Alfred Hitchcock: His Ten Best Films!

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Alfred Hitchcock was the first director that I knew by name.  He remains one of my favorite film makers.  He made a number of great movies over his career.  Here are my top ten…

01. “North by Northwest” (1959) – A mild mannered advertising executive goes on the run after being mistaken for a government agent by foreign spies. Now he’s targeted for death by the enemy agents and wanted for (a framed) murder by US officials.  Nominated for three Academy Awards: Best Writing, Story and Screenplay – Written Directly for the Screen; Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color and Best Film Editing.

02. “Psycho” (1960) – A crime movie that morphs into a horror film.  Groundbreaking. Nominated for four Academy Awards: Best Actress in a Supporting Role; Best Director; Best Cinematography, Black-and-White and Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and-White.

03. “The Birds” (1963) – One of the movies that I could “stay up late” to watch when I was a kid.  Birds begin attacking and killing humans.  The concept in a lesser director’s hands would be ridiculous.  Not in Hitchcock’s.  Nominated for one Academy Award: Best Effects, Special Visual Effects.

04. “Rope” (1948) – Two intellectuals think that they’ve committed the perfect murder. Through creative planning and editing, Hitchcock creates a film that appears to be done in one continuous shot. 

05. “Lifeboat” (1944) – During World War II nine survivors end up in the same lifeboat. Eight are American or British.  One is German from the U-Boat that sank their ship. Nominated for three Academy Awards: Best Director; Best Writing, Original Story and Best Cinematography, Black-and-White.

06. “Rear Window” (1954) – A man confined to a wheelchair believes that he witnessed a murder in the apartment across the way. Nominated for four Academy Awards: Best Director; Best Writing, Screenplay; Best Cinematography, Color and Best Sound, Recording.

07. “Notorious” (1946) – The daughter of a Nazi spy is recruited by the U.S. government to go undercover.  How far will she go to get the needed info?  And what will the Nazis do to her if she is discovered? Nominated for two Academy Awards: Best Actor in a Supporting Role and Best Writing, Original Screenplay.

08. “Foreign Correspondent” (1940) – A bored New York reporter is sent to London.  There he discovers a group of foreign agents working to prepare Germany for war.  Nominated for six Academy Awards: Best Picture; Best Actor in a Supporting Role; Best Writing, Original Screenplay; Best Cinematography, Black-and-White; Best Art Direction, Black-and-White and Best Effects, Special Effects.

09. “The 39 Steps” (1935) – This one has it all.  Mistaken identity, spies, a man on the run, suspense, comedy and romance.  

10. “Saboteur” (1942) – During World War II, when a U.S. aircraft factory is blown up, the wrong man is accused.  Now on the run, the man must find a way to prove his innocence.