Review of The Paradine Case (1947) by Neil O — 18 Feb 2010

The last film Alfred Hitchcock directed under his contract with David O. Selznick and itwas a work assigned to the departing director by his increasingly neurotic and un-self-confident producer. Selznick determined the major casting, ordered many retakes, overruled Hitchcockâ??s intention to shoot extensively in long takes and re-edited after previews.

As a result it's a profoundly unsatisfying item in the Hitchcock cannon. The director's visual flair is obvious in some scenes but largely the action is supressed by the static courtroom and home scenes.

All in all a good film as an indicator of the evolution of Hitchcock's style and thematic interests, but not a great Hitchcock film.