I had been revisiting all of Hitchcock's classics last couple weeks. Most of his creations still remain masterpieces till date (Rebecca, North by North West, The Lady Vanishes etc.), but I have to admit a handful of his movies are badly dated. '39 Steps', 'Spellbound', 'Shadow of a doubt' feels like a drag these days. The British style of acting (A flat tone of delivery and sometimes almost shouting) is also a big put off. It is remarkable how the actors deliver their dialogues in a nonchalant way when the situation according to the script is pretty intense.
Anyway, a common thread that I have observed in all these movies is that of a 'Particular tune' playing a major part in the storyline. In 'The man who knew too much', the tune of 'Que Sera sera' brings out the little boy out of the confinement to his mother; In 'The Lady Vanishes', a tune is actually a espionage code; In 'Shadow of a doubt', the tune 'Merry widow' is actually a clue and in '39 Steps', a tune reminds the hero about the presence of the villain in the opera.
Anyway, a common thread that I have observed in all these movies is that of a 'Particular tune' playing a major part in the storyline. In 'The man who knew too much', the tune of 'Que Sera sera' brings out the little boy out of the confinement to his mother; In 'The Lady Vanishes', a tune is actually a espionage code; In 'Shadow of a doubt', the tune 'Merry widow' is actually a clue and in '39 Steps', a tune reminds the hero about the presence of the villain in the opera.
