I’ve been watching a lot of Alfred Hitchcock’s work lately. When searching for a new project, I tend to immerse myself in that which I wish to imitate. I have quite a task ahead of me, considering Hitchcock directed over fifty feature films in his long career.

In many ways, Hitchcock was the Spielberg of his time, though much more uniform in his style. It amazes me that one could be so prolific. It also becomes apparent that it is likely impossible for anyone in today’s cinema to attain the sort of success he achieved.

To begin with, Hitchcock’s earlier movies are not nearly the triumphs that he is known for. Take, for example, The Lady Vanishes. This is, in many ways, a groundbreaking film that can’t seem to get out of its own way. While watching, I was amazed at how much there is for a director to work with in the confined spaces of a train. The movie contains one of the most advanced effects shot I have seen from the era, in which Michael Redgrave climbs out of the window of the moving train and is nearly sideswiped by a passing locomotive. For all its clever ideas, The Lady Vanishes tends to get a little muddled in its plot, and contains some unintentionally comical editing.

Nevertheless, The Lady Vanishes was a major hit for its time. It is also a massively influential film. Hell, it made my mind go crazy with potential ideas. However, some classic films have a difficult time living up to their own legend.

What seems apparent to me, as I watch more and more of Hitchcock’s films, is that he is almost always better when holding back. Nearly everything I’ve seen by him has interested me in some way, but his absolute masterpieces are almost always the smaller films. (more…)