Comments on Alfred Hitchcock Geek: Private Politics and Public Propaganda

Hello Ladybug - I'm glad you took the time t...

2010-05-25T15:00:45.979-07:00

Hello Ladybug -

I'm glad you took the time to say hi. Nothing wrong with wanting to see Fisher/Herbert Marshall as morally ambiguous. I'm sure Hitchcock enjoyed working with him because he saw that same capacity!

Thanks for your kind thoughts. I hope you can join in the discussion on the Alfred Hitchcock Geek Facebook page!

Hey Joel: Jenny lead me here and I'm so glad ...

2010-05-25T11:29:14.911-07:00

Hey Joel: Jenny lead me here and I'm so glad she did. Love Hitchcock and I'm very partial to Foreign Correspondent.

Many years ago when I I first saw the film I wanted it to be somewhat morally ambiguous or at least sympathetic to the Fisher character because it was Herbert Marshall (which tells how critical my film judgements are!). But reading about Hitchcock's private and public views on the war has made the film even more intriguing and I'm sorry so few people seem to know it.

And not that it matters, but I totally agree with your assessment of George Sanders. A very private man.

Please keep up the great work. I look forward to returning to your blog.

Hi Jenny - Nothing inane about your comments! Th...

2010-04-29T11:41:18.901-07:00

Hi Jenny - Nothing inane about your comments! They encourage me to keep probing into my favorite subject. I thank you warmly for that.

George Sanders was an interesting guy. I feel that his "cad" persona (as he described it) was a front, aw all to protect a sensitive and tender heart. I think Hitch saw that too. As ffoliett in "Foreign Correspondent," he initially comes across as detached and bemused by the film's intrigues. But later, he demonstrates real heart. One such poignant scene occurs when he discovers the elderly diplomat Van Meer under the interrogation lights. For just a brief moment, he is startled at the horror of the scene and his face fills with pity. And, of course, he goes on to risk his neck to save the old man. So touching.

This is just a hunch, but I think he preferred to do his good deeds in private, where he could show his compassionate side free from hypocrisy, his claims of being a "professional cad" being a case of 'protesting too much.'

I seem to write in all the time with inanities lik...

2010-04-29T10:41:44.959-07:00

I seem to write in all the time with inanities like "another great post" or "wow, this was really interesting."

I'm amazed to learn that George Sanders was part of his secret clique of film buddies as Sanders was notoriously uninterested in helping shill for the war. When asked about it by Nigel Bruce why he wouldn't give of his time to the cause he said, "because I'm just a shit."

I had no idea this was going on in the background of Hitchcock's life in this era. I think there is some politics too in Notorious. It was the start of the cold war but Hitch is still worrying about the Nazis down in South America. We could only wish that the US intelligence agencies had been as pro-actively anti-Nazi as they are in Notorious and yet, the roots are there for that same ambivalence that Cary Grant spouts in North by Northwest. He is just as outraged that Alicia is made to bed down with Nazis as he is that Eve Kendall has to sleep with commie spies.