Hitching on to a Master
Season 2: Episode 67
Strangers on a Train (1951)
American psychological thriller film noir with a script by Raymond Chandler, Whitfield Cook and Czenzi Ormonde, based on the novel by Patricia Highsmith.
Strangers on a Train would start the Hitchcock renaissance which would run through the 50’s and 60’s. It would be studied in depth by film studies especially for the scene of Margery’s murder and would have endless films use the plot such as Throw Momma From the Train, Sweet Revenge and Horrible Bosses to name a few. The film would also characterise light and dark and have a strong political context.
The film stars Farley Granger, Robert Walker, Ruth Roman, Leo G Carroll and Patricia Hitchcock.
Season 2: Episode 68
High Anxiety (1977)
Written by a team of writers and directed by Mel Brooks and is a parody of Hitchcock which includes a nod towards The Birds, Spellbound and Vertigo to name a few. The film is dedicated to Alfred Hitchcock.
The film stars Madeleine Kahn, Mel Brooks, Cloris Leachman, Harvey Korman and Dick Van Patten. The film would be a box office smash.
Blazing Saddles (1974)
Written by a team and directed by Mel Brooks. The film satirises racism obscured by myth making Hollywood accounts of the Old West.
Hedy Lamarr would sue the film for making fun of her name which Mel Brooks would say he was flattered and the studio would offer her a small fee. The film would break box office records and be considered a comedy classic.
The film stars Madeline Kahn, Cleavon Little, Gene Wilder, Harvey Korman, Mel Brooks, Slim Pickens, Dom DeLuise and a cameo by Anne Bancroft.
Season 2: Episode 69
North by Northwest (1959)
Screenplay by Earnest Lehman who wanted to write the Hitchcock picture to end all Hitchcock pictures provided this gem of a film that lives on in the halls of one of the best motion pictures ever made.
Hitchcock wanted to something fun and light with a murder mystery and a man mistaken. He has been running with the idea for a number of years until he decided to go forth and hiring Lehman to write a script.
The film stars Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, Martin Landau, James Mason and Leo G Carroll. The film is a box office smash and still breaks records on reissues. This is one of the films that reminds us why we love Hitch.
Season 2: Episode 70
