Marnie

Rating:
Summary: First Rate Romantic Love Story From The Master Of Suspense?
Review: Well, I guess it just shows you that even the most suspenseful film directors crave romantic and sensually daring love. Most film historians and composers would agree that Alfred Hitchcock and Bernard Hermann were synonymous with the American Cinema. Though often emulated, their successful collaboration has never been duplicated. Since Marnie was made in the early 60's, when movie love themes became increasingly popular, Universal Pictures requested Bernard Hermann's magnificent score be transformed and adapted into a "pop" love song (though never included in the film). It was originally recorded by Nat "King" Cole and released as a single, however never climbed the Billboard charts. You may order a new lush vocal rendition from a new Pop, Cabaret recording artist, Michael Poss. The recording is available on SILVER SCREEN SERENADES and has been faithfully arranged and adapted to Herrmann's magnificent original score. Sadly, Marnie would also mark the end of a successful run utilizing both the great film director, and the great film composer. Marnie is one of my all time favorite classic movie romances, yet ironically was made by one of the greatest masters of suspense. I still believe this film contains the most erotic and classic cinematic kiss between Sean Connery and 'Tippi' Hedren. In a recent interview, 'Tippi' Hedren thought the major reason why Marnie failed at the box office in 1964 was because the subject matter was considered too controversial and way ahead of it's time. Ms. Hedren also received unsavory critical reviews for her interpretation of the title character. In fact, some reviewers sited her understated performance as comatose and intrusive. However, today, Hitchcock's film and 'Tippi' Hedren's subtle acting technique, are both revered as a cinematic cult classic. The close sensual intimacy between the camera and Ms. Hedren's portrayal of the "mysteriously cool, icy, calculating blonde" have been studied, even emulated by film acting students around the world.

Rating:
Summary: The master's most underrated film!
Review: This psychological thriller about a determined businessman(Sean Connery) who falls in love with a beautiful, but strange woman(Tippi Hedren) who turns out to be a compulsive thief and liar , is one of Hitchcock's most underrated films. It has the romance, excitement, adventure and the mystery that have become synonymous with the master. Furthermore, MARNIE is the last of Hitchcock's truly great films. Bernard Herrmann's rousing score is perhaps his best in his nearly 10-year partnership with the master. Tippi Hedren hits all the right marks in the title role, making this her finest screen performance to date. I don't care what you've heard or from who you've heard it, if you're a fan of the master, do yourself a favor and see it!

Rating:
Summary: Sound Hitchcock Quality
Review: The movie had the best sound quality of all the films that Alfred Hitchcock directed.

Sound, as well as colour, played an important part to get the viewer inside the head of the title character. Much has been said about the quality of the sound. It has been said that it is not crisp or clean. That is the way Hitchcock wanted it.

Bernard Herrmann did not compose a score for Hitchcock's "The Birds." Hitchcock did use Herrmann as a technical sound advisor on that film. With "Marnie" Hitchcock had Herrmann act in that same capacity as well as compose a very good score.

The sound of a film is just as important as its visual look. A Production Designer not only designs sets, but also is in charge of costumes, props and the entire look of the film. Herrmann did this for all the sounds of "Marnie."

Rating:
Summary: Hitchcock's Marnie on DVD
Review: This is one of Hitchcock's masterpieces. It has been highly underrated and misunderstood by viewers and many critics alike. It is not a straightforward narrative as it deals with the compulsive and obsessive nature of its two main characters (Tippi Hedren and Sean Connery). The viewer has to become absorbed and drawn into the film's sights and sounds. The viewer has to elicit from what is seen and heard to fathom the motivations of the film's two main characters. Some of its images are just unforgettable and disturbingly haunting. Sound too plays an important part in the viewer's experience. In accompaniment is Bernard Herrmann's low key score. I watched this film again several times over. Herrmann's score is always present, yet never intrusive. I used to think this score was somewhat repetitive, but it is quite diverse. It complements the images in such a way that it almost evokes some hidden and suppressed experience from the viewer that creates an emotional bond with the main title character of the film. I found the DVD print to be of exceptional quality and most pleasing in the wide-screen presentation (a prerequisite in this format). The supplemental material on the disc was interesting and worthwhile, especially the discussion on the evolution of the film from print to image. I highly recommend this DVD and was surprised to see it released in this format prior to other Hitchcock films.

Rating:
Summary: an underrated masterpiece!
Review: Marnie is one of Hitchcock's greatest ( and most underrated) films of all time. Even though it was dismissed by critics and such at the time of of it's release it has since come to be considered one of Hitchcock's great films. It is obvious that this film went over many peoples heads therefore leading to harsh (and quite unfair) criticisms. It is the same with the performance of Tippi Hedren as Marnie. Even though her performancce is brilliant many dense people criticize her for it. I am aware that people tend to be unfair about the sets of the film as well. The film often shows things the way that Marnie herself sees them. Alfred Hitchcock obviously wanted the sets to look the way they do though. Sean Connery (in an excellent performance) also stars as Mark Ruttland ,Marnie's obsessed, and concerned lover. Another misconception about this film is that of Sean Connery's character. I have seen people refer to him as a "jerk" and such but that is really not the case. If you intelligently watch this film it is not hard to see that he truly cares about Marnie and that he does really want what is best for her. Even though he does have faults of his own he is certainly not a hard hearted and cruel person. Even though Marnie does not get half the credit that it deserves from some it is still an exellent movie well worth watching. I hope that you enjoy it as much as I do.

Rating:
Summary: Nice Print
Review: Some movies really aren't worth watching on DVD because the print is so bad that you might just as well watch it on VHS. This is a really nice print. They did a good job. It does have some flaws but overall it is quite good. The featurette is great. This is a good value for Hitchcock fans.

Rating:
Summary: marnie
Review: i saw this movie (marnie) on the AMC Hitchcock festival. i watched this movie not knowing anything about it(i never head of it until now). i enjoyed it. sean connery was great as mark(?), and tippi hedren was great as marnie. too bad this was the last "hitchcock blond" to ever hit the screen again(his last movie featuring a blondie)

Rating:
Summary: Agree with original reaction
Review: Marnie was considered a flop when released in 1964, though apparently its regard has increased greatly over the years. I have now seen it for the first time.

Perhaps my own evaluation will change over the years as well, but for now I'm back in 1964. The story is dull as dust, Hitchcock's fake backdrops and screens, usually beautiful and surrealistic as in Vertigo, Rear Window, etc, look phony and laughable. And Tippi Hedren--- while she may have been born to play the campy Melanie Daniels in The Birds, is just plain awful here. The sentimentality is very uncharacteristic of Hitchcock and not at all appealing, the character of the Mother is really dreadful. The impression overall is of a Vertigo wannabe - even the magnificent Bernard Hermann score sounds completely derivative from that Movie.

Rating:
Summary: MARNIE: A Mixed Bag
Review: The DVD looks great. It's wonderful to see this film in widescreen. The documentary (like the last few Hitchcock DVD's that have been released) is thorough and interesting. Universal is doing such a good job with these titles.

MARNIE, the film, is a mixed bag. I like the previous reviewer who refered to it as "Vertigo's little sister". The script is a bit heavy-handed with its psychoanalysis of Marnie. In this age of serial killers, we're all more sophisticated these days when it comes to childhood trauma and psychological quirks. However, Hitchcock uses such style that I quickly forgive this shortcoming.

It's interesting that the documentary raises the point that MARNIE was made in an interim period, when audiences knew, for example, what Paris looked like, so it was no longer possible for studios to get away with a "stylized" Paris. The film is filled with instances like this: the stylized Baltimore street with the huge painted shipyard backdrop; Marnie galloping on her horse; and the aristocratic society that Hitch portrays. I find these elements kind of fun. I don't look to Hitchcock for realism -- I enjoy the glorious fantasy worlds he films. But MARNIE does push the limits sometimes. This is one Hitchcock film where the artiface of film borders on camp.

And yet, at the core of the film is the mother and daughter relationship. This is truly touching. And Tippi Hedren has some wonderful acting scenes.

Rating:
Summary: Great movie, great package
Review: My fellow reviewers have basically said it all, so I'll only add the following: I love the way this movie manages to be both lurid and sensationalistic (as if it was adapted from a 50's Dell paperback with a title like "I Married an Ice Queen!") yet poetic and subtle, too. I found this strange, haunting film engrossing from beginning to end. The documentary that accompanies the film, "The Trouble With Marnie", is also first-rate. I particularly appreciated the fact that the 58-minute examination of the movie is no public relations puff piece. The people interviewed (which include the writers, actors, and technical people) are permitted to say whatever they wish- good or bad- about the film and the creative decisions behind it. Great movie, great extras: Universal should be commended for an excellent treatment of this lesser-known Hitchcock work.