28: Hitchcock Tilts at Windmills

05/09/21 • 6 min

1 Listener

Or. What if Santa Claus Pushed You off a Tower?

One of Alfred Hitchcock’s earliest American films is among the most enjoyable to watch. Joel McCrea is the reporter of the title, off to find out what’s happening in Europe for the benefit of a prewar American audience. Spies, murder and amazing character actors abound, along with some extraordinary Hitchcock set pieces.

The Joy of Foreign Correspondent

Nathan Alderman with Shelly Brisbin and Micheline Maynard

Referenced Works

Foreign Correspondent

Show Notes & Links

The Movie: review/commentary on a single classic film

Foreign Correspondent (1940), trailer
- Available to stream, rent or buy digitally
- On disc: Blu-ray or DVD

Next time, we’ll watch

Bad Day at Black Rock (1955)

Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.

Or. What if Santa Claus Pushed You off a Tower?

The Joy of Foreign Correspondent

Nathan Alderman with Shelly Brisbin and Micheline Maynard

Referenced Works

Foreign Correspondent

Show Notes & Links

The Movie: review/commentary on a single classic film

Foreign Correspondent (1940), trailer
- Available to stream, rent or buy digitally
- On disc: Blu-ray or DVD

Next time, we’ll watch

Bad Day at Black Rock (1955)

Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.

Previous Episode

27: That Time Joel McCrea was a Total Jerk

The usually affable Joel McCrea is sort of the hero, but not exactly lovable. And Ginger Rogers may have done everything Fred Astaire did “backwards and in heels” but here, she is not living her best life. “Primrose Path” takes an unrelenting look at a dysfunctional family. It was unusual for its time, and gives the two leads a lot to do.

A Walk Down the "Primrose Path"

Shelly Brisbin with Nathan Alderman

Referenced Works

Primrose Path

Show Notes & Links

Old Movies, New Things: discs, books and other physical objects

Blu-ray: The Ten Commandments (Paramount), The Greatest Show on Earth (Paramount), Shoot Out (Kino Lorber), Showdown (Kino Lorber),

Sightings: classics on TV, streaming, and (someday) the festival circuit

This month’s TCM Spotlights: 31 Days of Oscar, Star of the month Doris Day, Growing Up On Screen

The Movie: review/commentary on a single classic film

Primrose Path (1940), trailer
- Available to stream, rent or buy digitally
- On disc: Blu-ray

Next time, we’ll watch

Foreign Correspondent (1940)

Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.

Next Episode

29: Lee Marvin is Evil Ted Lasso

John Sturges’ “Bad Day at Black Rock” takes place soon after World War II, but it feels like something out of the Old West. You could also call it “daylight noir.” Spencer Tracy faces off against Robert Ryan, Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine and a whole bunch of townspeople with something to hide. We talk about filmmaking techniques, performance and how a one-armed dude survives his 24 hours in Black Rock.

Bad Day at Black Rock

Shelly Brisbin with Dr. Drang, Philip Michaels and Nathan Alderman

Referenced Works

Bad Day at Black Rock

Show Notes & Links

The Movie: review/commentary on a single classic film * Bad Day at Black Rock (1955), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BL59cKiFTV4&t=42s * Available to stream, rent or buy digitally * On disc: Blu-ray

Next time, we’ll watch Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1947) trailer

34 Things We Learned from John Sturges' "Bad Day at Black Rock" Commentary

Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.