Review of Strangers on a Train (1951) by Gavin S — 30 Mar 2013

Hitchcock's films never disappoint me, and in fact, the more of them I watch/rewatch, the more convinced I am of his sheer genius. Strangers on a Train is just another piece of his greatness. Featuring an utterly fantastic performance by Robert Walker as the man who 'accidentally' bumps into tennis player Guy Haines (played with a great deal of vulnerability and just the right mix of innocence and guilt by Farley Granger) on a train and tells him of his plan to commit the perfect murder.

Without giving much away, lets just say, this is a fantastic film that could be redone today and be just as relevant. It's a shame Walker died that same year (1951) as his performance here seems to be the template against which many should model their flamboyant psychopath with their own twisted codes of morality. In many ways this is the first 'stalker' film (though I suppose you could also consider 'Night of the Hunter' one as well) and Walker's Bruno has similarities to Robert Mitchum's Harry Powell with their relentlessness. There are many very impressive visuals here, including the startling one of Bruno watching Guy at a tennis match, from the steps of the Washington Monument, and the thrilling conclusion at a carnival. Suffice it to say, this is a masterpiece among many by Hitch, and if you haven't seen it yet, make sure you do.