) worried he might be right. It's not a scary movie like the ones made today are, but it does have suspense and keeps you glued to the screen. As the movie unfolds, you cant decide if Steward is right, or just bored and making things up until he goes crazy. Its a good, satisfying movie that actually has an ending, it doesn't leave the audience to make up their own mind.

Rear Window was nominated for four Oscars in 1955. The film is in color for those who don't like black and white.

                                            (The movie clip is only around 3 minutes long)

Always,
Avery


Sources Used:
http://www.youtube.com
http://www.imdb.com

Alfred Hitchcock

 Alfred Hitchcock was a movie director in the late 1920's through the 70's. He is well known for his thrillers and suspense movies such as Psycho, The Birds, and Marnie. I think Hitchcock was a genius! Some movies are better then others, but they are all good. He could really get inside the mind of a killer or rapist, which made his movies truly special.That's why he is known as the "master of suspense."


Hitchcock directed more than 50 feature films in a career spanning six decades. My favorite movie of his was Rebecca; but there are still many films I have yet to see, (its on my to-do list). Hitchcock was nominated and won so many awards, I couldn't possibly list them all. I will mention that he did receive the American Film Institute's Life Achievement Award in  1979, just a year before he died (1980). He was originally from London and even won awards for best foreign film.

If you have never seen any of his films, YOUR MISSING OUT. Seriously, the man was very talented.

 http://www.google.com/imgres

Always,
Avery

 Sources Used:
http://www.biography.com/
 http://www.imdb.com