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Blu-Ray : Highly Recommended
Ranking:
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Release Date: October 9th, 2012 Movie Release Year: 1951

Strangers on a Train

Overview -

Strange thing about this trip. So much occurs in pairs. Tennis star Guy (Farley Granger) hates his unfaithful wife. Mysterious Bruno (Robert Walker) hates his father. How perfect for a playful proposal: I'll kill yours, you kill mine. Now look at how Alfred Hitchcock reinforces the duality of human nature. The more you watch, the more you'll see. "Isn't it a fascinating design?" the Master of Suspense often asked. Actually, it's doubly fascinating.

OVERALL:
Highly Recommended
Rating Breakdown
STORY
VIDEO
AUDIO
SPECIAL FEATURES
Tech Specs & Release Details
Technical Specs:
BD-50 Dual-Layer Disc
Video Resolution/Codec:
1080p/AVC MPEG-4
Length:
101
Aspect Ratio(s):
1.37:1
Audio Formats:
Italian Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono
Subtitles/Captions:
Italian Subtitles
Special Features:
Theatrical Trailer
Release Date:
October 9th, 2012

Storyline: Our Reviewer's Take

Ranking:

It's an ingenious plot device. Two men - total strangers - meet by chance on a train and strike up a conversation. A casual camaraderie develops and before long the talk turns to the unpleasant people mucking up their respective lives. One man must endure the brazen infidelities of his shrewish wife, while the other buckles under the strain of his domineering father's cruel nature. What if, one surmises, they agree to swap murders - each forcing the demise of the other's problem person? A stranger committing the killing would erase any motive and thus make the crime more difficult to solve. Without much effort, each would be free of the strangulating noose around their neck and able to pursue a more fulfilling, carefree life.

Criss-cross. It's as easy as that.

Novelist Patricia Highsmith ('The Talented Mr. Ripley') devised this delicious premise, and Alfred Hitchcock brilliantly depicts it in his exceptional adaptation of 'Strangers on a Train,' one of the director's finest films, yet one that often gets lost among the more high-profile jewels in his ornate cinematic crown. Tense, thrilling, superbly executed, and endlessly fascinating, this elegant yet slightly creepy drama subtly explores the twisted mind of a psychopath, and how a flippant idea can quickly become a reality and spiral out of control. It's also punctuated with latent homosexual and oedipal overtones and a gallery of quirky and disturbing characters, which lend the proceedings an intoxicating air of unease.

Robert Walker, in his finest role, turns his innocent, aw-shucks persona on its ear as the obsessive, single-minded, and delusional Bruno Anthony, who believes he has made a murderous pact with the affable professional tennis player, Guy Haines (Farley Granger). In exchange for bumping off Guy's philandering wife so he can marry the glamorous daughter (Ruth Roman) of a U.S. Senator, Bruno believes Guy will kill his monstrous father, paving the way for him to inherit his millions. Guy shrugs off the suggestion as fantastical banter, but when Bruno goes through with his half of the perceived bargain, Guy finds himself caught in a deceitful web - the prime suspect in his wife's murder and the victim of ceaseless stalking and overbearing pressure from Bruno to make good on the outlandish and nefarious deal.

From the opening shots of the two men's shoes walking into the train station, denoting their respective styles and personalities, 'Strangers on a Train' shows Hitchcock at the top of his game, innovatively teasing the viewer with an array of stunning imagery that weaves a tight fabric of psychological intensity. Off-kilter camera angles (a Hitchcock staple), the famous eyeglass shot (see below) that provides a warped perspective on the murder, an extreme close-up of Walker's fingers desperately trying to retrieve a vital cigarette lighter from beneath a sewer grating, the disarming starkness of Walker's figure against a barren Jefferson Memorial, and the equally unnerving image of a stationary Walker, his gaze fixed on Guy, amidst a sea of turning heads during a tennis rally - all of these artistic touches make the film as stimulating visually as it is intellectually.

Common Hitchcock themes are also present - the innocent man on the run, the train as a vessel of intrigue, the element of coincidence, the everyman caught up in extraordinary circumstances, real or perceived sexual deviance, and the all-important chase sequences. We even have a bizarre, codependent mother-son relationship that in many ways mirrors what Hitchcock would later explore with such brutal incisiveness in 'Psycho.' One could go so far as to term Bruno a Norman Bates-in-training, from his slightly effeminate mannerisms and abnormal maternal attachment to his warped belief his grisly acts are merely the result of obediently and benevolently carrying out the intended wishes of others.

There's no Hitchcock blonde this time out, and even the beautiful brunette is rather bland, but with such interesting male leads and a host of colorful supporting characters (led by Hitchcock's daughter, Patricia, as Roman's outspoken sister and Marion Lorne as Bruno's flighty mother) we don't even miss her. That just proves what a stunning exercise 'Strangers on a Train' really is.

What we do have, and what all the great Hitchcock pictures possess, is a classic set piece. 'Psycho' has the shower scene, 'North by Northwest' has the crop-dusting and Mount Rushmore sequences, 'Saboteur' has the Statue of Liberty finale. In 'Strangers on a Train,' it's the out-of-control carousel that dazzles us, a preposterous yet terrifying climax that's meticulously executed and provides a cathartic release from the rising degrees of tension that permeate the film. From the errant gunfire that sparks the commotion to the elderly technician crawling beneath the merry-go-round in an effort to stem its quickening speed to the exhilarated face of a young boy oblivious to the inherent danger and dire activities around him, the sequence is quintessential Hitchcock and caps off a thrilling ride into the dark side of the human psyche.

'Strangers on a Train' may lack the grandeur and scope of other Hitchcock works, but its array of small yet potent moments make it a highly effective, deeply involving thriller. Its exquisite construction and execution rival Hitchcock's best, and 60 years hasn't dampened its impact. In fact, like most of the master's films, it only gets better with age.

The Blu-ray: Vital Disc Stats

'Strangers on a Train' arrives on Blu-ray packaged in a standard case with new cover art. (I prefer the old, original poster reproduction that graced the 2004 DVD sleeve.) Video codec is 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 and default audio is DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0. When the disc is inserted into the player, the static menu with music immediately pops up; no previews or promos precede it.

Video Review

Ranking:

'Strangers on a Train' sports an almost-perfect 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 transfer that heightens the effects of Robert Burks' stunning cinematography. The film's noir-ish flavor is spiced up by well-defined shadows, luscious black levels, and stark contrast, all of which lend this Hitchcock classic a bold, muscular look that ramps up tension and draws us deep into the characters' twisted lives. Clarity is superior throughout; grain is present, but beautifully integrated, maintaining the feel of celluloid. Unfortunately, a few isolated scenes flaunt a grainy roughness that seems out of sync with the rest of this elegant effort, but such instances are blissfully brief and, though jarring, don't derail the whole.

Gray level variance is top-notch, with plenty of shades adding texture and dimension to the image, while solid depth opens up the frame to provide an expansive feel. Background elements are easily discernible (the picture is so clear you can even see the face of Granger's tennis-playing double) and shadow detail is excellent, with no incidents of crush even in the darkest scenes. Crisp, finely detailed close-ups spotlight an array of facial features, from the wrinkled turkey necks of the elderly matrons to the divets and hair follicles scattered across Walker's cheeks and chin to Roman's peaches-and-cream complexion.

Processed shots are always more noticeable in high-def, and because Hitchcock was a big fan of them, plenty adorn 'Strangers on a Train.' The black-and-white photography, however, somehow seems to soften their impact and they seem better integrated than usual. No digital anomolies mar the print, which still contains a few errant nicks (only eagle eyes will catch them), and no noise reduction or edge enhancement have been applied.

This is another superior Golden Age effort from Warner that just misses a five-star rating.

Audio Review

Ranking:

The DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 mono track offers good quality audio, although a couple of occasional pops and crackles and a bit of surface noise still could be detected. The front-based mix balances dialogue and effects well, with subtle accents and atmospherics achieving a nice degree of presence. Conversations are always clear and easy to comprehend, even when competing with other elements, and Dimitri Tiomkin's melodramatic score benefits from marvelous fidelity and tonal depth.

A strong dynamic scale allows screams and high-pitched strings free rein, and despite the lack of a designated LFE track, lows possess good weight and power, especially during the cacophonous climactic sequence. For an antiquated track, the audio here remains solid throughout, enhancing the mood and complementing the action without calling attention to itself.

Special Features

Ranking:

All the extras from the 2004 special edition DVD have been ported over to this Blu-ray release, and the package is quite impressive, providing classics aficionados and the Hitchcock faithful with a host of well-produced featurettes and other material that both salutes and dissects this terrific film.

  • Preview Version of 'Strangers on a Train' (SD, 103 minutes) – Often referred to as the British version of 'Strangers on a Train,' though it was never exhibited there, this edition of the film (discovered in 1991 and theatrically issued in 1996) runs a scant two minutes longer than the standard release print and contains a couple of extra dialogue and mood bits, as well as an alternate - and far less effective - ending. Slightly heightened inferences about Bruno and Guy's latent sexual leanings can be detected, and a tad more suspense is added to the scenes leading up to Guy's intended confrontation with Bruno's father, but the augmentations are subtle and only those highly familiar with the movie will catch them. Though presented in standard definition, the upconverted image still looks great; it's just not as sharp and vibrant as its 1080p cousin.
  • Audio Commentary – A vast array of personalities, comprising actors, historians, biographers, Hitchcock family members, even the Master of Suspense himself (courtesy of recorded interviews with Peter Bogdanovich), join forces for a lively and informative commentary track that not only addresses 'Strangers on a Train,' but also its director's vision and distinctive style. We learn about how writers collaborated with Hitchcock, his inimitable method of building suspense, how he respected and appreciated the intelligence of his audiences, his preoccupation with trains and food, and what he was like to work with on the set. We're also treated to insights into novelist Patricia Highsmith's persona - the influences that shaped her, her reliance on coincidence as a major plot point, and how she popularized the idea of the criminal antihero. Best of all, Hitchcock himself chronicles the shooting of the classic merry-go-round finale and the intricacies involved therein. 'Psycho' screenwriter Joseph Stefani, novelist Peter Benchley, critic Richard Schickel, actress Kasey Rogers, and other Hitchcock colleagues and aficionados contribute cogent remarks that enhance our appreciation of this fine film and its iconic helmsman.
  • Documentary:"'Strangers on a Train': A Hitchcock Classic" (SD, 37 minutes) – This slickly presented 2004 piece examines the production and lasting impact of 'Strangers on a Train,' and features comments from the late Farley Granger (who died in 2011), Robert Walker Jr., Patricia Hitchcock O'Connell (Hitchcock's daughter), director Peter Bogdanovich, and film historians Robert Osborne and Richard Schickel, among others. Topics include the link between the Master of Suspense and his professional "mistress," novelist Patricia Highsmith, critical differences between the book and film, the adaptation process, and the conception and execution of the climactic carousel sequence. Granger shares his memories of Hitch and how he got the part of Guy, Pat Hitchcock recalls her interactions with the cast, and composer Dimitri Tiomkin is saluted in this informative and involving documentary.
  • Featurette: "'Strangers on a Train': The Victim's P.O.V." (SD, 7 minutes) – Actress Kasey Rogers (then known as Laura Elliott) discusses her experiences on the film, from how she was cast to the improvisational aspects of certain sequences to the thick glasses that nearly blinded her during shooting. She also describes the difficult direction she received during the intricate murder scene and recalls how the movie failed to boost her burgeoning career in this short but absorbing featurette.
  • Featurette: "'Strangers on a Train': An Appreciation by M. Night Shyamalan" (SD, 13 minutes) – Back in 2004, M. Night Shyamalan was still a noteworthy Hollywood figure, and as a director of supernatural suspense films, his connection to Hitchcock made sense. Here, he looks at various scenes from 'Strangers on a Train,' and expresses his admiration for the structure of Hitchcock movies and how the director seamlessly merges plot and character to create a complex and absorbing whole.
  • Featurette: "The Hitchcocks on Hitch" (SD, 11 minutes) – Rare home movies showcasing Hitchcock, his wife Alma, and daughter Patricia relaxing at home and on holiday highlight this intimate look at a close-knit family through the generations. Pat Hitchcock provides insight into her parents' respective personalities, while the three Hitchcock granddaughters chime in with their memories of their legendary grandfather, his sense of humor, love of pets, and the various homes he owned in Southern California.
  • Vintage Newsreel Footage: "Alfred Hitchcock's Historical Meeting" (SD, 1 minute) – This rare silent footage shows Hitchcock meeting with some costumed historical figures and what looks to be an important executive on a train platform.
  • Theatrical Trailer (SD, 3 minutes) – The original preview for 'Strangers on a Train' spoils some of the film's fun, but certainly highlights the creepy nature of the plot and the fine performances that fuel it.

Final Thoughts

'Strangers on a Train' isn't so much under appreciated as it is overlooked. Though bigger name Hitchcock films often overshadow it, this superior suspense yarn, marked by a fascinating plot, excellent performances, and, above all, impeccable direction, stands on its own as one of the finest movies in the Hitchcock canon. Warner takes special care bringing this classic to Blu-ray, with high-quality transfers allowing us to completely immerse ourselves in the absorbing drama. A substantive supplemental package clinches an enthusiastic recommendation for this top-notch release.