Twentieth Century Fox releases
three Hitchcock classics on bluray
Jeri Jacquin, Movie Maven
Released on bluray from 20th Century Fox are three of Alfred Hitchcock’s classic films with “Spellbound”, “Notorious” and “Rebecca”.
“Spellbound” tells the story of Dr. Constance Peterson (Ingrid Bergman), a psychiatrist who has dedicated her life to helping others. She meets Dr. Edwardes (Gregory Peck) and falls in love. What Dr. Peterson doesn’t know is that the man she loves could be a murderer! The tagline for the film is “will he kiss me or will he kill me” and this 1946 film nabbed six Oscar nominations and one win for Best Musical Score for Miklos Rozsa.
The DVD includes a commentary by Author and Film Professor Thomas Schatz and Film Professor Charles Ramirez Berg. Also, Dreaming with Scissors: Hitchcock, Surrealism and Salvador Dali, Guilt by Association: Psychoanalyzing Spellbound, A Cinderella Story: Rhonda Fleming. An interesting extra is a 1948 radio play as well as a Hitchcock audio interview.
“Notorious” tells the story of Alicia Huberman (Ingrid Bergman), a troubled but beautiful young woman recruited by Agent Devlin (Cary Grant). He helps her infiltrate a German spy ring but Alicia has fallen in love with Devlin. Now she’s being asked to seduce a leader Alexander (Claude Rains) that could ruin any chance at happiness with Devlin. Oscar nods for Claude Rains for Best Supporting Actor and writer Ben Hecht for Original Screenplay in 1947.
The DVD includes commentaries by Professor Rick Jewell and Drew Casper, “The Ultimate Romance: The Making of Notorious, Alfred Hitchcock: The Ultimate Spymaster, a 1948 radio play starring Joseph Cotton and Ingrid Bergman with Hitchcock audio interviews.
“Rebecca” tells the story of a quiet spinster (Joan Fontaine) who has spent her life being a rich woman’s companion, that is until she meets Maxim de Winter (Lawrence Olivier). After a whirlwind romance, she quickly marries and moves to Maxim’s home called Manderley. From the moment she arrives, the new Ms. De Winter is surrounded by the ghost of Maxim’s late wife Rebecca and it may ruin the happiness the couple seeks! This film was nominated for 9 Oscars winning Best Film and Best Cinematography in 1940.
The DVD includes a commentary by film critic Richard Schnickel, The Making of Rebecca, The Gothic World of Daphne Du Maurier, screen tests, radio plays and audio interview with Alfred Hitchcock.
Each of these films has the feel of how filmmaking was an art form and now on bluray by 20th Century Fox, viewers can see a crisp, clear picture. The stories are amazing and the cinematography brings the story full circle. No one was better at telling a story filled with intensity than Alfred Hitchcock.
Become a fan of these films, available on DVD bluray and renew your love for the classics! | 
