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Strangers On A Train
1951
In one of Alfred Hitchcock's suspense classics, tennis pro Guy Haines (Farley Granger) chances to meet wealthy wastrel Bruno Anthony (Robert Walker) on a train. Having read all about Guy, Bruno is aware that the tennis player is trapped in an unhappy marriage to to wife Miriam (Laura Elliott) and has been seen in the company of .. Read more
| Starring | Farley Granger, Ruth Roman, Robert Walker, Leo G. Carroll |
|---|---|
| Director | Alfred Hitchcock |
| Genres | Thriller |
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Strangers On A Train
In one of Alfred Hitchcock's suspense classics, tennis pro Guy Haines (Farley Granger) chances to meet wealthy wastrel Bruno Anthony (Robert Walker) on a train. Having read all about Guy, Bruno is aware that the tennis player is trapped in an unhappy marriage to to wife Miriam (Laura Elliott) and has been seen in the company of senator's daughter Ann Morton (Ruth Roman). Baiting Guy, Bruno reveals that he feels trapped by his hated father (Jonathan Hale). As Guy listens with detached amusement, Bruno discusses the theory of exchange murders. Suppose that Bruno were to murder Guy's wife, and Guy in exchange were to kill Bruno's father? With no known link between the two men, the police would be none the wiser, would they? When he reaches his destination, Guy bids goodbye to Bruno, thinking nothing more of the affable but rather curious young man's homicidal theories. And then, Guy's wife turns up strangled to death. Co-adapted by Raymond Chandler from a novel by Patricia Highsmith, Strangers on a Train perfectly exemplifies Hitchcock's favorite theme of the evil that lurks just below the surface of everyday life and ordinary men.~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
| Starring | Farley Granger, Ruth Roman, Robert Walker, Leo G. Carroll, Laura Elliot, Jonathan Hale, Patricia Hitchcock, Marion Lorne |
|---|---|
| Director | Alfred Hitchcock |
| Studio | WARNER HOME VIDEO |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 36 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Collections | 100 Top Thrillers |
| Genres | Thriller |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: 01 Nov 2004 Production year: 1951 |
| Format | DVD |
Strangers On A Train (1951)
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Critics' reviews (3)
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This splendid thriller is testimony to Alfred Hitchcock's mastery of technique and his ability to transform even the most unpromising start into a gripping movie. After nearly a dozen writers had turned down the chance to adapt Patricia Highsmith's novel, Raymond Chandler stepped into the breach, only to disagree with Hitch on several key scenes and suffer the ignominy of having his dialogue polished by Czenzi Ormonde, a staff writer. Hitchcock was also underwhelmed by Farley Granger in a role he felt cried out for William Holden. Nevertheless, he turns the murderous proposal of eccentric playboy Robert Walker to tennis champ Granger into a veritable nail-biter, with the two fairground scenes outstanding. He approved of one casting decision, however — his daughter Patricia plays Ruth Roman's suspicious sister.
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This quirky melodrama has the director at his best, sequence by sequence, but the story is basically unsatisfactory. It makes superior suspense entertainment, however.
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Most helpful member's review
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15 out of 15 people found this review helpful
Don't be a stranger...
There are very few who would deny the genius of Hitchcock, and whilst Strangers on a Train may not rank among his best, any Hitchcock film is worth the paces you go through.
Suppose two people wanted somebody they knew dead. These people then meet each other on a train, and they agreed to perform each other's murders. This way neither crime could be traced back to the perpetrator. But what happens if one party doesn't keep up their side of the bargain...? This is the premise of Hitchcock's film.
Though the cast are fairly unfamiliar, the acting is top notch, but the genius lies with the camerawork, the dialogue itself, and, as always, the music. Hitchcock is not to be recommended to those who cannot cope with talky expositions or character-based actions rather than thrills for the sake of thrills, and the situation is no different here. The fairground climax seems a little dated compared to say the cliff-face at the end of North by Northwest, but makes for a satisfying conclusion.
Heartily recommended! -
Most recent members' review
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5 out of 6 people found this review helpful
The Talented Mr. Hitchcock
The book "Strangers on a Train" was penned by Patricia Highsmith, who also wrote the book "The Talented Mr. Ripley." In this movie, then, we get a glorious marriage between the strangeness of Highsmith and the precision of Hitchcock's direction. We see our everyman, Guy, as he bumps into, converses with, and becomes entangled in the warped world of Bruno - an emotionally unstable, rich dilletant. It's a perfect Hitchcock set up, (I don't even want to ruin the opening), and it plays out like clockwork.
"Strangers" is a minor, middle Hitchcock film - there are no big stars to be seen. No Jimmy Stewart, no Cary Grant, but this one is definitely worth a viewing. It's a textbook example of solid photography and storytelling, and it has lost nothing over the years. If you've already seen "Rear Window" "Psycho" "Notorious" and "North by Northwest" this is a solid pick. -
News and features
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The Birds to fly again
- 27 Apr 2005
One of the most famous horror films in cinema history, Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds, is set for a remake. The 1963 suspense thriller, based on an original story by Daphne du Maurier to which Universal owns the rights, tells the story of a small Californian town terrorized by increasingly ferocious birds. The new version is to be produced by Michael Bay, who has previously directed Bad Boys and Bad Boys II, The Rock, Armageddon and Pearl Harbour. In addition to this, Bay has more recently... Read more
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Strangers On A Train
In one of Alfred Hitchcock's suspense classics, tennis pro Guy Haines (Farley Granger) chances to meet wealthy wastrel Bruno Anthony (Robert Walker) on a train. Having read all about Guy, Bruno is aware that the tennis player is trapped in an unhappy marriage to to wife Miriam (Laura Elliott) and ...
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