Review of Strangers on a Train (1951) by Kasey C — 24 Feb 2014

"Strangers on a Train may not be the greatest in the legendary director Alfred Hitchcock's filmography, but it most certainly is top-tier Hitchcock for a number of reasons. While it might not live quite up to the acclaim of "Rear Window" (1954), "Vertigo" (1958), or "Psycho" (1960) it is in every possible way a great piece of cinema. The plot is based off a novel from Patricia Highsmith and very much fits with Hitchcock's usual genre and style. We follow a man named Guy Haines (Farley Granger) who is a tennis pro and a rather timid fellow who meets Bruno Anthony (Robert Walker). Bruno is both well off financially, and he is smart in a terrifying and calculated type of way. As the two men talk aboard a train they are both traveling on, Bruno discusses how the two could each kill someone for the other and in doing this leave no connection to the murders. Guy is of course overwhelmed with the notion but after the train has arrived the two go their separate ways and it seems as though the strange discussion is done with. We then follow Guy and see his new female interest as well as his current, and quite devious, wife whom is separated from him. After asking for a divorce she has decided to stall to put a damper on Guy's future plans with his new girlfriend. Eventually we come back upon Bruno as he follows Guy's wife to a carnival with two potential suitors, silently following behind and intimidating the woman throughout the theme park. On an island within the Tunnel of Love ride he finally gets her alone in a desolate and dark area then strangles her to death. We see her death through her cracked glasses which fell off during the struggle and are seen laying on the ground nearby and this provides a very unique angle and perspective of the kill. Bruno then confronts Guy and tells him that he must stay quiet about his wife's death and that if he is to report him to the police he will be jailed in connection to the murder as well as Bruno. The rest of the film follows Guy's struggle to out Bruno to the police and clear his own involvement that could be suspected as Bruno has his lighter and other ways to frame Guy for his wife's murder.

All the signature Hitchcock elements are in place and the suspense abounds throughout the entire film. There are some truly grand set pieces including the boat ride and the merry-go-round that are stunningly engaging and detailed environments that provide a wonderful setting for the film. The old man who ventures underneath the out of control merry-go-round actually did what is displayed in the film and death was mere inches away, something Hitch said he would not attempt again in future works. Robert Walker plays the wealthy and terrifying Bruno and his mental outlook on life and death with a disturbing and wonderfully nuanced performance. "Strangers on a Train" is both technically impressive, utilizing Hitchcock's multiple angles and precise timing as well as maintaining a tense and thick layer of suspense throughout the length of the film. This is a truly captivating and exciting film that is one of Hitchcock's most accessible and fun films!