After the popularity of the Sergio Leone poll, I thought: “Why don’t I do an Alfred Hitchcock poll?” So I did.
What is Your Favorite Alfred Hitchcock Film? (Mine: “Vertigo”)
What is Your Least Favorite Alfred Hitchcock Film? (Mine: “Spellbound”)
What Do You Feel to be is the Most Overrated Alfred Hitchcock Film? ( Mine:“The 39 Steps”)
What Do You Feel to be is the Most Underrated Alfred Hitchcock Film is? (Mine: "To Catch a Thief)
favorite: North by North West
least Favourite: Topaz
Most Over Rated:Vertigo
underrated: Frenzy
favorite: Rear Window
least Favourite: The man who knew too much
Most Over Rated: Notorious
underrated: The 39 steps
favourite: Dial M for Murder
least fav: hmm…
Overrated: North to Northwest
underrated: To Catch a Thief
Fave: Notorious
Least: Under Capricorn; The Trouble with Harry; only thrillers: Dial M for Murder
Over: Rear Window
Under: The Paradine Case
I had prepared for another forum a list of all Hitch films I have seen (which is a lot). So, pants down about the complete Alf, that’s after 1934:
70s
Family Plot 7/10
Frenzy 8/10
60s
Topaz 6/10
Torn Curtain 6/10
Marnie 7/10
The Birds 10/10
Psycho 10/10
50s
North by Northwest 10/10
Vertigo 9/10
The Wrong Man 8/10
The Trouble With Harry 5/10
The Man Who Knew Too Much 8/10
To Catch a Thief 8/10
Rear Window 8/10
Dial M for Murder 6/10
I Confess 6/10
Strangers on a Train 9/10
Stage Fright 6/10
40s
Under Capricorn 5/10
Rope 7/10
The Paradine Case 8/10
Notorious 10/10
Spellbound 7/10
Lifeboat 6/10
Shadow of a Doubt 10/10
Saboteur 8/10
Mr. and Mrs. Smith 6/10
Suspicion 9/10
Foreign Correspondent 8/10
Rebecca 8/10
30s
Jamaica Inn 6/10
The Lady Vanishes 8/10
Young and Innocent 8/10
Secret Agent 6/10
Sabotage 6/10
The 39 Steps 8/10
The Man Who Knew Too Much 9/10
Number 17 5/10
Rich and Strange 8/10
Murder! 6/10
Blackmail 8/10
20s
Downhill 6/10
The Lodger 8/10
That’s an impressive list Stanton. Here’s mine:
The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934) 10/10
The 39 Steps (1935) 8/10
The Lady Vanishes (1938) 9/10
Rebecca (1940) 10/10
Suspicion (1941) 9/10
Saboteur (1942) 8/10
Spellbound (1945) 7/10
Notorious (1946) 10/10
Strangers on a Train (1951) 10/10
Dial M for Murder (1954) 7/10
To Catch a Thief (1955) 7/10 (I like it, but’s it not in the league with other Hitchcock films)
Vertigo (1958) 10/10
North by Northwest (1959) 10/10
I also have Hitchcock’s last film on tape, Family Plot (1976). Is it any good and is it worth watching?
Hitchcock is always worth watching.
Family Plot is very lightweight (more like some of Hitch’s Thirties films in tone than his Sixties/Seventies work), but it has its moments. It’s been a few years since I’ve seen it, but I do remember enjoying the interplay between Bruce Dern and Barbara Harris.
Family Plot 7/10
Frenzy 8/10
Topaz 7/10
Torn Curtain 7/10
Marnie 8/10
The Birds 10/10
Psycho 10/10
North by Northwest 10/10
Vertigo 10/10
The Wrong Man 9/10
The Trouble With Harry 8/10
The Man Who Knew Too Much 9/10
To Catch a Thief 8/10
Rear Window 10/10
Dial M for Murder 10/10
Strangers on a Train 9/10
Rope 9/10
The Paradine Case 5/10
Notorious 9/10
Spellbound 7/10
Lifeboat 9/10
Shadow of a Doubt 10/10
Saboteur 8/10
Foreign Correspondent 8/10
Rebecca 8/10
The 39 Steps 7/10
Murder! 6/10 (Mary 5/10)
Blackmail 8/10
My tuppence:
The Lodger 8/10
Blackmail 8/10
The Lady Vanishes 8/10
Young and Innocent 7/10
Sabotage 7/10
The 39 Steps 9/10
The Man Who Knew Too Much 9/10
Under Capricorn 4/10
Rope 6/10
Notorious 9.5/10
Spellbound 6/10
Lifeboat 7.5/10
Shadow of a Doubt 10/10
Saboteur 7.5/10
Suspicion 9/10
Foreign Correspondent 8/10
Rebecca 9/10
North by Northwest 10/10
Vertigo 10/10
The Wrong Man 8/10
The Trouble With Harry 7/10
To Catch a Thief 6.5/10
Rear Window 10/10
Dial M for Murder 6/10
I Confess 7/10
Strangers on a Train 10/10
Stage Fright 7/10
Topaz 5/10
Torn Curtain 5/10
Marnie 5/10
The Birds 8/10
Psycho 10/10
Family Plot 6/10
Frenzy 7/10
Special mention to Alfred Hitchcock Presents - 10/10 for Hitch’s intros (can’t remember many episodes offhand)
These 10/10’s come cheap, I see. Of all the films I’ve seen merely two or three get the perfect score from me. No Hitchock and I’ve seen my share of his films too. His best is probably North by Northwest. He was a solid director, most films get 5/10 - 6,5/10 from me, with some exceptions up and down.
Well aren’t you just too cool for school.
I wouldn’t say 10/10s come cheaply. Ratings are highly subjective, after all, so my giving Strangers on a Train, say, top marks, reflects only the enjoyment it gives me (obviously a lot, in this case), and is not the same as making an empirical statement about its merits.
I can’t think how Hitchcock - or any director, for that matter - could improve upon the finished film (I take flaws into account, but only if they’re substantial enough to mar the overall effect), but perhaps my opinion will change at another time.
Yeah, sorry about that. And as you’re lecturing “Ratings are highly subjective” I’m not missing ‘school’ one bit. Anyway, I wasn’t addressing anyone, nor was I making a statement. Just an observation, that’s it.
Fair enough, BL, no problem here. And no intention to lecture either.
Here’s my take on hitch, and on Stanton’s list. I skipped titles I haven’t seen or haven’t seen in a very long time. Overall I find Hitchcock a very good director, but his films usually aren’t up to the scratch. Some nice freudian aspects, some good sadistic and voyeuristic thoughts, but otherwise they’re pretty empty. Like Bad Lieutenant I think North by Northwest is his best work.
70s
Family Plot 6/10
Frenzy 8/10
60s
Topaz 5
Torn Curtain 5
Marnie 5
The Birds 8
Psycho 6
50s
North by Northwest 8,5
Vertigo 7
The Man Who Knew Too Much 5
To Catch a Thief 5,5
Rear Window 6
Dial M for Murder 6,5
I Confess 6,5
Strangers on a Train 7
Stage Fright 6,5
40s
Notorious 8
Spellbound 8
Shadow of a Doubt 7
Suspicion 7
Rebecca 6
30s
The 39 Steps 7/10
The Man Who Knew Too Much 6,5
I agree on this a 10/10 should only be given too a few very outstanding films.
In my book he made 3-4 9/10 films, but none I would give 10/10.
Again, I meant no offense with that comment and I’m glad none is taken 
I have looked up the grades of the ones I’ve reviewed on filmrecensies.net
Rope 7
I confess 4,5
Suspicion 7
The man who knew to much (both of them) 6
Vertigo 6,5
The lady vanishes (1938) 6
Sabotage 6
Number seventeen 5
Dial m for murder 7,5
[quote=“Bad Lieutenant, post:10, topic:1861”]These 10/10’s come cheap, I see. Of all the films I’ve seen merely two or three get the perfect score from me.[/quote]I was wondering, what are your two or three that get the perfect score?
You know, I would very much like people to get back on topic here, by answering the poll questions (and anyhow, there really is too many people knocking Hitch, thanks to Bad Lieutenant).
First you ask me an off topic question, then you want to get back on topic. But to answer your question, and please note ratings are highly subjective: The good, the bad and the ugly and De Palma’s Scarface both get 10/10 from me.
I don’t have that much influence. I reckon people can think for themselves around here.
Fuck yeah! 