The Ruby Throated Sparrow

Happy birthday, Hitchcock!

Movie Still of the Day: North by Northwest

Movie Still of the Day: Topaz

Even as a die-hard Hitchcock fan I’ll be the first to admit that Topaz isn’t one of his greats. But this stunning shot, in which a woman’s purple dress fans out like a pool of blood as she collapses to the ground, almost makes the entire film worth watching.

Black and White Movie Still of the Day: Dial M For Murder

Just sitting right here looking at this image and I’m biting my nails in suspense. Hitchcock, you old manipulator, you.

Black and White Movie Still of the Day: To Catch a Thief

Rainy days like this always make me wish I was basking in the Cannes sunshine with Cary Grant à la Grace Kelly in To Catch a Thief. I love this picture. “Oh, hullo. Just me, Grace Kelly, chilling out on this stairwell with Hitchcock in my massive, gorgeous, gold period French gown. Yawn.”

“I beg your pardon, but aren’t you Guy Haines?”

Black and White Movie Still of the Day: Strangers on a Train

In honor of Farley Granger (July 1, 1925 – March 27, 2011)

Black and white movie still of the day: Vertigo

Bringing a surrealist eye to one of the more twisted love stories to ever hit the big screen, Alfred Hitchcock imbues nearly every frame of Vertigo with beauty and an ever-growing sense of dread. The “Vertigo” shot, designed by Hitchcock to mirror the sickening pull-push of the main character’s psyche has been oft-imitated but never as effective as it was here, as Jimmy Stewart’s acrophobic detective hurtles up a rickety, distorted staircase to save the woman he loves from her tragically inevitable demise.

One of the most beautiful films ever shot in color, and every bit as disturbing as the best psychological dramas coming out today. A rhapsodic meditation on love, obsession, and the dark, disturbing areas where the two meet. Undeservedly unloved upon its release, Vertigo has since been rediscovered as what it truly is: a masterpiece.

Black and white movie still of the day: Hitchcock’s Notorious

This is my favorite movie of all time. Last year I was looking through the newspaper and saw that Notorious was being shown at our gigantic movie theater near the park. Friends, I cannot express the flood of emotions that blew over me as I contemplated seeing this film on the big screen. It was something along the lines of being presented with forty-two gallons of Haagen Dasz coffee ice cream and being told that eating it would prolong my life. It was like being invited to go on a motorcycle trip with Steve McQueen. It was like finding out that Ray Lamontagne’s next album would be titled Songs for Bailey, Who is Hot. 

…and then I found out that it was, in fact, the Biggie biopic. Folks, if ever there has been an FML moment, that was it.