Review of Strangers on a Train (1951) by Gregg D — 24 May 2008

Just saw it tonight 5/24/08 on PBS. Masterful! Bruno rivals Norman.

My 1st Viewing:

Alfred Hitchcock?s Strangers on Train.

I have seen Strangers on a Train (1951), on DVD for the first time on January 5th, 2005 I mention the date because it was gray, bleak snowy afternoon, adding to the ambience and mystery of the black and white film. From the very beginning, when the viewer meets the main and supporting cast of characters, one gets the immediate sense of, ?there is more here, than meets the eye.? Guy Haines (Farley Granger), a young handsome tennis star, also a bright-rising political protégé, meets by circumstance a spoiled, rich aristocratic, not living up to his potential and brooding man named Bruno Antony, (Robert Walker (I)), on a train. As always Hitchcock brilliantly starts his films off much like an innocent sparkler, Guy and Bruno?s conversation, to their final confrontation on a wildly spinning merry-go-round that goes haywire. Hence the climatic fireworks display, leaving the viewer breathless and wondering who is going to be victorious in the end! All the while, introducing us to a supporting cast of characters that propel the story forward, making the middle just as interesting as the start and finish of any Hitchcock film. Strangers is no exception, introducing us to (Kasey Rogers), as Miriam Joyce Haines, Guy?s estranged and soon to be ex-wife, (credited as Laura Elliott), or so Guy thinks. Guy?s lover or intended, Anne Morton (Ruth Roman) and (Patricia Hitchcock), Hitchcock's daughter as Barbara Morton, Anne's younger sister and hero worshipper of Guy. (Marion Lorne) as Bruno's Mother, Mrs. Antony and (Leo G. Carroll) as Senator Morton, are superbly played.

Now for a few observations, I had seen Farley Granger before in Rope. But what was a surprise to me as I later discussed the film with some friends from an old Yahoo Group, (The MacGuffin listserv) that I had recognized Marion Lorne from her work on Bewitched as Aunt Clara. An even bigger surprise was when they told me about Kasey Rogers who also starred on Bewitched as Louise Tate, wife of Larry Tate, Darren?s boss. As for the movie itself, each character is so layered and personifies certain characteristics, i.e. Bruno's evilness or cry to be noticed, Mrs. Antony's repression, or Miriam Haines conniving ways even from bad boy Bruno, which proves to be deadly. Then, there are those entertaining sequences with the key piece of evidence - a cigarette lighter!