Review of Stage Fright (1950) by Adam Z — 08 Oct 2007
Not one of Hitchcock's best, it must be said, but for the master himself to dismiss his 1950 oddity is a little harsh. The films percieved main fault, the 'false flashback', really doesn't deserve the flack it recieves, especially considering how much more advanced in our narrative thinking we have become in the last 57 or so years since 'Stage Fright' was made.
The main problem is how underused Jane Wyman is in the film, not in terms of screen time, but in just how muted her performance feels at times. Marlene Dietrich is the star here: her diva qualities don't sound like they'd fit in a Hitch-pic on paper, but she is absolutely blinding, especially during the (obviously contracted) song number.
Very enjoyable, if unbalanced in places (as great as the duck-shooting scene is, it feels too out of place amongst the other scenes), and the end of the old Hitchcock era before he made his run of classics.
This review of Stage Fright (1950) was written by Adam Z on 08 Oct 2007.
Stage Fright has generally received positive reviews.
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