Classic Movies - Alfred Hitchcock Final Films

Today, let’s talk Hitchcock Classic Movies-The Finale! In this blog, we will conclude our review of Hitchcock classic films with the 1960’s and 1970’s. During those decades he made seven films before his death in



1980 at the age of 80. Those movies are
Psycho (1960); The Birds (1963);
Marnie (1964); Torn Curtain (1966); Topaz (1969); Frenzy (1972); and Family Plot (1976). All are American films with the exception of Frenzy, his last British film. Of those final movies, we are spotlighting the two that we consider the best of the bunch and two of our favorites. Both films are indeed classic Hitchcock.

Psycho was probably Hitchcock’s most graphic and horrific motion picture up to that time. In a chilling performance by Anthony Perkins, as the emotionally disturbed, Norman Bates, a new breed of psychological killer was presented to the movie-going audience. The brutal shower scene involving Marion (Janet Leigh) is film legend. You will notice that Hitchcock reverted back to black and white for this film. This may have been because people were more squeamish at the sight of blood in those days, but it was probably because he wanted to make one of the “low-budget” thrillers that had become so popular at that time. With Psycho, Hitchcock created for his audience an unforgettable experience in terror at the “Bates Motel” and the frenzied musical score by Bernard Herrmann was and is absolutely hair-raising. We’ve heard on interviews that Hitchcock didn’t expect Psycho to have the tremendous impact that it did. In fact, he was quite surprised by it. We fail to see why. The film still stands the test of time and continues to scare those who watch it for the first or fortieth time. It is a true horror classic-Hitchcock style!

The Birds, by Daphne du Maurier, was the first Hitchcock film we were actually old enough to see at the theater and it was pretty intense! We will never forget the various scenes of the congregating birds as they prepared for and carried out mass attacks on their human targets. We still think of this movie whenever we see large flocks of birds gathered in trees or along electrical wires. ‘Tippi’ Hedren and Rod Taylor are fabulous in this frightening film that causes all who see it to wonder what might happen if “our feathered friends” should start fighting back. The Birds is a great motion picture and another Hitchcock triumph.

Unfortunately, the final five films of Alfred Hitchcock’s career do not quite compare to Psycho and The Birds, but they do have their moments, as do most of his movies. Watch any of Hitchcock’s fabulous films and see for yourself. You may find one that you like better than any of those we’ve recommended in our blog about the legendary director.

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**Trivia Question for Today: As one of the leading stars of Psycho, what was so unusual about Janet Leigh’s role in the film?

Trivia Answer for Previous Post: The MacGuffin, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is a term coined by Alfred Hitchcock circa 1939 and is defined as follows: An object, event, or character in a film or story that serves to set and keep the plot in motion despite usually lacking intrinsic importance. In Psycho, for example, the $40,000.00 that Marion stole was the reason she was on the run and stopped at the Bates Motel, but it had nothing to do with what happened at the motel. The money was merely the catalyst that set things in motion. It was the MacGuffin!