[Stuart Feedback Andrews]

For the inaugural edition of THE LUDOVICO FILM INSTITUTE, we're gonna take a look at four films by the late, great Alfred Hitchcock.

The reason I selected Hitchcock as the theme for our first edition is twofold:

1. He's probably my favourite filmmaker (if I had to pick one) and I've been looking for an excuse to revisit some of the films.

and 2. This month at the Lightbox in Toronto, Guillermo del Toro will present four Hitchcock films, accompanied by lectures and discussions before and after each screening. (For more information on the series, go HERE.)

Anyway, after some thought, here's the films I've selected for the May edition of The Ludovico Film Institute:

May 04: The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog (1927)
May 11: Shadow of a Doubt (1943)
May 18: Marnie (1964)
May 25: Frenzy (1972)

Two of these films (The Lodger & Marnie) have never been discussed on The Mortuary before and the other two (Frenzy & Shadow of a Doubt) are included in the del Toro series. As I'll be attending all the Hitchcock films at the Lightbox, I'll use the occasion to report back on the highlights of the del Toro lectures.

I'll upload reviews of the films on the dates listed and Mortuary members are encouraged to watch (or rewatch) the films and come back to add to the discussions.

First up is Hitchcock's silent film masterpiece, The Lodger. If you haven't seen it, you're in for a treat.

Viddy Well,

:- FDBK

[Meli Hooker]

Great idea! I'll be re-watching The Lodger tomorrow.

My husband is a great fan of Hitchcock as well so perhaps he'll join me in the viewings. I think Frenzy is actually one of his favorites and it's one i have yet to see.

[Stuart Feedback Andrews]

Originally Posted by Meli Hooker

My husband is a great fan of Hitchcock as well so perhaps he'll join me in the viewings. I think Frenzy is actually one of his favorites and it's one i have yet to see.

Sounds like your husband is slowly coming round....

[Dark Mark]

Tracking these down downunder might prove a challenge though I have seen all of them bar The Lodger. My parents were both huge Hitchcock fans and encouraged me to join them at a early age though I don't actually own any of his films. That needs rectifying obviously.
I think this failure is for a few reasons one being because the first experience is so unforgettable that I never felt the need to revisit and also because their plotting invariably involved a twist ending which is only a surprise once. Clearly I need to look again and I did watch a few at a recent retrospective at Brisbane’s Modern Art Gallery. I’m broke damnit, make the next one Hammer films I have a coffin full of them!

[Stuart Feedback Andrews]

Originally Posted by Dark Mark

I think this failure is for a few reasons one being because the first experience is so unforgettable that I never felt the need to revisit and also because their plotting invariably involved a twist ending which is only a surprise once.

But there's sooooooo much going on in these movies that you have to watch them many more times than once.

[Meli Hooker]

I might have to skip The Lodger tomorrow

We used to have a cheap collection of Hitchcock's early silent stuff (can't remember what all was on there), but we may have purged it at some point. Why? No clue. I swear every time I get rid of something I end up needing it later

Sigh. Well, I'll pick back up with the next title if I can find it in time.

[Dark Mark]

Originally Posted by Stuart Feedback Andrews

But there's sooooooo much going on in these movies that you have to watch them many more times than once.

Yes well I realise the error of my ways now plus I need to get copies of his films as part of my daughter's essential education. The three Hs.. Hitchcock, Hammer and Halloween.

[The Gore-met]

The Lodger is available for free viewing or download from archive.org.

I used to read about this in books on classic horror films when I was a kid and have always wanted to see it but haven't. It's never too late!

I don't know about he middle two, but I'm in for Frenzy as I rather dig it. I should probably snag the DVD, but I have a VHS of a PBS broadcast of it that might be fun to watch, being old-school and all.

[Meli Hooker]

Originally Posted by The Gore-met

The Lodger is available for free viewing or download from archive.org.

Thank you! I had an inkling it might be, but didn't even bother to look.

Look forward to the viewing

[The Gore-met]

Originally Posted by Meli Hooker

Thank you! I had an inkling it might be, but didn't even bother to look.

I downloaded the "512Kb MPEG4" file, which took about 15 minutes. It was encoded at 320 x 240, so it's a little blocky fullscreen on my 1080p monitor. But hey, for the price...

[Meli Hooker]

Originally Posted by The Gore-met

I downloaded the "512Kb MPEG4" file, which took about 15 minutes. It was encoded at 320 x 240, so it's a little blocky fullscreen on my 1080p monitor. But hey, for the price...

Hmm, I don't understand any of that, but I'll try to make my husband figure that out for me tomorrow.

[Nut of the Living Dead]

I have copies of all of these except for THE LODGER but I checked with the local library system and it's being held for me. I'm good to go!

[Stuart Feedback Andrews]

Be careful with THE LODGER. There is a WORLD of difference between those totally crap, public domain Echo Bridge transfers (I have one) and the absolutely GLORIOUS, digitally restored, TINTED home video - with TWO soundtracks, a commentary and a great 'making of' doc.

It's not just a world of difference. It's a GALAXY of difference.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Lodger-June/dp/B001JV5BIU

[Nut of the Living Dead]

I just checked (because you scared me) and the version I have on hold is The Premier Collection version. Whew!

[Stuart Feedback Andrews]

Originally Posted by Nut of the Living Dead

I just checked (because you scared me) and the version I have on hold is The Premier Collection version. Whew!

Excellent! That's the one....

[Stuart Feedback Andrews]

p.s. Canadian composer Paul Zaza contributes one of the alternate scores. And it's weird (but in a good way.)

[Melo]

Originally Posted by Dark Mark

I think this failure is for a few reasons one being because the first experience is so unforgettable that I never felt the need to revisit and also because their plotting invariably involved a twist ending which is only a surprise once.

Pleeease don't write off Hitchcock's films for this reason, my man. I can watch his films over and over again if only for the wonderful comedic bits alone, not to mention the cinematography, the fantastic characters et cetera.

I have 3 boxsets of his films and they are the ultimate go-to source when i'm not really sure what to watch because they are always enjoyable.

At the risk of sounding like a moron, I'll admit that I have troubles getting into silent films, but The Lodger was one of the few that I had nearly no troubles with. I'll try to re-visit it this weekend and post my thoughts.

I'll be at the Shadow of a Doubt screening at Lightbox as well. Can't freakin' wait.

And if anyone hasn't seen Frenzy.. it's Hitchcock's sleaziest, nastiest flick. Giallo fans will enjoy it.

I'm looking forward to participating in the "Institute" discussions as much as I can!

[Stuart Feedback Andrews]

Alright, I'm kicking off THE LUDOVICO FILM INSTITUTE in style with a review of nothing less than one of Hitchcock's masterpieces, THE LODGER!

http://the-mortuary.com/showthread.p...425#post538425

Originally Posted by Melo

At the risk of sounding like a moron, I'll admit that I have troubles getting into silent films, but The Lodger was one of the few that I had nearly no troubles with.

I've addressed the silent film issue in that post as well, Melo. Hopefully, I can urge you to come around.

[JaMaL]

It turns out I have 9 Hitchcock films in my collection, one of them is The Lodger. I have yet to watch any of them!!!...

[Stuart Feedback Andrews]

Originally Posted by JaMaL

It turns out I have 9 Hitchcock films in my collection, one of them is The Lodger. I have yet to watch any of them!!!...

Well...hurry up and watch THE LODGER!

[Nut of the Living Dead]

Originally Posted by JaMaL

It turns out I have 9 Hitchcock films in my collection, one of them is The Lodger. I have yet to watch any of them!!!...

Which ones do you have, JaMaL? I hope SHADOW OF A DOUBT, MARNIE and FRENZY are in there!

Originally Posted by Stuart Feedback Andrews

Well...hurry up and watch THE LODGER!

Word... then watch the other eight.

[JaMaL]

So, This month marks the first time I've ever watched an Alfred Hitchcock film in its entirety. How is that possible? Well frankly I just never got around to it... I'm learning a lot about the man and his filmmaking process (thanks to my bro, GDT) and that's definately making me more interested. I can say that although I like the films I really don't YET understand them ( I say YET because I'm sure I'll watch them again and learn new things everytime I re watch them). I recently watched Shadow Of A Doubt and Frenzy...
I thought both films were good.