Rating: 
Summary: I was laughing at all the plot holes
Review: Can't believe most people loved this thing. Here are a few random questions some of which may be spoilers: 1. No one but a drunk man saw him on the train? What about the ticket taker? After all, he is relatively famous. Hard to believe. 2. Why go thru the long-drawn out episode of him creeping into the father's house and bedroom? Why not just knock on the front door? Hard to believe 3. He is encouraged to keep playing tennis after his wife is murdered or people will find that suspicious. Hardly!! Your wife is murdered and people would expect you to take time off to grieve. This was bad writing. 4. The cop just kind of blindly fires into the Merry go round. Yeah right. What cop is going to do that with all those kids? 5. Bruno's long drawn out reach into the sewer to get his cigarette lighter. It's shown as if time is of the essence. He reaches and squeezes for 5 agonizing minutes and when he finally gets it--POP his arm just comes right out without being stuck then he goes and sits on a park bench for awhile.. . . Don't bother with this movie. See something with intelligence like Notorious.
Rating: 
Summary: An over looked masterpiece.
Review: Strangers on the train is one of those films that not everyone has scene but once you have it just sticks to your memory. Hitchcock is in top form ...the elements of intrigue and suspense are heightened leaving the viewer with a sense of tourture as you await the film's climax. The plot is as dark and unsettling too! Two guys meet (Walker and Granger) and plan to bump off each others intended victims so they get away with the crimes but only one guy takes this seriously and in doing so the film picks up the pace... Walker plays Bruno a rich playboy who seems to have mental problems as the film develops. Granger plays Guy a tennis star who wants to divorce his wife so he can marry a senator's daughter. So one night Bruno does the deed of killing Guy's wife at a state fair in hopes of Guy killing off Bruno's controlling father. Bruno strangles Guy's wife with such bravado taht her glasses fall off her face and crack in half!When Guy does not return the favor Bruno, stalks and haunts Guy with such a fever and eerie calm that it leaves chills down your spine! The last twenty minutes is a nail biter! The movie seems to be building from the begining with a weird sexual tension between the two male leads. This is a usual occurence in Hitchcock flicks but it adds another level of perversion to the already heart pounding climax! The question at the end becomes did Bruno murder Guy's wife so that Guy would return the favor or did he do in hopes of winning over Guy's affections? You be the Judge.
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Summary: Classic thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock
Review: For more years than I care to remember I have been a big fan of Alfred Hitchcock and "Strangers on a Train" was the film that started it all off for me. I had seen several Hitchcock films before this one ("The 39 Steps", "The Lady Vanishes", "Rope", "Lifeboat" etc) but without realising who the director was. In those days it was the stars that attracted me into the cinemas as I wasn't aware then how important film directors were or what their function was. However, "Strangers on a Train" was such a brilliant film with so many clever photo angles and classic set pieces that it made me realise the difference between an average director and a professional like Hitchcock. After seeing this film I made a point never to miss a new Hitchcock movie. Following "Strangers on a Train" came Hitchcock's "golden period" which included such marvellous films as "Rear Window", "Vertigo", "North by Northwest", "Psycho" and "The Birds". I can't think of any other director who consistently turned out the hit films that Hitchcock did over a long period of time and in addition to this he was the most recognisable director in Hollywood.The plot must be familiar to everyone by now I would imagine but just for the record it concerns two strangers who meet on a train (this should be pretty obvious considering the title of the film!). The two men are completely different - Guy Haines (Farley Granger) is a tennis champ who is having problems with his wife Miriam (Laura Elliott). He wants a divorce so that he can marry Anne Morton (Ruth Roman) but his wife is proving difficult and doesn't want to grant him the divorce. The other man, Bruno Anthony (a wonderful performance by Robert Walker) is a dangerous psychopath (Guy is unaware of this of course) and during their conversation on the train Bruno explains to Guy that he has planned the "perfect murder". He suggests to Guy that they both have someone they want to get rid of (in Bruno's case his father). He goes on to say that they should "swap murders" (he will kill Guy's wife in return for Guy killing his father) and this way no suspicion would fall on either of them. (Robert Walker: "Two fellows meet accidentally, like you and me. No connection between them at all - never saw each other before. Each one has somebody that he'd like to get rid of, so ... they swap murders"). Guy naturally doesn't think that Bruno is serious and just humours him along. However, Bruno is deadly serious and during the following days haunts Guy everywhere he goes. Guy has an important tennis tournament to play in and sure enough Bruno turns up in the crowd with his eyes only on Guy. Bruno tries to plant some false incriminating evidence against Guy which takes him to a fairground. Guy is still tied up in the tennis match and is desperately trying to finish the game so that he can go after Bruno. The suspense builds and Guy finally gets away leading to the dramatic conclusion at the fairground when both men are trapped on an out of control speeding carousel. Some favourite lines from the film: Farley Granger (to Robert Walker): "I may be old fashioned, but I thought murder was against the law". Walker (to Norma Varden): "Everyone has somebody that they want to put out of the way. Oh now, surely Madam, you're not going to tell me that there hasn't been a time when you didn't want to dispose of someone. Your husband perhaps?". Walker (to Granger): "Don't worry, I'm not going to shoot you Mr Haines. It might disturb mother. I'm a very clever fellow. I'll think of something better than that. Much better". Patricia Hitchcock (to Granger): "Oh, Daddy doesn't mind a little scandal. He's a senator". Hitchcock's original choice for the part of Guy Haines was William Holden but he wasn't available so he had to settle for Farley Granger who I thought did a good job. Granger had previously worked for Hitchcock in "Rope" (1948) with James Stewart and John Dall. Robert Walker unfortunately died in 1952 while making "My Son John" forcing the production company to use footage from "Strangers on a Train" to complete the film. Hitchcock's daughter Patricia had a good part in the film as Ruth Roman's suspicious sister Barbara Morton. She had also appeared in some of her father's other films such as "Stage Fright" (1949) and "Psycho" (1960). Hitchcock's cameo appearance came early on in the film - he can be seen boarding the train carrying a large double bass at Metcalf Station as Farley Granger gets off.
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Summary: Wonderful Film! Great DVD!
Review: This is a great disc. Not a lot of extras but what is there is wonderful. And two versions of the film is extra enough. Every film needs a Granger character.
Rating:
Summary: Classic Hitchcock
Review: This is one of Hitchcock's best. It's hard to describe it without giving away the plot, but two complete strangers (or are they?) meet on a train, each having someone they'd "like to get rid of". One of the strangers comes up with a deranged idea to swap murders, thereby escaping the most important evidence to tie each of them to the murders: motive. This movie is also the basis for "Throw Mama from the Train", but this is done much better and does not contain all the comedic bits of "Throw Mama".
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Summary: The original mother fixation!
Review: Before Norman Bates ever graced the scene, Hitchcock gave us Bruno Anthony with a very real mother fixation! However, unlike PSYCHO, it is not the central theme of the movie. I finally got around to watching this movie last night; I'm still wondering what took me so long to watch this masterpiece! Everyone is wonderful in their roles, especially Robert Walker, and, although she only has a few scenes, a very funny Marion Lorne as his mother. After a slightly slow start, the film becomes very intense. The first scene at the carnival, with Bruno stalking Miriam Haines (who's flattered by what she perceives to be a potential suitor?) is fantastic. Classic Hitchcock touches are all through this movie. The way Hitch singles out Bruno in the crowd at the tennis match is brilliant! This movie is a must, for no other reason than to see the nail-biting climax on the carousel!
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Summary: Vertigo's Runner-Up
Review: "Vertigo" in my opinion will always be Hitch's best but give credit where its due. This is deffinately an incredible film. From the now infamous criss-cross concept to Bruno's homoerotic attraction to Guy this is in my top 10 and Hitch's 2nd best only next to the great godsend "Vertigo".
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Summary: An fine classic film from the fifties.
Review: DVD`s has two different versions of the film. Hollywood version runs 101 mins and British Version runs 2 minutes longer. The plot: A tennis star Guy(Farley Granger) meet a strange, smart and unusual mysterious man named Bruno(Robert Walker in a strong, superb, excellent, darkly funny performance) hates his father. They meet on a train going to New York City. Bruno ask Guy a playful proposal:I`ll kill yours(Guy soon to be ex-wife) and you kill mine(Bruno`s father). Since Bruno did actually kill Guy`s wife, Guy wouldn`t kill Bruno`s father. Now Bruno is stalking Guy to the rest of his life until Guy kill Bruno`s father. Made with smooth directing by Alfred Hitchcock(Vertigo, Psycho, The Birds) and an smart screenplay by Raymond Chandler and Czenzi Ormonde. DVD`s picture quality is a fine transer and DD 1.0 Mono is also quite good. Hitchcock`s fans won`t be dispointment with this DVD. Die-hard fans of Hitchcock`s will love it. Grade:A.
Rating:
Summary: Both versions
Review: This DVD is very satisfying. Both the US and British versions are essential viewing, and comparison is exciting and challenging. The film is one of Hitchcock's most entertaining and suspensful outings. It offers interest on every level.
Rating:
Summary: Don't Talk To Strangers on a Train!
Review: A chance meeting on a train changes the life of tennis player Guy Haines (Farley Granger) in ways he never could have imagined. When an odd, obsessed tennis fan, Bruno Anthony (Robert Walker), recognizes Haines, he does his best to ingratiate himself, talking incessantly about the details of Guy's life, details that most people wouldn't bring up at first meeting. But Bruno is a strange man indeed. Bruno hates his father and wants him dead. Guy wants a divorce from his unfaithful wife Miriam so he can marry political socialite Ann Morton (Ruth Roman). Bruno devises a plan where he and Guy swap or exchange murders: Guy murders Bruno's father and Bruno murders Guy's wife. By doing so, it will be impossible to link either of them to the respective murders. Bruno thinks this is the perfect plan and convinces, he thinks, Guy that this plan will work. Guy on the other hand is half listening to his odd companion and assumes that nothing will come of Bruno's wild imaginings. Wrong! Bruno actually kills Guy's wife, then hunts Guy down to have him return the favor. Guy is shocked but fearful that if he doesn't humor Bruno, he will be implicated in his wife's murder. As with all Hitchcock films, there are enough plot twists to keep the viewer guessing what the outcome will be right up to the famous carousel scene toward the film's climax. Hitchcock, of course, employs excellent camera work, with great scenes in Washington, D.C. (the scene with Walker in front of the Jefferson Memorial is absolutely chilling) and the Forest Hills Tennis Club on Long Island, where we are treated to what a tennis match looked like in the 1950s. Like Shadow of a Doubt, Hitchcock's earlier classic, doubles abound. The two men, one good, one evil, Guy is going to Southampton (Long Island) to play doubles, two drinks on the train (doubles), two women with glasses, Miriam and Barbara Morton (Ann's younger sister), and on and on. Based on the novel by Patricia Highsmith (The Talented Mister Ripley) adapted by Ben Hecht (uncredited), and Alfred and Alma Hitchcock. Raymond Chandler gets credit for the screenplay, however, most of what he originally wrote did not make the final cut. Once this movie gets going, the suspense and tension just doesn't let up. This film provided probably the best roles either Granger or Walker ever had, and they do excellent work here. Walker is effectively charming and creepy all at the same time (like Joseph Cotton in Shadow of a Doubt), and Granger is properly shocked and paralyzed by what he perceives to be an impossible series of events placing him and his fiancee in incredible peril. The British version has a different ending than the American version (I prefer the ending in the American version to the British), however, both are satisfying and don't change the film's conclusion. A wonderful film with all the great Hitchcock touches; you will be wonderfully entertained by Strangers on a Train.
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