With amazing pictures emerging from the set of Alfred Hitchcock And The Making Of Psycho and Sienna Miller set to star as Tippi Hedren in The Girl later this year, this week we’re focusing on the best of Hitchcock’s work on Blu-ray. So if you’re stuck for ideas this weekend, why not try out one of the following:
Psycho
Arguably his most recognised movie, the 50th Anniversary Edition of Psycho offers fans stunning picture quality, pin sharp audio and a whole host of special features that delve inside the mind of the director. Janet Leigh stars as Marion Crane, a pretty young secretary who spends one night at the secluded Bates Motel. Shy proprietor Norman, played to perfection by Antony Perkins, is on hand as the perfect host, but his domineering mother is less welcoming. When Marion retires to her lodgings to take a quiet shower before bed, one of cinemas most iconic scenes comes to life with terrifying consequences. Bonus content includes a feature length documentary on virtually every aspect of the film’s production, a look at the new technologies employed to deliver the remastered HD experience, interviews with Martin Scorsese and John Carpenter on Hitchcock’s influence and much more.
North by Northwest
Through a case of mistaken identity, New York advertising man Roger O. Thornhill (Cary Grant) finds himself embroiled in a web of intrigue and murder that takes him across the country to prove his innocence. Featuring many of the director’s trademark storytelling techniques and themes, the 50th Anniversary Blu-ray simply is a must-have for fans. The Blu-ray was awarded 4.5/5* by Blu-ray.com for its picture and audio quality and its special features include interviews with directors William Friedkin (The Exorcist) and Guillermo Del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth), a feature length look at Grant’s background and acting career, a making of documentary and an audio commentary from screenwriter Ernest Lehman.
Notorious
At the end of World War II, U.S. military intelligence tasks the beautiful Alicia (Ingrid Bergman) with infiltrating a band of Germans residing in Brazil. In order to have better access to critical information she agrees to marry the ringleader and so begins a downward spiral of deceit and betrayal, leaving her trapped in the home of an enemy. Bonus content includes commentaries from film professors Rick Jewell and Drew Casper, a look at the score, audio interviews with the director, a making of documentary and a look at how Notorious has influenced the spy and espionage genre.
So what do you think of our choices? Hit the comments to tell us your favourite Hitchcock movies, or tell us what else you’ll be looking forward to watching on Blu-ray this weekend.
