While traveling in continental Europe, a rich young playgirl realizes that an elderly lady seems to have disappeared from the train.
How to classify this film? Some consider it among Hitchcock's best. And perhaps it is. But I think it is not that simple. He entered the production part of the way through, so should we give him less credit than for other films where he was on board from day one? Maybe, maybe not. It was also his last film in England (his "farewell" film), so should we compare his English period to his American period, or put them all together?
Mostly these are silly questions. The film stands on its own merits -- a great story, well executed, with more humor than your standard Hitchcock. The introduction of Caldicott and Charters is a great touch, and this pair have gone on to make other films (though, to my knowledge, probably not ones that are in continuity with this).
I love the way certain scenes are shot (such as the death of the musician), and I love the mystery and intrigue of a spy/detective plot. While I would not rank this in the "top tier" of Hitchcock's work ("Strangers on a Train" and "Rope" would fill that niche), it is still better than most of the other options out there.
How to classify this film? Some consider it among Hitchcock's best. And perhaps it is. But I think it is not that simple. He entered the production part of the way through, so should we give him less credit than for other films where he was on board from day one? Maybe, maybe not. It was also his last film in England (his "farewell" film), so should we compare his English period to his American period, or put them all together?
Mostly these are silly questions. The film stands on its own merits -- a great story, well executed, with more humor than your standard Hitchcock. The introduction of Caldicott and Charters is a great touch, and this pair have gone on to make other films (though, to my knowledge, probably not ones that are in continuity with this).
I love the way certain scenes are shot (such as the death of the musician), and I love the mystery and intrigue of a spy/detective plot. While I would not rank this in the "top tier" of Hitchcock's work ("Strangers on a Train" and "Rope" would fill that niche), it is still better than most of the other options out there.