Review of Alfred Hitchcock: Box Set

Introduction

First up an apology. I would dearly love to give you the low-down on what looks like a fantastic set. I can tell you there`s not a bad film amongst them, but you know that already. What I can`t tell you is how good the transfers are because, bizarrely, I have been issued with just a single disc to attribute to this exciting set. Even this isn`t a full-blown feature, but rather a single and slightly forlorn `extras disc`. So if you`re reading this, then please be aware that my final allocation of points is based on this disc alone and is NOT a reflection of the set as a whole.

With regard to the box set, it`s unclear if the movies are the same transfers as those contained in the previously issued 7 DVD sets, Hitchcock Volume 1 and Volume 2 but, if they are, then they`ll be in pretty good nick. (If you know anything more then please add your comments in the normal way…).

So, without any more drum-rolls, on with the review.

The features disc is simply entitled `The Hitchcock Legacy` and contains two featurettes; extracts from The American Film Institute`s Lifetime Achievement Award ceremony for Hitch, and the second an interview piece with the man himself.

Irritatingly the disc opens with an unskippable and incredibly irritating anti-piracy advert that looks like some agency`s excuse to cut an MTV trailer with the anti-piracy agency`s money. If ever you needed a good reason to view a copy rather than the real thing then this would be it. Then you could skip the ad.

The AFI tribute to Hitch is an interesting inclusion and must date from tail end of the 1970`s (Hitch passed away in 1980). Whilst many of the stars who had worked with him look in fine fettle, Hitch looks very much on his last legs. As Ingrid Bergman gushes over his achievements ("He`s an adorable genius"), Hitch looks on without emotion looking every bit the waxwork dummy.

James Stewart delivers an affectionate and humorous speech but each time the cameras cut to Hitch the thought occurs to me (and I`m sure to all those in the VT control room) that he`s actually passed away. What a way to go that would have been - the perfect Hitchcock ending and a wonderfully bizarre last joke on the glitz of Hollywood.

Hitch doesn`t even register a flicker of emotion as Stewart quips, "You don`t try to do a scene two ways with Hitch. You do it one way. His."

George Stevens Jr. presents the award and Hitch (after a first failed attempt) suddenly rises to make a speech.

Despite being unable to do much more than read in a monotone off autocue (gone is the wicked smile and sparkly eyes), he nonetheless delivers a moving speech, dedicating his success as a filmmaker to his wife and partner, Alma Reville, who he describes as `Editor, Screenplay Writer, Great Cook and the mother of his daughter`.
It`s a moving moment and Alma, still by his side after all those years, shows tears of emotion.

Of course, the truth was that Hitch was not an easy man to live with, though she looks like she appreciated these last public words.


Next up is a featurette called `Masters of Cinema - Alfred Hitchcock`, which is a broadcast feature that shows Hitch in good health being interviewed in a cinema seat. At a guess I`d say that this dates from around 1977, though there`s no actual indication included.

Hitch is firstly interviewed by an attractive and intelligent reporter, Pia Landstrom. She asks a series of fairly predictable questions and Hitch is in good form, peppering his responses with entertaining anecdotes. He also gives away a few typically Hitchcock tricks of the trade. It`s fun to hear how he dealt with a wide variety of actors, having little or no time for method actors who made continuity and direction difficult.

He`s then interviewed by William Everson who is something of an expert on silent film, and Hitch responds well to his more searching questions about his early years. It`s amusing how his opinions are at variance with Everson`s who`s clearly a big Hitchcock fan.

I particularly liked Hitch`s reasoning for disliking so many movies of the fifties and sixties. He uses the example of a poor housewife, tired out from being at a sink all day, being taken out by her husband to the cinema and for a meal. They get to the cinema, sit down and watch a film about a lady who stands at a sink all day…(It`s much better the way he tells it).

Video

Both these featurettes are on low-grade video, looking every bit the seventies TV that they are. Not great I`m afraid.

Audio

Whether it`s the original source material at fault or not, both the featurettes have sound that is clearly over-loaded and distorted as a result. Either both are badly recorded, or this is a very poor transfer. Don`t expect much and you won`t be disappointed.

Features

Not applicable as the only disc I had access to was a `features` only disc.

Conclusion

The two featurettes contained on `The Hitchcock Legacy` disc are perfectly reasonable period extras. The first (AFI`s tribute to Hitch) would have been cause for celebration if Hitchcock hadn`t been so obviously unwell. His presence is almost ghoulish and waxwork-like, which makes for uncomfortable viewing despite the glowing testimonials from Ingrid Bergman and James Stewart. Hitch`s eventual acceptance speech wasn`t his finest performance (for obvious reasons) though the words spoken incredibly touching.

The second featurette (the interviews) will be of more interest to fans. They are packed with candid anecdotes and examples that will fascinate anyone interested in the art of filmmaking. The only disappointment is that there wasn`t more of it. Hitchcock certainly wasn`t shy and there must be many great interviews still lurking in the archives.

It would have been nice to have reviewed the whole set but I guess I`ll just have to join the back of the queue with everyone else. I certainly wouldn`t buy the set on the strength of this disc alone but then who would?