Good evening. Do you have a reservation? Never mind, none is needed. Seems that one of our guests, a Miss Marion Crane, checked out late last night, and her room has just become available. It will require some housekeeping service, but our young man, Norman, is attending to that right now. While you’re waiting, enjoy this quiz. It’s all about PSYCHO and Janet Leigh, the guest who didn’t stay.
(*The quiz title was inspired by Alfred Hitchcock’s North By Northwest:“Something wrong with your eyes?” “Yes”, says the sunglass-clad Roger O. Thornhill (Cary Grant), “They’re sensitive to questions”. To Roger’s question about what could a man do with his clothes off for 20 minutes, Eve Kendall answers, “You could always take a cold shower.”)
THE BIRDS (1963; with Tippi Hedrin, Rod Taylor, Suzanne Pleshette, Jessica Tandy; directed by Alfred Hitchcock)
Our movie takes flight when a young, pretty blonde woman steps into San Francisco’s Davidson Pet Shop. “The girl” (as Hitchcock referred to Tippi Hedrin) is Melanie Daniels. Melanie causes trouble immediately, when she poses as a sales clerk and then allows a bird to escape from its cage. The errant avian is caught by another pet shop shopper, the debonair and eligible Mitch Brenner (Rod Taylor). Intrigued and inspired, the conniving Melanie decides that birds–love birds, to be precise–are the way to Mr. Brenner’s heart. Soon thereafter, Melanie swoops down into the small, California coastal burg of Bodega Bay with her two, winged cupids. Daniels’ eyes are like those of a hawk as she closes in on the Brenner residence. She’s delivering the love birds ostensibly as a birthday present for Mitch’s young daughter, Cathy. However, Mitch’s mom (Jessica Tandy) is like a mother hen to her son, and views Melanie suspiciously. As does the local schooteacher, and former love interest of Mitch’s, Annie (Suzanne Pleshette).
Soon, there’s chaos, and this time it’s not just one bird out of control. It’s many birds. Flocks of birds. Dozens, hundreds of them. No doves here, only menacing gulls and crows, darkening the skies and darkening the lives of Bodega Bay’s bewildered and terrified residents. Heads are pecked, eyes too. The reasons behind the rampage are unknown. Perhaps they’re really just another one of Hitch’s infamous MacGuffins. What’s significant in this story is the change the birds inflict upon the Brenner family and its relationship with the intruding Melanie and the two, cuddly caged companions she brings. Is the love between Mitch and Melanie meant to be? Or is love only for the birds?
Who wants to wait until the 31st to wallow in Halloween indulgences and scary movies?! Home Projectionist doesn’t! And so we’ll have pairings of 31 Frights and 31 Bites every one of October’s 31 nights: a scary, snack size movie “trick”, and a delicious “treat” to go along with it.
Good evening. If a director is going to tell a story that will interest the audience, it’s good to have structure. Oh, structure to the plot is good, too, of course. But we’re talking about actual structures. To be more precise, buildings, statues, and monuments. Important ones, impressive ones. Did these monuments, each of which appeared in a Hitchcock film, make an impression on you? Find out by taking this little quiz.
(*The quiz title was inspired by Alfred Hitchcock’s North By Northwest:“Something wrong with your eyes?” “Yes”, says the sunglass-clad Roger O. Thornhill (Cary Grant), “They’re sensitive to questions”. As Roger and Eve attempt to escape from Vandamm’s clutches, Roger suddenly realizes where the two of them are: “This is no good, we’re on top of the monument!”)
Good evening. Have you had a good week? Have you had a bad week? No matter. Whether it’s been good or bad, it calls for a libation–a little bubbly perhaps. Champagne can be “notoriously” dangerous though, as you know. So be careful. We do want to afford you the chance of surviving the evening.
(*The quiz title was inspired by Alfred Hitchcock’s North By Northwest:“Something wrong with your eyes?” “Yes”, says the sunglass-clad Roger O. Thornhill (Cary Grant), “They’re sensitive to questions”. When the kidnapped Roger asks whether he’ll be given a ride back to town, Vandamm’s sidekick, Leonard (Martin Landau) answers by handing Roger a very tall glass of bourbon: “Oh, that has been arranged. But first, a libation.”)
“When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang, Upon those boughs which shake against the cold.” So wrote Shakespeare. Of course, he was being poetic about the onset of Fall, at which we mortals find ourselves at this moment in time. Now, setting aside the beautiful Fall scenery of Hitchcock’s THE TROUBLE WITH HARRY, most of Hitch’s “fall” scenes had a slightly less pastoral aspect. Namely, those scenes would often be of a “fall” from a great height. But have no fear, no one will push you. This is merely a quiz, and not even one with a “high level” of difficulty.
(*The quiz title was inspired by Alfred Hitchcock’s North By Northwest:“Something wrong with your eyes?” “Yes”, says the sunglass-clad Roger O. Thornhill (Cary Grant), “They’re sensitive to questions”. Vandamm (James Mason) announces his intentions for the troublesome Eve Kendall (Eva Marie Saint) by saying, “This matter is best disposed of from a great height…”)
Bon nuit. That’s good evening in French, as we just learned from our useful English-to-French phrase book. When it comes to the films of Alfred Hitchcock however, it comes up a bit short. For example, it does not tell us how to say, in French, “My mother is… not quite herself today”, or “Go away or I’ll kill you myself”. Nevertheless, we think you’ll enjoy this globetrotting quiz…
(*The quiz title was inspired by Alfred Hitchcock’s North By Northwest:“Something wrong with your eyes?” “Yes”, says the sunglass-clad Roger O. Thornhill (Cary Grant), “They’re sensitive to questions”. As Roger attempts to find out who Lester Townsend really is, he orders a cab driver: “Take me to the United Nations.”)
Good evening. If you take this quiz within the next five minutes, for a limited time you will be offered, free of charge, the correct answers to the ten questions (afterwards, not before). But wait, there’s more. We’ll also add an exciting final grade-which, if if you get half or more correct, will be a passing one. This offer void where prohibited.
(*The quiz title was inspired by Alfred Hitchcock’s North By Northwest:“Something wrong with your eyes?” “Yes”, says the sunglass-clad Roger O. Thornhill (Cary Grant), “They’re sensitive to questions”. During the opening scenes of the movie, ad executive Roger advises his secretary: “Maggie, in the world of advertising, there is no such thing as a lie. Only expedient exaggeration.”)
Good evening. How many in your party? One? Fine. We have a pleasant quiz over here if you’ll follow this way. Please be seated and your quizmaster will be right with you. In the meantime, may we suggest reflecting on the many drinking and dining establishments you’ve encountered within the films of Alfred Hitchcock, followed by clicking on the “Take the Quiz” button.
(*The quiz title was inspired by Alfred Hitchcock’s North By Northwest:“Something wrong with your eyes?” “Yes”, says the sunglass-clad Roger O. Thornhill (Cary Grant), “They’re sensitive to questions”. Early during the movie, Roger dictates a note for his secretary to give to his mother: “Dinner at ’21’. Seven O’Clock.”)
Good evening. A great many of Hitchcock’s characters had brushes with death. Jimmy Stewart, for example, was asked, somewhat unkindly, to exit his apartment via the REAR WINDOW. Which, unfortunately for him, was not at ground level. But sometimes Hitch’s protagonists were more concerned about paint brushes than the art of survival. This quiz will test your knowledge of the art of Alfred Hitchcock. Specifically, the artful works contained within his films.
(*The quiz title was inspired by Alfred Hitchcock’s North By Northwest:“Something wrong with your eyes?” “Yes”, says the sunglass-clad Roger O. Thornhill (Cary Grant), “They’re sensitive to questions”. At an art auction, Vandamm (James Mason) asks Roger about the purpose of his visit: “Could it be an overpowering interest in art?”)
Artist Andrew DeGraff is a fan of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1959 film, NORTH BY NORTHWEST. He’s also a terrific artist, as is evident with his detailed, graphic homage to Hitch’s masterpiece. DeGraff:
I’ve loved “North by Northwest” since the first time I saw it – the visuals, the music, the tiny razor gags, but most of all, the urban/rural scene hopping, from New York, to Chicago, to South Dakota. So – I thought I’d throw together a sort of scenic chart of all the actual locations in the movie – the only fictional one being the Northwest Airlines terminal, which no longer exists and I couldn’t find reference for (but for “North by Northwest”, I figured I’d take a little liberty).
Also not included are the 1212 Michigan Ave Auction house and the hospital in Rapid City, as they were shot on soundstage in Hollywood. Even with that, it was a bit of a beast.
Lots of research, lots of windows . . . The cars are also accurate from the initial 57 Skoda 440 cab to the ’51 White Freightliner the plane crashes into, to the ’52 Ford Customline Cary Grant rescues the girl in. I took color from the footage to get some of that “technicolor” feel, and blatantly ripped off Saul Bass’ opening credit arrows to show the action.
As a big fan of the movie myself, of course, I’ve taken the liberty of identifying the locations DeGraff has so beautifully and painstakingly illustrated. Be sure to check out some of his other, excellent work here.
CIT Building, 650 Madison Ave., New York City
Plaza Hotel, 5th at 59th, NY
Townsend Mansion (Old Westbury Gardens), Long Island
Glen Cove, NY, police station
Plaza Hotel
United Nations Building, NY
Grand Central Station, NY
LaSalle Street Station (414 S LaSalle St.), Chicago
Prairie Stop, along US Hwy. 41 (actually Bakersfield, CA), central Indiana
Ambassador East Hotel, 1301 N State Pkwy., Chicago
Chicago Midway Airport, Northwest Airlines terminal
Mt. Rushmore National Memorial Visitor Center, Rapid City, SD
Area near Mt. Rushmore
Vandamm residence (actually a movie set) near Rapid City
If you’re a film fan in New York City–particularly a fan of Alfred Hitchcock–you’ll want to be at Tribeca 92/Y, 2012 92nd Street, tonight for the next installment of the “Bastards of Hitch” program. It’s the last in their series exploring films were by works of the great Master of Suspense.
During August, Tribeca 92/Y has screened Jonathan Demme’s Hitchockian-themed THE LAST EMBRACE, Nicholas Roeg’s mysterious DON’T LOOK NOW and title designer Saul Bass’ PHASE IV. Tonight it’s Brian DePalma’s DRESSED TO KILL(1980).
I think many people might choose DON’T LOOK NOW as the best among the MUBI-sponsored series. But this DePalma film, along with DePalma’s Vertigo-esque OBSESSION, are my two favorite, Hitch-like efforts. DRESSED TO KILL, while it couldn’t quite be mistaken as being directed by Hitch himself, comes very close. Cast as the cool blonde, Angie Dickinson has the same, icy-yet-smoldering sensuality of Kim Novak, while Michael Caine, like Joseph Cotten in SHADOW OF A DOUBT or Robert Walker in STRANGERS ON A TRAIN, has just enough edge to his character to make you wonder if he could be a tiny bit off-center.
DePalma’s superb, tour-de-force museum sequence is a highlight of this very disturbing and scary film–a film that is to elevators what PSYCHO is to showers.
Good evening. Have you ever told a lie? Be truthful now. Remember what really became of the last cookie in that cookie jar? Yes you do. Of course, some lies-white lies-aren’t as big as others, as you’ll find out in this creative and amusing quiz we’ve created. By the way, in case you shouldn’t find the quiz creative and amusing, then we had absolutely nothing to do with. Honest.
(*The quiz title was inspired by Alfred Hitchcock’s North By Northwest:“Something wrong with your eyes?” “Yes”, says the sunglass-clad Roger O. Thornhill (Cary Grant), “They’re sensitive to questions”. When Roger steals a cab out from under a poor man by claiming his secretary, Maggie, is very ill, Maggie scolds him: “He knew you were lying.”)
Good evening and welcome to the virtual birthday celebration for one Mr. Alfred Hitchcock. On Monday, August the 13th, Alfred will be 113 years old. Although he’s not quite as sprightly as he once was, his films haven’t aged a bit. And so to celebrate this occasion, you are being cordially invited to test your memory of Hitch’s films by taking part in this party-ish quiz. Please think responsibly.
(*The quiz title was inspired by Alfred Hitchcock’s North By Northwest:“Something wrong with your eyes?” “Yes”, says the sunglass-clad Roger O. Thornhill (Cary Grant), “They’re sensitive to questions”. Previously, Roger’s assailants pretended to Roger that his early, forced and drunken departure via automobile was of his own free will: “It was a dull party. You didn’t miss a thing.”)
"The hero of my tale, whom I love with all the power of my soul, whom I have tried to portray in all his beauty, who has been, is, and will be beautiful, is Truth." Leo Tolstoy
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