Diabolical narcissists Brandon and Phillip, murder a classmate o act on their notions of intellectual superiority and independence from average moral codes. To celebrate their accomplishment in the most depraved way to possibly prove their apartness from the everyday, they hide the body in a chest that sits at the center of a dinner party they have planned. The guests at the gathering include his parents, his fiancée and his former best friend.
Famously, Hitchcock filmed this without the usual editing process, instead, he tried to make it one long continuous take. The guests this week have a lot to say about the technique, but also about the casting, performances and subtext of the film. Dave Anderson suggested the movie, so he leads the discussion and chooses some important points the contemplate. Matthew Simpson shares a surprising secret about the movie in his own history with Hitchcock movies, and Howard Casner shakes his head when some of us don’t see the things that he sees in the film.
We go in search of other films shot in the same style or with long takes, and you will hear about the usual suspects but also a few that you may not know. There is also a bit of conflict over casting and performances, which tie the guests in knots that may never be undone. Finally, we finish off with a few picks of our own favorite Hitchcock films. Three out of four of us had the same movie at Number One.
Listening Links:
Be sure to check out the other guests on this episode!
- Dave Anderson, Free Kittens Movie Guide
- Howard Casner, Pop Art Podcast
- Richard Kirkham, Kirkham: A Movie a Day