Thursday, May 29, 2008

65. Alfred Hitchcock's "Marnie" (1964): Unusual Hitchcock—where marriage is preferred over jail by a strong-willed woman

This is NOT the stuff that director Hitchcock usually dealt with. The subject and the treatment of the subject are different from most of his other films.

Hitchcock was scared of jails. In this film, the lead female character prefers to be bridled by marriage rather than go to jail. It is an intriguing choice for a character who had earlier stated to her husband "You don't love me. I am something you have caught. Some kind of wild animal you have trapped." Aware of this, the young lady who has so far fooled a lot of rich men and escaped the law, prefers marriage to jail. She is smart, a woman who embezzles her employers to buy rich gifts for her mother, aware of modesty in dress (keeps pulling her skirt over her knees) and a convincing liar. Like Hitchcock's Notorious, the marriage in this film is one of convenience, or so it appears—the end of the film is open-ended.

Hitchcock fired the initial scriptwriter (a male), who honestly felt the rape of the wife by the husband was out character with male lead played by Sean Connery. The replaced scriptwriter (a lady) wrote the sequence which was used, in a suggestive way rather than a graphic way. Hitchcock loved to slip in sex even if it was out of character.

Lesbianism is suggested by the husband's sister-in-law's remark "What a dish!" a remark one would associate from the opposite sex. (Hitchcock similarly played with homosexuality in Rope). A critical scene that could be mistaken for child molestation was probably an innocent gesture mistaken by the mother.

Hitchcock usually was attentive to visuals and sound. This is an unusual film where the director swings from one extreme of high sophistication to absolute stupidity. The opening shots of the woman walking away with the yellow handbag are stunning. The silent "cleaning" of the office safe, while a deaf woman cleans the office is simply outstanding. Yet the crass painting of a dock near Marnie's mother's house would make a school kid laugh out loud.


Why would a woman who is scared of red wear red lipstick or not react when her husband's sister-in-law wears red at a party? Similarly, the shot of Marnie's hand not being able to pick up the money in the safe is an unconvincing shot, if ever there was one.

The film can be appreciated and be equally dismissed. The acting by all the main characters was good but Louise Latham performance (and make up!) needs to be singled out for praise. Director Stanley Kubrick seems to have copied Hitchcock's Marnie's differing voice patterns in the young child's voice in his film The Shining.

I am not surprised if people swing from loving the film Marnie to trashing it, and back again. It has memorable elements and elements best forgotten. During the much discussed rape scene, half the faces of both actors are in full light and the other in darkness--cleverly suggesting the duality of character in both individuals. Yet the bottom line is--the film entertains! And it makes you think!

4 comments :

Anonymous said...

Mmm serious movie reviews. Good :-)
Keep 'em coming.
By the way how come no Indian movies?

Jugu Abraham said...

Hi Ms Cris,

Good question. Are there Indian movies that make you think?

I mentioned "Nirmalayam" in my post on Bergman's "Winter Light". "Nirmalayam", Mrinal Sen's "Ooka Oorie Katha", Ali's "Umrao Jaan", Ray's "Pikoor Diary" are candidates for inclusion on my blog but I saw these films several decades ago. I need to see them again before I write on them.

The mediocrity of Indian cinema has led to most prestigious international film festivals to ignore Indian cinema. It is sad that most well-meaning Indians continue to believe that Indian cinema is in fine fettle, when the cinema of China, Iran, Turkey, and Mexico have galloped to gain meritorious attention.

Unknown said...

i have seen this movie al ot of times and i am still facinated even if is not perfect, about the color red, the dress that is wearing mark's sister in law is not red is kind of orange and the lipsticsk that is wearing the leading lady is also orange, light orange by the way that is why she is not shoked by this color shade, for me works like this, sorry if i desagree with the previous article, all the performances were really good, and it is not easy to play a thief a liar and a thief in 1964, it is not and easy role even on these days, it is my personal opinion.

chittychittybang said...

could it also be that the redor orange does not characterize marnies disdainful reaction towards men.