Joan Fontaine (1917-2013)
Actress Joan Fontaine, who starred in Rebecca (1940) and Suspicion (1941), has died at the age of 96.
Hitchcock Annual Volume 18
Volume 18 of the Hitchcock Annual is now available to buy at your nearest book shop! Contents: Champagne (1928): The Nation’s Favorite Meets the Critics’ Choice — Amy Sargeant Hitchcock and Documentary: Re-editing Men of the Lightship — Charles Barr Hitchcock’s Newspaper: A “Thing in the Crowd” — John Bruns Intimate Violence: Marnie and Queer Resilience — David Greven Hitchcock and the Wandering Woman: The Influence of Italian Art Cinema on The Birds — Richard… (read more)
New to Blu-ray: Downhill (1927)
The British Film Institute‘s excellent recent restoration of Downhill (1927) has been released on Blu-ray in Spain. Extras: Apuntes sobre Hitchcock: Sus primeros años (aka “Hitchcock: The Early Years”) Escalera al infierno Galeria Fichas Filmografias
New to Blu-ray: Foreign Correspondent (1940)
Criterion Collection are releasing Foreign Correspondent (1940) on Blu-ray on February 18th, 2014. Features: New 2K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray New piece on the visual effects in the film with effects expert Craig Barron Hollywood Propaganda and World War II, a new interview with writer Mark Harris Interview with director Alfred Hitchcock from a 1972 episode of The Dick Cavett Show (previously available as part of a DVD box set)… (read more)
Who is this witch?
This ugly crone is a famous actress who delights in playing an occasional prank. On Halloween she went to her Hollywood studio, equipped herself with a wrinkled face, a wart on her nose and a broom, and swirled away. A few minutes later she burst into the home of Directory Victor Fleming, circled him on her broom and left, trailing a shrill, cackling laugh. A little later, she terrified Director Alfred Hitchcock (himself a master… (read more)
Criterion Collection: The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934)
Criterion have just announced that they’ll be releasing Hitchcock’s original 1934 version of “The Man Who Knew Too Much on DVD and Blu-ray. The features are listed as: New high-definition digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray edition New audio commentary featuring film historian Philip Kemp New interview with filmmaker Guillermo del Toro The Illustrated Hitchcock, an extensive interview with director Alfred Hitchcock from 1972, conducted by journalist Pia Lindstrom and film historian… (read more)
Hopkins as Hitchcock
…can I suggest the tagline “The Hitchcock is Coming”? ;-)
Psycho Champagne
A couple of pieces of Hitchcock news via Alain Kerzoncuf! On Thursday September 27th, The Space will be streaming Hitchcock’s 1928 silent classic “Champagne” with a new score by Mira Calix, live from the BFI on London’s Southbank. Betty Balfour Secondly, Dread Central has a cool video showing scenes that were trimmed from the US release of “Psycho” (and have never appeared on any of the DVD releases). Janet Leigh on the job!
Horticultural Hitchcock
I really love this photograph that appeared in LIFE magazine (11/Jul/1960) :-D Phantom Face in the Foliage For 36 years Movie Director Alfred Hitchcock has dealt in murder, mayhem and malevolence but for all that has retained a cheerful and cherubic look. He has a red and merry face acquired by years of devotion to the civilizing influence of good wines. His eyes twinkle happily as he describes the movie he one day hopes to… (read more)
Hitchhiking with Hitch
Just for the heck of it, here’s a selection of car driving film frames!