Strangers on a Train
Published January 4, 2025
Film info
- Title Strangers on a Train
- Director Alfred Hitchcock
- Year 1951
- Run time 1hr 41m
- Genres Crime, Thriller
- Tagline It starts with a shriek of a train whistle... and ends with shrieking excitement!
Having met on a train, a smooth-talking psychotic socialite shares his theory on how two complete strangers can get away with murder to an amateur tennis player — a theory he plans to test out.
Live blog
| Time | Comment |
|---|---|
| 1:11 | Oh yes, classic shoes. |
| 2:39 | “I certainly admire people who do things.” Weirdly vague. |
| 16:33 | “I do wish you’d take up painting, such a soothing pastime.” Only if you can do it. |
| 20:45 | Aw, popping the kid’s balloon! |
| 23:10 | Two men aren’t enough for this lady, she gotta eye up the stranger too. |
| 24:57 | The shadow, the scream, Hitchcock is the master. |
| 34:41 | Why does the news about his wife’s death come from his girlfriend’s father? |
| 36:29 | “Daddy doesn’t mind a little scandal, he’s a senator.” Sarcasm. |
| 37:30 | Loving the banter between the father and the sister. More of that please. |
| 40:27 | “When an alibi’s full of bourbon, sir, it can’t stand up.” |
| 46:06 | Haha, the map! It’s like a kid’s masterminding this plot. |
| 56:44 | “I like you!” Punch. That’s what happens when you strangle people at parties. |
| 1:09:46 | Wow, that’s a dressing gown. |
| 1:13:52 | Loving the bonus tennis. |
| 1:21:00 | Tennis is such a pressure cooker anyway, to play in these conditions is amazing. |
| 1:32:57 | Okay, well, carousels are now ruined for me. |
Thoughts
This was so good. I’m making it a mission this year to watch more older films and what a movie to kick off with. Alfred Hitchcock is legendary and for good reason. Some of this movie is a bit on the nose. Bruno, whilst clearly psychopathic, immediately starts talking about murder to a complete stranger and they still end up enjoying dinner together. Weird.
But go with the premise, and you’re in for a treat. Such well-crafted filmmaking. The boat shadows and scream, only to be tickling. The death in the glasses. The tennis game where one head is staring resolutely while the others twist this way and that. Honestly, it’s beautiful to watch.
Rating: 5 / 5