Marnie

Sean Connery, Tipi Hedron

This film was a flop for Hitchcock upon release in 1964. It followed a series of truly great films (Vertigo, North By Northwest, Psycho, The Birds) and seemed unimaginative, unoriginal in comparison. It also didn't startle or shock. My reaction at the time was typical...it was boring and fell far short of expectations.

I still see it as inferior Hitchcock but that's like saying a drawing is an inferior Leonardo...it may be but it's still better than anyone else was producing at the time. It featured meticulous camera movement and framing...including one of the sexiest kisses ever...but also included rear projection shots and some really poor matte work.

The script didn't quite work. SC's character wasn't believable...either in his fascination for this obviously troubled woman or in his role as amateur shrink. But the man had such charisma and appeal that we are willing to overlook the flaws until we realize at the end we just didn't care about these folks' fate...a sure sign the writing failed.

Signature look, style, pacing. Came across as a last gasp of a dying form of old hollywood.

5