Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection DVD Review:
Over
four decades Alfred Hitchcock brilliantly directed more than
thirty thrillers, forever placing him in film history as the
Master of Suspense. Although his films have been released countless
times on all sorts of mediums, this new collection is above
and beyond anything that has ever been available in one package.
With fourteen movies, spread over fifteen discs so that the
quality of these digitally remastered classics are not spared
in the least, one would assume that at least a few of the films
would be smaller and lesser known classics. This is not the
case, however, and nearly every great film of Hitchcock’s
career has found a place in this collection. All fifteen discs
are fit into four cases and set inside an elegant box with a
red felt covering and silver lettering. It is one of the most
stylish collections on my shelf, and I don’t see that
changing any time soon. There is also a wonderful 36 page color
booklet with a biography of Hitchcock and two pages dedicated
to each film in the collection, include fun facts about the
production.
Some fans may be
disappointed if they have previously bought some of these films
and now they feel obligated to buy a collection, but because
of the special features and the mere grandeur of the collection,
it will not be a regretful decision to purchase this collection.
It is somewhat odd that there are only four cases for fifteen
discs, especially since there is clearly more room inside the
box and the box is somewhat fragile despite its sturdy appearance,
but these are small flaws in the grand scheme of things.
The menus mostly
begin with an extremely excited score of Hitchcock’s classic
theme which sounds more like an introduction to Who Wants to
Be a Millionaire, but it fades out quickly and the traditional
music takes over. Some of them are replaced with the film’s
theme music, but the older titles use Hitchcock’s theme.
The menus are all somewhat simple but although similar to each
other each one is unique. Each of the discs also packs plenty
of surprises as far as bonus materials are concerned.
There is a bonus
disc with a few great features. There is the award dinner in
which AFI salutes Hitchcock, which are star filled and a wonderful
collection of memorable stories. There is also an interview
with Hitchcock on Masters of Cinema. It is an old and grainy
interview, but Hitchcock’s insights are fantastic. There
are also two featurettes which obviously couldn’t be fit
on the other discs. It is a documentary about The Birds and
Psycho.
Saboteur (1942):
Starring Priscilla Lane and Cummings, this 1942 tale of Nazis
and sabotage features the famed scene atop the Statue of Liberty.
Bonus materials include a 35 minute documentary about the making
of Saboteur, which features interviews with many from the original
cast. There are also storyboards, sketches from Alfred Hitchcock,
production photos and notes, and a theatrical trailer.
Shadow of a Doubt
(1942):
This was said to be Hitchcock’s favorite film, starring
Teresa Wright and Joseph Cotton in a tale of kill or be killed
in a small town and a seemingly normal family. There is an hour
long documentary, Beyond Doubt, about the film, with interviews
by cast and Alfred Hitchcock’s daughter. There are also
production drawings by the art director, Robert Boyle, photographs
from the set, and a theatrical trailer.
Rope (1948):
Shot in a remarkably innovative manner and taking place essentially
all in one day in the same room, this was Hitchcock’s
first color film and it stars James Stewart. There are hardly
any cuts in the film, resulting in extremely long takes, giving
the film a theatrical feeling. The bonus features include a
documentary, Rope Unleashed, which is about thirty minutes long.
Other bonus materials include a theatrical trailer, production
photos, and production notes.
Rear Window (1954):
Fittingly following Rope is another great James Stewart/Hitchcock
collaboration, which also mostly takes place in one room, or
at least looking out of one room. A recently injured photographer
is stuck in his apartment looking out the window when he thinks
that he witnesses a murder in one of the windows across the
courtyard. It is a relief to find different music on the menus
of this DVD, as well as some great bonus material. There is
a documentary entitled Rear Window Ethics, which is full of
great insight. The documentary runs just under an hour. There
is also a conversation with screenwriter John Michael Hayes,
photos, notes, and two versions of theatrical trailers for the
film.
The Trouble With
Harry (1955):
Although still a mystery, this charming film starring Edmund
Gwenn, John Forsythe, Mildred Natwick, Jerry Mathers, and Shirley
Maclaine, is much lighter and humorous than most of Hitchcock’s
work. It is a dark comedy, but it isn’t so dark aside
from the fact that it involves a corpse the entire film, and
everyone seems to think that it is their own fault. The bonus
features include The Trouble With Harry Isn’t Over, a
great 30 minute documentary, production photos, production notes,
and a theatrical trailer.
The Man Who Knew
Too Much (1955):
This was another remarkable case in which Hitchcock broke new
ground in remaking his own 1934 film of the same title. Starring
James Stewart and Doris day as an innocent vacationing couple,
it soon turns into a tale of espionage and thrills when a French
spy dies in the arms of Ben McKenna (Stewart). Bonus materials
include The Making of The Man Who Knew Too Much, which is thirty
minutes long, production notes, photos, and a theatrical trailer.
Vertigo (1958):
Once again James Stewart stars, this time alongside of Kim Novak,
in one of Hitchcock’s most famous films. When Vertigo
was first released it wasn’t Hitchcock’s biggest
hits but over time it has become one of the most famous and
highly regarded. The DVD shows this with an original documentary
by AMC, Obsessed With Vertigo, featuring interviews with film
greats as well as film experts. This is definitely one of the
best documentaries in the set. There is also feature commentary
with the associate producer, Herbert Coleman, and the restoration
team. As if this weren’t enough there is also a censorship
ending to the film, The Vertigo Archives, Production Notes,
and theatrical trailers.
Psycho (1960):
If Vertigo is Hitchcock’s highest regarded film, Psycho
could definitely be argues to be his most popular. Starring
Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh, Psycho is full of surprises
and features the masterpiece shower scene. It was filmed in
black and white because Hitchcock believed that color would
be too gory for audiences. The bonus features are different
from most of the other films. There is newsreel footage from
the release of the Psycho, trailers, an in-depth look at the
shower scene, shower scene storyboards, a great deal of photographs
and other marketing material.
The Birds (1963):
The menus for this great film, which has been imitated countless
times, are fantastic. They are creepy looking and instead of
music, there is simply the sound of birds. Starring Tippi Hedren
and Rod Taylor, the Birds is basically a simple tale of wild
animals out to get humans. The bonus materials includes a deleted
scene, sketches of the original ending which was never shot
due to budget constraints, a storyboard sequence, Tippi Hedren’s
screen test, two newsreels, photos, and a theatrical trailer.
Marnie (1964):
Starring Tippi Hedren as a compulsive thief, Sean Connery also
stars in Marnie. Dealing more with behavior than anything else,
this is a psychological thriller. Bonus features include a documentary,
The Trouble With Marnie, photos, production notes, and a theatrical
trailer.
Torn Curtain (1966):
This Cold War thriller stars Paul Newman and Julie Andrews as
a scientist and his fiancée/assistant traveling to an
international physics conference. Bonus material includes a
documentary, Torn Curtain Rising, scenes scored by Bernard Herrmann,
who was said to have a falling out with Hitchcock on this film,
photos, notes, and a trailer.
Topaz (1969):
Based on the best selling spy novel and starring John Forsythe
and Frederick Stafford, Topaz is filled with all sorts of surprises,
taking place in Cuba with French operatives and Russian missiles.
Bonus features include an alternate ending, storyboards, photos,
notes, a trailer, and a featurette with Leonard Maltin talking
about the film.
Frenzy (1972):
Jon Finch, Alec McCowen and Barry Foster star in this film,
which was Hitchcock’s first to receive an “R”
rating. It was also Hitchcock’s first film in England
since 1950. Bonus features include The Story of Frenzy, Production
photos, theatrical trailer, and production notes.
Family Plot (1976):
In his final film, Hitchcock uses humor to tell the tale of
a wealthy woman who hires a psychic to find her missing heir.
It stars Bruce Dern, Barbara Harris, William Devane, and Karen
Black. Bonus material includes storyboards of the chase scene,
a documentary about the film, photos, notes, and a trailer.
