Bay Area Bloke

Alfred Hitchcock

  • Movies based on Plays – II

    Movies based on Plays – II

    Here is the second installment of my series of articles on movies based on plays. I suggest that my readers read the first part of this series, where I cover the pros and cons of adapting a play to the big screen or TV. The Letter (1940) This adaptation of ‘The Letter,’ a play by Read more

  • Movies Based on Plays – I

    Movies Based on Plays – I

    There are both advantages and disadvantages to adapting a play for the big screen (or TV). It can certainly save the filmmakers the cost and time of writing a screenplay for the movie, but it also adds a new set of complexities. Scripts for plays are usually restricted to a few venues, or in many Read more

  • Movie Review: Strangers on a Train (1951)

    Movie Review: Strangers on a Train (1951)

    Today we review a psychological thriller, produced and directed by the “Master of Suspense,” Alfred Hitchcock: “Strangers on a Train.” The movie is based on a book by Patricia Highsmith, who wrote many books, including the Ripley series. I have previously reviewed ‘Purple Noon,’ a French film based on her novel, “The Talented Mr. Ripley.” Read more

  • Dial M for Murder (1954) vs. A Perfect Murder(1998)

    Dial M for Murder (1954) vs. A Perfect Murder(1998)

    In this post, we will take a look at two adaptations of the play ‘Dial M for Murder’, written by Frederick Knott. Wait Until Dark, a movie I recently reviewed, is also based on a play by the same playwright. I have briefly covered some of the commonalities between the movies, Dial M for Murder Read more

  • Movie Review: Wait Until Dark (1966)

    Movie Review: Wait Until Dark (1966)

    “Wait Until Dark” is a chilling psychological thriller directed by Terence Young and adapted from a play of the same name by Frederick Knott. Starring Audrey Hepburn, Alan Arkin, Richard Crenna, Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Jack Weston, and Julie Herrod in lead roles, the movie is a gripping nail-biter from start to finish. Frederick Knott, the Read more

  • Movie Review: Shadow of a Doubt (1943)

    Movie Review: Shadow of a Doubt (1943)

    “Shadow of a Doubt,” directed by Alfred Hitchcock, is considered by many to be his best movie. Most critics compare it favorably to “The Stranger,” which came three years later, but I’ll have more to say on this towards the end. In the opening scene, a man (Joseph Cotton) seems to be enjoying a siesta Read more