Stage Fright (1950)
“Every time I think I know the color of your eyes you disappear”–Michael Wilding as Ordinary Smith to Jane Wyman’s Eve Gill.
Alfred Hitchcock’s thriller starring Jane Wyman, Michael Wilding, Richard Todd ,( just watched him taunt Ann Baxter in Chase a Crooked Shadow 1958– he’s terribly handsome but plays one hell of a sociopath).
Alastair Sim, Sybil Thorndike, and the smoking hot Marlene Dietrich as actress/singer Charlotte Inwood who wears Christian Dior gowns and sings the languid torch song- “Laziest Girl in Town.”
Jane Wyman is adorable as always playing a young aspiring actress who tries to help prove her friend, Richard Todd’s innocence in the murder of performer Marlene Dietrich’s husband. One of Hitchcock’s best!- Adapted for the screen by Whitfield Cook (Strangers on a Train) and Hitchcock’s wife Alma Reville. (Suspicion 1941, Shadow of a Doubt 1943) Based on the novel by Selwyn Jepson. With Fabulously nuanced cinematography by Wilkie Cooper (Jason and the Argonauts.)
Your ever-lovin’ MonsterGirl
Joey, Hitchcock must be busting out all over, as we’ve both got blog posts showcasing Sir Alfred Hitchcock lately! :-D I have a soft spot for STAGE FRIGHT because it was Hitchcock’s daughter Patricia’s film debut, and I’ve always thought she was adorable, especially in STRANGERS ON A TRAIN, as well as her small but memorable role in PSYCHO! Also, as luck would have it, my new TALES OF THE EASILY DISTRACTED showcases Hitchcock’s NOTORIOUS, if you’re interested! :-)
http://doriantb.blogspot.com/2014/02/alfred-hitchcocks-notorious-1946-nazis.html
Warmest wishes to you and Wendy and all you care about, my friend! :-)
Haha! I bet he is and Alma is too! Especially with the FILM FORUM doing a retrospective of Hitch’s work… I adore Patricia too. I love her voice and her sweetness. She appeared in several of his little television Presents as well. I’ve been crazing STRANGERS ON A TRAIN & SHADOW OF A DOUBT. I think I’ll watch those after I delve into one of you memorable posts like NOTORIOUS. I admit it’s not one of his films that I’m as familiar with so reading one of your extremely cheeky and loaded with good details, I’ll want to make the popcorn and sit down for a treat!- All the best to you and yours- xoxo Pal Joey
Aw, thanks, Joey! I hope you’ll enjoy it! Wish I could go to Manhattan’s Film Forum to see more of them in person, but at least we have plenty of Hitchcock movies to watch and enjoy right here at home! :-) Hugs to you and Wendy and all you care about from all of us here at Team Bartilucci HQ, my friend!
Dori- Not sure if you got my comment over at TALES OF THE EASILY DISTRACTED but I absolutely flipped for your piece on NOTORIOUS! it’s perhaps one of the wittiest posts, and of course it was jam packed with such wonderful details. It’s especially poignant that you had the chance to interview Pat Hitchcock! Wow what a gift. She is such an adorable soul. Even her little cameos just add something special, because of her innate sweetness. You must have been beaming with pride. Kudos as always for encapsulating the essence of the films you cover with such humor and nuggets of information that bring the story to life. Your Pal Joey
I love that the casting in this film TOTALLY sets us up for a terrific plot twist. Jane Wyman as the villain?! Who would ever see THAT coming?
Marlene is radiant in this film, of course, and your screenshots have done her justice.
very nice pix! I like this one a lot, it must be one of Hitch’s most underrated
Thanks Kristina-I agree… I too thinks it’s one of his unsung gems! Just love Marlene singing The Laziest Woman in Town!!!