Alfred Hitchhiking

[Joe Riley]

AI Overview




Alfred Hitchcock's films famously feature intense, controlling, or murderous mother figures, making them a dark, unconventional choice for Mother's Day viewing. Psycho (1960) is the ultimate example, often referenced in dark-humored Mother's Day greetings featuring Norman Bates and his mother. Other notable films for this theme include Notorious and Strangers on a Train.

Key Hitchcock Mother Figures:

• Mrs. Bates (Psycho): The ultimate, unseen "mother" who represents the terrifying, psychological, and controlling maternal figure.
• Madame Sebastian (Notorious): A controlling mother who micromanages her son's life and actively antagonizes Ingrid Bergman's character.
• Bruno's Mother (Strangers on a Train): A "dotty" or detached mother figure who treats her dangerous son like a toddler.
• Mrs. North (North by Northwest): An affectionate, yet sharp-witted mother who questions her son. [1, 2]

Mother's Day Viewing Ideas:

• Psycho (1960): Often screened around Mother's Day as a nod to the iconic "Mother".
• Notorious (1946): Features a high-stakes, dramatic relationship between a son and his controlling mother.
• The 9 Best Hitchcock Movies for Mother's Day: Compiled lists (like from Fangoria) often highlight these and other thrillers featuring memorable, albeit unconventional, mother-child dynamics.

Note: The theme is largely a tongue-in-cheek nod to the dysfunction often depicted in his masterpieces rather than a sincere tribute to maternal figures.

 

[Joe Riley]

Even birds who are accustomed to urban noises can be spooked by the boom of fireworks, take off and crash into trees, cars and buildings.

 

[Joe Riley]

The Birds' aren't the only ones flocking to Bodega and Bodega Bay​

 

[Joe Riley]

GO INSIDE Alfred Hitchcock's Exclusive Bel-Air Mansion​

 

[Joe Riley]

 

[Joe Riley]

Hitchcock on Holiday

The master of suspense went for laughs this time out.

To Catch a Thief: Special Collector’s Edition
(Paramount)

"Starring Cary Grant as a cat burglar and Grace Kelly as a hot-to-trot heiress, this is easily one of Alfred Hitchcock’s slightest films, especially coming on the heels of Rear Window; indeed, its idyllic setting on the French Riviera suggests it was a vacation getaway for the director and his cast, who never looked more at home than in this sun-drenched setting."

"You keep expecting Grant to stop the action to request a drink, even hoping Hitchcock will bring it to him. That said, it remains a delightful part of his canon; for all its tanned and toned bonhomie, it’s still a decent thriller with a spark of a start (the familiar shriek) and a swell finale."

"And this DVD is a right pleasure, from the making-ofs to Peter Bogdanovich’s commentary, in which he plays historian and chum. Only thing he forgets is the martinis." — Robert Wilonsky

 

[Joe Riley]

Alfred Hitchcock on vacation.

For Mac Races who see the Sleeping Bear Dune, this might be dubbed the Sleeping Belly Dune.