I am a big mystery fan, especially old school stuff. I can read Hammett and Christie and everything in between over and over again. The same applies for movies. The older stuff, grainy black and white, suspenseful music…ahhhh, that’s just classic.
A few weeks ago, one of the networks had an Alfred Hitchcock marathon. Y’all can imagine how jazzed I was! Four classics back to back, and no, Marnie wasn’t one of them, thank goodness. Psycho, Rear Window, The Trouble With Harry, and Rope. I got my tissues*, my cup of coffee, and my cozy throw, and sat next to Little One, who was home sick with a tummy bug. I had asked her if I could watch them and she was gracious enough to let me.
This is where y’all roll your eyes, just like I did.
First up is Psycho, and I’m enjoying it immensely, when I notice that Little One has turned over to face the TV and watch the film. I warned her that it was suspenseful, and a bit scary, but she told me she could handle it. And boy, did she handle it. At the end of the film she was raving about how awesome it was, and how we should get the DVD for it (I have it, but didn’t want her to go get it and demand to watch it again, since she missed the first fifteen minutes or so). Anyway, we end up watching all four movies and she asks me if Hitchcock made any others as suspenseful as those. “Many”, I said. “Do you have more?” she asked. “But of course, but I don’t think you are ready for some of them.” “Like which ones?” she wondered. And my soul froze, thinking of the one Hitchcock film that still manages to freak me out and leave me sleepless for days!!
I told her about Rebecca, and North by Northwest, but I kept The Birds to myself. I know my kid, and the moment she finds out birds start attacking humans in a sleepy little town, she is going to want to watch it, in the dark, all agog at Tippy Hedren in her beautiful green suit getting ravaged by crows. And then she’s going to want to sleep in my bed, where I will lay in the dark, waiting to hear the flap of wings on my roof.
No, thank you. I like being mistress of my domain.
*I always cry when Martin Balsam is killed off.
Sithy Things 
December 6th, 2011 at 11:29 AM
Oh, yeah, I love The Birds. I think I saw it the first time when I was ten or so. Surprisingly, though, I haven’t seen all that many of Hitchcock’s movies. I have seen The Birds and Lady On A Train (I think that’s the name of it), but most of the big ones I haven’t gotten to yet. Vertigo, North By Northwest, Psycho, Rear Window….haven’t seen ’em.
There’s one I saw that involved a body on a cart with the cloth hanging down on either side so no one sees the body, but it’s being wheeled around at a party. Someone in the group is the killer, another guy knows about the body, but everyone else is oblivious. I wish I could remember the name of it.
December 6th, 2011 at 3:21 PM
Well, in Rope the two roommates kill off their friend, placing his body on a chest, and throw a dinner party, to where they invite the family of the victim along with their mentor, who starts to suspect some foul play.
December 6th, 2011 at 11:45 AM
I also saw it when I was about 10. Scared the living daylights out of me! Still does, actually. I think I need my snuggie. 🙂
Used to love watching reruns of Hitchcock’s TV program also.
December 6th, 2011 at 12:29 PM
“Psycho” came out when my mother was preggers with my (at that time) little sister to be. She claims the shower scene almost had her delivering the baby right there in the theater. I can believe it.
And why for the negative vibes on Marnie? Inquiring mimes wamt to know!
December 6th, 2011 at 3:24 PM
Well, my thing against the movie is two-fold. Firstly, that was around the time that Tippy Hedren rebuffed the attentions of Hitchcock. In retaliation, he butchered the editing of the film in order to sabotage her career. His career could take the hit, but hers could not.
Secondly, she ends up with Sean Connery 😀
December 6th, 2011 at 1:17 PM
I have never seen the movie… but I know I just don’t like birds all that much. I like to feed them and watch them but don’t want them near me!
I hope Little One is feeling better!
December 6th, 2011 at 1:55 PM
My favorite part of The Birds is Mrs. Hartley (heh*). Damn, she was one hot woman. Blondes have their place, but bright eyes, attitude and a cloud of dark hair…..wow.
* Suzanne Pleshette
December 6th, 2011 at 3:25 PM
She was hawt until the end 😀
December 6th, 2011 at 8:39 PM
The Birds was good but I loved Rear Window best out of the ones you mentioned.
December 7th, 2011 at 1:56 PM
The Birds is an awesome movie. After I saw it as a kid, I never looked at my crazy ass papaw’s chickens the same again.
(That’s a great pic you have there.)
December 8th, 2011 at 5:57 AM
Alfred Hitchcock was a genius, plain and simple. I’ve got all his stuff on DVDs.