Review of Strangers on a Train (1951) by Robert R — 27 Apr 2018

The master of thrillers and tension himself -- Alfred Hitchcock -- directs this classic Patricia Highsmith tale of darkness, moral ambiguity, and violence. And with a dynamite script, co-penned by pulp lit legend Raymond Chandler, and an endlessly enjoyable co-lead performance by the tragically late Robert Walker, "Strangers On A Train" effortlessly shoots its merry way on up towards the top of my list of Hitchcock favorites.

The story dips its toe in the murkiness just enough for you the audience member to still identify with the protagonist (I'm looking at you "A Place In The Sun"), whilst still feeling the heat from the dangerous place he keeps drawing closer towards.

The irony and intrigue is played up to tremendously entertaining effect, often resulting in the unmitigated gasp or jaw-drop. And the ending is just the right mix of everything I love in a Hitchcock climax: intense, action-packed, and unnecessarily, yet somehow still necessarily (?) zany and hilarious all at the same time.

I'm honestly quite stunned and even offended this isn't regarded as one of his finest works, because I sure feel as though it may well be one of them.