Fans of Alfred Hitchcock films will be glad to know that five films by the Master of Suspense have made their way to DVD for the first time this week — including "Dial M for Murder," "Foreign Correspondent" and "Suspicion" — along with a new double-disc reissue of "Strangers on a Train."
These discs are available individually as listed or in "The Alfred Hitchcock Signature Collection" box set (which also includes the previously released "North By Northwest"; $99.92), and each disc contains a thorough and entertaining featurette about the movie.
"Strangers on a Train: Special Edition" (Warner, 1951, PG, b/w, $26.99, two discs). One of Hitchcock's greatest films, this is the classic tale of two strangers who meet on a train and "plot" murders for each other. Except that only Bruno (Robert Walker) is serious. Tennis pro Guy (Farley Granger) is shocked when he discovers that Bruno has committed his murder and that he fully expects Guy to return the favor.
Light comic actor Walker took a real chance playing a psycho in this film, and he delivers his finest performance. Classic scenes include his popping a child's balloon with his cigarette, struggling to retrieve a lighter that has fallen into a storm drain, and that horrifying merry-go-round finale.
Everything from the previously issued disc is here — including both versions of the film — along with a lot more.
Extras: Full frame, theatrical and original preview versions, audio commentaries (Peter Bogdanovich, Joseph Stefano, Patricia Highsmith, others), new making-of featurettes/interviews, vintage newsreel, trailer, subtitle options (English, French, Spanish), chapters.
"Dial M for Murder" (Warner, 1955, PG, $19.97). Initially presented in 3D, this classic tale has Ray Milland plotting the murder of his wife (Grace Kelly), but when things go awry, she and a friend (Robert Cummings) are on to him. The original stage play doesn't get a lot of embellishment here, but Hitchcock's clever staging and the excellent performances make it nonetheless quite gripping.
Extras: Full frame, making-of featurettes, trailer, language options (English, French), subtitle options (English, French, Spanish), chapters.
"Foreign Correspondent" (Warner, 1940, not rated, b/w, $19.97). Utah native Laraine Day co-stars in this wartime thriller, with Joel MCrea in the title role as an American journalist trying to expose spies in London. Robert Benchley is also on hand to provide comic relief. Thrilling and wildly entertaining, despite some of the dated process shots and special effects. Here's an example of sharp screenwriting and a demonstration of Hitch's early understanding of the language of cinema.
Extras: Full frame, making-of featurette, trailer, subtitle options (English, French, Spanish), chapters.
"Suspicion" (Warner, 1941, not rated, b/w, $19.97). Does Cary Grant really want to kill wife Joan Fontaine (she won the best-actress Oscar here). Fontaine thinks so, and you'll wonder — right up to the climax (which was changed by the studio). The stars are great together, with a wonderful supporting cast (including Nigel Bruce, who played Watson to Basil Rathbone's Sherlock Holmes).
Extras: Full frame, making-of featurette, trailer, subtitle options (English, French, Spanish), chapters.
"The Wrong Man" (Warner, 1956, not rated, b/w, $19.97). Henry Fonda stars here, in the only Hitchcock film based on a true story, about a man who is arrested and vilified for a crime he didn't commit. Fonda is excellent, and Vera Miles as his wife is also quite good, with Hitchcock using a semi-documentary style here.
Extras: Full frame, making-of featurette, trailer, language options (English, French), subtitle options (English, French, Spanish), chapters.
"I Confess" (Warner, 1953, not rated, b/w, $19.97). Montgomery Clift is a priest who hears the confession of a murderer — and finds himself accused. Not Hitch's best, but still interesting, with another terrific supporting cast.
Extras: Full frame, making-of featurette, vintage newsreel, trailer, subtitle options (English, French, Spanish), chapters.
"Stage Fright" (Warner, 1950, not rated, b/w, $19.97). Also not Hitch's best work, but still a cut above many other such films, with Jane Wyman as an acting student who tries to solve a murder. Individual set-pieces stand out more than the film as a whole. Marlene Dietrich co-stars.
Extras: Full frame, making-of featurette, trailer, subtitle options (English, French, Spanish), chapters.
"Mr. & Mrs. Smith" (Warner, 1941, not rated, b/w, $19.97). This is about as far afield as Hitchcock ever went from his trademark suspense pictures — a screwball comedy about a couple (Carole Lombard, Robert Montgomery) who find they are not legally married. This is actually a lot of fun, with Lombard a standout. It just happens to be atypical Hitch. Jack Carson and Utah-born Betty Compson lend support.
Extras: Full frame, making-of featurette, trailer, subtitle options (English, French, Spanish), chapters.
E-mail: hicks@desnews.com