B-


Finally, I caught another Hitchcock flick to complete the array of his movies that I have seen. As you might notice, I save the best for the last (North yb Northwest, Rear Window, Psycho..). Marnie was a very average effort for Hitchcock and in that probably the worst of him that I have seen thus far. Which certainly doesn't make it a bad movie, just his least outstanding and special one. It still has the technical gimmicks that are seen in most Hitchcock flicks: the cinematography is top notch (the shot of Marnie robbing while the janitor is wiping the floor is ingenius), the editing very well-done and the directing is mostly inspired. The screenplay, however, left me a bit disappointed. I wasn't really fond of any character in this movie, really and the only remarkable acting came from Sean Conerry and Louise Louise Latham as Marnie's mother. The resolution to the "big mystery" is rather conventional and predictable and a many parts of the film don't really add much to the story making it drag in parts.

See, I actually thought they were two of Hitchcock's most interesting and oddly enough, human and believable characters. It's definitley one of the most deranged screen couples I've seen... What I liked is that he is just as demented as her, he clearly has some animal fetish/obsession issues, he's not all there. He totally plays against the typical notion of the suave male hero, and for that reason Connery is the absolutely perfect casting choice. His pretty great performance adds to that too. Tippi as Marnie and Lousie Latham as the mother are also pretty fabulous.

One of my favorite parts of Hitch's direction in this movie is the little facial gestures and reactions... Even at the beginning when Marnie is having that initial conversation with mum, you can tell just by looking at her face that something is very wrong. One thing I notice among most of Hitch's best (Vertigo, Rear Window, Psycho, Shadow of a Doubt etc.), is that he has a great touch diving into the psychological aspect of humans. Marnie is no different, and again I feel the characters here are among the most believable in his library.

It's not flawless, some stuff like the horse riding scenes or that giant boat outside of her house are too clearly artificial(though maybe that was intentional), and I also wasn't the biggest fan of the end reveal, but as a whole I think it's a very worthwhile and very underrated flick. I think it's one who's reputation could maybe grow over time, I dunno.

4.5/5

dr. L, you are very good at psychology. it's no surprise you earned that degree.

The "psychology" of this movie is much rather a common cliché of what one thinks is psychology. Hitch has done much better.

A fascinating character study and perhaps Hitch's edgiest work.

Not a fan.

(I like the suspense sequences at the beginning and the red tho.)

Hitchcock explores perhaps his most terrifying subject to date - A hysterical woman! And she just will not do anything you tell her to do!


Jokes aside, this movie is almost propaganda for the entire therapy industry. At least Sean Connery forcing her to confront her trauma (in the most dickish way possible) is better than having her lobotomized, which feels like it was a far too common response to these situations in the past.

The acting is actually really good on both sides. They really carry this movie into being respectably decent.

5.9/10