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Sunday 8 March 2009

Freddie - The Final Reckoning for Hitch! And An Appearance from the Queen!

Jimmy Stewart Pictures, Images and PhotosOne last shot of Jimmy Stewart, eh? Such a great man... So many fabulous films, and that jacket - Swoon! I honestly think it might be the blue colour, or the fabric: I don't always have something for a man in uniform, honestly, what do you lot take me for?! (And never mind saying, 'Tuppence!', that one at the back!

We are now in the Seventies - I'll be posting questions on the notice board in the hall later - Don't say you've not been paying attention, now, or that you didn't see the note about homework needing to be handed in...?!

I will be imposing a detention for those who have been cheeky monkeys, rolling up paper into balls and throwing them... La Wiki misses nothing, I'll have you know... Eyes in the back of her head, that one...

I shall post more about the wedding tomorrow, if that's okay with you - It was a resounding success and I just spent the majority of the ceremony with a great big smile on my fizzog! It was relaxed and intimate, (there were less than 40 of us there, so I felt as pleased as Punch that we were honoured enough to be invited to share the couple's special day), and GJ and I just had such a super time...

Until then, the curtain once again rises on Hitch, this time we complete the backstory of his successful life and career...

In 1972, Hitchcock returned to London to film Frenzy, his last major success.
"The plot recycles his early film, The Lodger. Richard Blaney becomes the likely perpetrator of the "Necktie Murders", which are actually committed by his friend (Barry Foster), a fruit seller.

Hitchcock makes the victim and villain twins, rather than opposites, as in Strangers on a Train. (By the way, this pic is exclusivement for Saz, as she adores Johnny Hallyday, who happened to star in a fantastic French film called L'homme du train - The man on the train! Get it?!)

Johnny Pictures, Images and Photos

Back to Hitch! but "only one of them has crossed the line to murder. For the first time, Hitchcock allowed nudity and profane language, which had before been taboo, in one of his films.

Many times Hitchcock slipped in hints of improprieties forbidden by censorship until the mid-1960s". Apparently, studio bosses noticed and turned a blind censor's eye to proceedings... He was probably making them far too much money at the Box Office for them to take umbrage...

Incidentally in later life, when "Hitchcock saw the Mel Brooks 1977 comedy-spoof of his work, High Anxiety, he enjoyed it, but Brooks feared that Hitchcock wasn't pleased as he had walked out of the movie at the end. Days later, Brooks' fear proved untrue when Hitchcock sent him a bottle of champagne. We had a little champagne yesterday at the wedding!

"Hitchcock had that reliance on actors and actresses that was a holdover from the theatre tradition. He was a pioneer in using camera movement, camera set ups and montage to explore the outer reaches of cinematic art. Hitchcock returned several times to cinematic devices such as suspense, the audience as voyeur, and his well-known "McGuffin", an apparently minor detail serving as a pivot upon which the narrative turns.

Marnie Pictures, Images and Photos

"Most critics and Hitchcock scholars agree that Vertigo represents the director's most personal and revealing film, dealing with the obsessions of a man who crafts a woman into the woman he desires.

"Vertigo explores more frankly and at greater length his interest in the relationship between sex and death than any other film in his oeuvre".

hitchcock Pictures, Images and Photos

"Much of Hitchcock's hatred of actors has been exaggerated. Hitchcock simply believed that actors should concentrate on their performances and leave work on script and character to the directors and screenwriters.

One thing to watch out for in Hitch's films, that I had almost overlooked to mention, is the fact that he appears briefly in many of his own films, usually playing upon his portly figure in an incongruous manner, often in the background, for example, seen struggling to get a double bass on to a train.

Hitchcock was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) by Queen Elizabeth II in the 1980 New Year's Honours list. Although he had adopted American citizenship in 1956, he was entitled to use the title, "Sir," because he remained a British subject. Hitchcock died just four months later, on 29 April, before he could be formally invested by the Queen".

Mercury Pictures, Images and Photos


I know, that's Freddie, but he will always be Queen to me!

Hitch's wife and co-pilot, Alma, died in 1982...


THE END (You'll be glad to hear). 'I'll be seeing you in all the old familiar places...' Until tomorrow then luvvies, and I might return to the Cahiers du cinéma (Notebooks on Cinema - A French film magazine) later in Blogdom - I just love the silver screen and art of film-making so!

I am leaving you with one, final movie-related titbit/tidbit - We were fortunate enough to hear some music at my friend's wedding, played by one of the most talented rock and blues guitarists in the country, Paul Rose. Here is his take on the fabulous Get Carter film theme, courtesy of Paul on Youtube.

MR.HITCHCOCK Pictures, Images and Photos




Paul rose and his Krozka Sharpe Hand Made Atom Ray Electric Guitar Pictures, Images and Photos

12 comments:

Chairman Bill said...

Freddy Mercury should never be forgiven for having tried to make the leisure suit and trainers look cool.

Unknown said...

Hello Fhina,

You must have been very quick off the mark, over at my place this a.m. because your comment showed the title supplied by the look-alike gizmo! They are crafty and one can post one's collage direct to one's blog (must be the Queen's influence!). But I immediately went into my site and took the posting back to complete it. So you mayn't have seen the whole thing - and you wouldn't want to miss anything would you?

Oh, BTW, your tribute to Mr H has been masterful! Glad you also had a smashing time at the wedding. Let's hope that photographer had the lens cap off!

French Fancy... said...

I used to love Freddie.

As for Hitchcock's films - some of them are stupendous and some are just okay and do not really stand up that well, for me anyway.

Glad the wedding was a success - hope to see a photo of your outfit

shabby girl said...

Freddie & Alfred...how I miss them so.

Michelle said...

Boo Ya!!! OOOH YA!!!

More of you please!!!

Hitch is great and all, but i'm just saying lady!!!

Your smiling face here would be so cool!!!

HAPPY SUNDAY!!!

Saz said...

O! Lala! Ma cher ami! Merci beaucoup et grosses bises!! je suis en paradis!!! tu et tres gentil!

ah johnny! sigh!!

saz x

Saz said...

btw...are you saving the 'wedding story' until tomorrow, l thought there would be a tale to tell today!! hope your back held up ok!

Carma Sez said...

Freddy Mercury was one of a kind. An amazing talent. My son loves his songs as much as I do. Especially "Bicycle" :-) which he set to one of his juggling videos. "I want to ride my bicycle."

Liz Wilkey (a.k.a. A Mom on Spin) said...

Vertigo? That's what I suffer from, you know. . . with a great big smile on my fizzog!

Everyday Goddess said...

Somehow I feel sexier just listening to that!

Thanks babe.

Diane said...

It's going to take me a while to read everything I've missed! But Jimmy Stewart? Love the man. And Hitch? Love him, too.

I've missed you... and thanks for your lovely comments on my old posts! XO

A Woman Of No Importance said...

Chairman Bill: Sir, sitting here in my shell suit and unshoelaced Nikes, I resemble that remark!

Derrick: Thanks, Sir - Now all rectified!
Loved your post - Very clever and a lovely go at the For the record Meme - Fantastic!

French Fancy: :) x

shabby girl: Glad you enjoyed the ride, shabstress!

Michelle: It has gone on rather long, n'est-de pas?! I'm just dead boring 'though, Michelle, so I like to intersperse with the odd, interesting bits and pieces! xox

Fat, frumpy and fifty...: Are you hot under the collar now, Saz?! Seemed fitting somehow! He is such a star! xox

Fat, frumpy and fifty...: Wedding story Monday - defo! x

carma: The music that Freddie helped to put together is just so energizing, isn't it - Eminently suitable for juggling!

lizonspin: Hope you are well - and I think it's all that spinning that is making you feel vertigous, me thinks1 And you have such a pretty little fizzog! x

Comedy Goddess: I am glad you enjoyed the little soundtrack piece, dear Goddess, wonderfully sexy isn't it, and such a cool, and yet brutal, film - So evocative of the Sixties! x

Diane: Darling Diane, you are back among us in the commenting world - We did miss you, but visited your site as if it were a reliquary (spelling?!). Hope you are fit to busting with health and vitality and look forward to seeing you soon at yours! Your older posts were very cool bytheway! xxooxx

Something I wrote earlier...

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