Alfred Hitchcock Blu-ray Singles Wave 1 Includes "Rope" and "Shadow of a Doubt"

Last year Universal Studios released a 15-disc Alfred Hitchcock box set, The Masterpiece Collection, featuring many of the legendary director's classic films. Those films are going to be released individually beginning October 1, 2013. The first five titles, part of "Wave 1," are listed below. 

 

 

James Stewart and Doris Day star in the international thriller The Man Who Knew Too Much directed by Alfred Hitchcock. While vacationing in Morocco, Ben and Jo McKenna are suddenly immersed in a dangerous situation after a French spy dies in Ben's arms. Discovering that their son has been kidnapped and taken to England, the McKennas are caught up in a nightmare of espionage, assassinations and terror. Soon, all of their lives hang in the balance as they draw closer to the truth that leads to a chilling climax in London's famous Royal Albert Hall. Featuring the Academy Award® winning song “Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera)” sung by Doris Day, this remake of his own 1934 film is an unforgettable classic from the Master of Suspense.

Inspired by a real-life murder case, Alfred Hitchcock’s Rope is a shocking spellbinder starring James Stewart. Two friends (Farley Granger and John Dall) strangle a classmate for intellectual thrills and then proceed to throw a party for the victim’s family and friends - with the body stuffed inside the trunk they use for a buffet table. As the killers turn the conversation to committing the “perfect murder," their former teacher (Stewart) becomes increasingly suspicious that his students have turned his intellectual theories into brutal reality. Filmed in only nine different takes almost entirely on a single sound stage, the first color film from the Master of Suspense is a chilling look into the dark side of humanity.

Alfred Hitchcock’s Saboteur is a riveting wartime thriller following an innocent man who suddenly finds himself in a very deadly situation. After aircraft factory worker Barry Kane (Robert Cummings) witnesses his plant’s firebombing by a Nazi agent, he finds himself falsely accused of sabotage and killing his best friend. To clear his name, Kane begins a relentless cross-country chase that takes him from Los Angeles to Boulder Dam and New York’s Radio City Music Hall. The suspense builds to a climactic finale atop the Statue of Liberty that has become one of the most iconic scenes ever filmed by the Master of Suspense.

One of Alfred Hitchcock’s most chilling films, Shadow of a Doubt, was considered a personal favorite by the director himself. After her charming Uncle Charlie (Joseph Cotton) comes to visit in the sleepy town of Santa Rosa, his favorite niece and namesake, “Young Charlie” (Teresa Wright), begins to suspect him of being the infamous Merry Widow murderer. As she draws closer to the truth, a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse begins leading to a shocking climax in this riveting psychological thriller from the Master of Suspense.

Set against a picturesque New England backdrop, Alfred Hitchcock’s The Trouble With Harry is a dark comedy starring Edmund Gwenn, John Forsythe, Shirley MacLaine and Jerry Mathers. The trouble with Harry is that he is dead and, while no one really minds, everyone feels responsible. After Harry’s body is discovered in the woods, several of the local residents must determine not only how and why he was killed but what to do with the body. Featuring romance, humor…and several unearthings of the corpse, this quirky romp showcases a decidedly different type of story from the Master of Suspense.

DVD Recommendation: "Side Effects" - Starring Jude Law and Rooney Mara

Viewers will never know what to expect from director Steven Soderbergh's latest film, Side Effects. Indeed, the versatile director changes things up constantly throughout the film and it keeps the audience off balance, but in a positive way. For instance, even though Jude Law receives top billing, his character, Dr. Jonathan Banks, seems more like a supporting character throughout the first part of the film, while Rooney Mara and Channing Tatum, as married couple Emily and Martin Taylor, are front and center. However, as the story plays out, Dr. Banks is pushed into the center of an intriguing plot that threatens to ruin him and his career, but he plans to fight back.

The initial story centers around Martin Taylor, who is seen being released from prison after serving time for insider trading. His wife, Emily, appears strong, supporting and loving, but then purposely crashes her car into a wall in a parking garage. As a result, she is declared a suicide risk and is assigned to the care of Dr. Banks, who prescribes a series of anti-depressant medications. When they seemingly fail to work, Banks contacts Emily's former therapist, Dr. Victoria Siebert (Catherine Zeta-Jones), for advice. She suggests a new drug, Ablixa, that appears to help Emily, although she experiences bouts of sleepwalking. When Martin arrives home while Emily is apparently sleepwalking, she stabs him several times, leading to his death. The repercussions of that event are felt by Dr. Banks, whose professional and personal life are turned upside down by his alleged mishandling of the case, for the balance of the film.

Frankly, I had no idea where Side Effects was headed until around the final act. Viewers may think they have things figured out, but then another surprise is introduced into the story. In the meantime, the inmates are clearly running the asylum and the sane, and perhaps honest, characters are made to look crazy. That is the genius of the screenplay by Scott Z. Burns, which is reminiscent of a classic Alfred Hitchcock film, but without a blonde lead character.  Emily and Dr. Siebert are brunettes, but Dr. Banks' wife, Deidre (Vinessa Shaw), has the distinction of being a buxom blonde, even though she is a supporting player in the endless drama that is filled with more twists than you can imagine.

Soderbergh's terrific cast deliver strong performances, especially the underrated Jude Law, who receives material worthy of his talents. Rooney Mara is also quite good, as the complicated Emily, as is Catherine Zeta-Jones, as the calculating Dr. Siebert. I am at a loss to explain why Side Effects was not at least a modest box office hit. It is one of the best films I have seen so far this year and boasts a terrific cast who are all given a chance to shine, courtesy of Steven Soderbergh, and rise to the occasion. Side Effects is a superb film.

PopCultureGuy's Top Ten Television Shows of 2012

Photo Credit: TNT

1) The Closer

The Closer concluded its seven season run this past summer on TNT with six unforgettable episodes that provided a clean ending for fans and allowed for a new beginning for its spin-off, Major Crimes. Kyra Sedgwick continued her Emmy worthy work as Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson, who had to contend with a possible betrayal from a member of her own team, the return of Phillip Stroh (Billy Burke), the loss of her mother, her father's cancer, and a potentially career ending altercation. The drama was offset with a generous amount of light-hearted moments, courtesy of the talented supporting cast, including G.W. Bailey as Lieutenant Provenza. The Closer delivered consistently strong ratings throughout its long run, which proves that a cast filled with middle aged characters/actors can have mass appeal. The series is greatly missed, but went out on the best note possible.

Photo Credit: CBS

2) The Big Bang Theory

Now in its sixth season, The Big Bang Theory has not lost a step and, if anything, has gotten better over time. Adding more female characters to the cast has proven to be a smart move for the veteran sitcom. The only male character who does not have a counterpart/love interest now is Raj (Kunal Nayyar), but the jury is still out on his sexual orientation. For now, there are three solid, if unconventional, couples that demonstrate great chemistry. The outstanding cast never disappoint and their performances are ably supported by the hilarious guest appearances by Stephen Hawking, Wil Wheaton and Leonard Nimoy, among others. Somehow the characters never lose their appeal or feel tired. For instance, Mrs. Wolowitz steals the show every time her manly voice is heard in the background and Sheldon (Jim Parsons) always manages to surprise me with his never ending state of neuroses. The Big Bang Theory delivers consistently funny and well crafted episodes and will likely be recognized, if it is not already, as one of the best situation comedies in television history.

Photo Credit: FX

3) American Horror Story

The second season of America Horror Story has been even better than the first. Ryan Murphy continually surprises me with the direction that he takes the story and the troubled characters, who are portrayed very well by the amazing cast. Jessica Lange (pictured above) should make room on her mantle for another Emmy for her remarkable performance as Sister Jude, who constantly struggles with her faith, her past and her alcoholism. Evan Peters has also delivered strong work as the emotionally unstable Kit Walker, who may or may not have killed his wife. Peters infuses Kit with a vulnerability that makes viewers want him to be innocent of the crimes that he has been charged with, but his recent violent outbursts make him look guilty. The series, set in an asylum during the early 1960s, features demons, murderers, a former Nazi, and examines the harsh treatment of its mentally ill residents, who all deserve better care. American Horror Story features strong writing, performances and fascinating psychological profiles that hold my attention for the duration of each episode.

Photo Credit: PBS

4) Downton Abbey

Downton Abbey is a well written, superbly acted and beautifully photographed series. I somehow (inexplicably) missed the first season, but was able to catch up before the second series aired on PBS last winter and I am very much looking forward to the third season, which debuts next month. Screen legend Shirley MacLaine is the newest member of a cast that includes Maggie Smith, Penelope Wilton, Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, Elizabeth McGovern, Rob James-Collier.....I could go on and on. The supremely talented cast is the main reason I watch and they never disappoint. Even those viewers who missed the first two seasons can quickly catch up, since there are roughly eight episodes per season, along with a Christmas special. So, for those not already on the Downton Abbey train, it is time to get on board!

Photo Credit: The CW

5) The Vampire Diaries

The Vampire Diaries is the most consistently exciting series on television. The writer team is not afraid to kill off characters on a regular basis to keep things interesting, so outside of the lead trio (Nina Dobrev, Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley), no one is really safe. This season, Elena (Dobrev) has been turned into a vampire, which has made the dynamic between her and her love interests, Stefan (Wesley) and Damon (Somerhalder), all the more interesting. Damon encourages her to feed on, but not to kill, humans, while Stefan encourages her to feed on animals or drink from blood bags, which leaves Elena weakened and unfulfilled. That same could be said for her relationship with Stefan. It looks like Damon may be the winner in the romance department this year. No matter what happens, I expect to be surprised by the always entertaining and unpredictable series that has been one of the best on television since its debut in 2009.

Photo Credit: FX

6) Archer

Archer continues to be one of the funniest, most intelligent, and often controversial shows on television. No subject is off limits and the hysterical characters, led by super spy Sterling Archer (H. Jon Benjamin), play the material for all it is worth. Archer is entertainment for adults and does not make apologies for the outrageous comedic situations that the characters almost always find themselves in, whether in space or on a remote island. The fourth season of the Emmy worthy series premieres in January.

Photo Credit: TNT

7) Major Crimes

Following in the footsteps of a series like The Closer seems like an impossible task. However, Major Crimes, the highly rated spin-off series, is a worthy successor. Led by Mary McDonnell, Major Crimes features many cast members from The Closer, so the transition felt seamless. However, the two series are very different. The objective now is to solve cases with limited cost to the police department, not pulling out all the stops to find and prosecute the various perpetrators. Of course, making deals with known criminals does not sit well with all of the characters, who have voiced frustration with the new focus. Capt. Raydor (McDonnell) almost always follows the instructions that she is given by her superiors, which sometimes causes friction within the team. Raydor is also tasked with helping newcomer Rusty (Graham Patrick Martin) put his life back together and that has proven to be very difficult, but they are making progress. The ensemble cast is one of the finest on television and even though many of them are not in the younger demographic, the series has resonated with viewers and delivers consistently solid ratings.

Photo Credit: CBS

8) Elementary

The new take on Sherlock Holmes is a winner in Elementary. Credit Johnny Lee Miller, as Sherlock, for being the principal reason why the series works so well and he will certainly receive Emmy attention for his superb performance as the legendary detective. Lucy Lui's Watson displays solid chemistry with Holmes, but she does not seem to have enough to do, so I would like to see her role expanded in the future. The supporting cast includes the always watchable and believable Aidan Quinn, as Captain Gregson. Another crucial element to the success of Elementary is the writing, which has been intelligent and often surprising. I hope the series is able to sustain the momentum it has already gathered for the remainder of its rookie season and beyond.

Photo Credit: MTV

9) Teen Wolf

The second season of Teen Wolf improved on the strong first season and looks poised to become MTV's most successful scripted series to date. The third season will consist of 24 episodes, a first for MTV. The less experienced members of the cast have worked hard to improve their performances and it shows in every episode. The series features both older and younger cast members, but the focus is on the younger generation that includes Tyler Posey as Scott, Dylan O'Brien as Stiles, Holland Roden as Lydia, Crystal Reed as Allison and Tyler Hoechlin as Derek. They are ably supported by their older counterparts, including J.R. Bourne, Linden Ashby and Ian Bohen. The acting, writing, music and cinematography conspire to create one of the most unexpectedly entertaining shows in recent memory. For those who may be skeptical, Teen Wolf is exciting, scary, funny and sometimes heartfelt. Really! So start watching when the series returns next year. Trust me on this one!

Photo Credit: ABC

10) Once Upon A Time

With an endless number of characters to work with from the Disney library (and beyond), Once Upon A Time could run indefinitely. I suspect that is likely to happen if they continue to cast talented actors in iconic roles. The ensemble cast is highlighted by Robert Carlyle, as Mr. Gold/Rumpelstiltskin, who should have snagged an Emmy nomination last year. Whether Carlyle is portraying the in control Mr. Gold, or the over the top Rumpelstiltskin, he always delivers superb work. The second season of the series has already established a new break out star, Colin O'Donoghue (The Rite), as Captain Hook. He seems to be receiving more airtime than many of his counterparts and has assumed the role with ease. Kudos also to casting Jorge Garcia (Lost) as The Giant (from Jack and the Beanstalk) and Barbara Hershey (Black Swan) as Cora, the mother of Regina/The Evil Queen. They both have been a lot of fun to watch and I hope to see much more of them in the future. The second season has already improved on the outstanding first season, so I expect more great things from Once Upon A Time.


Honorable mentions:

Revenge (ABC)
Arrow (The CW)
The New Normal (NBC)
Nashville (ABC)
666 Park Avenue (ABC)