And the winner is

Happy Birthday Alfred Hitchcock!

As promised, in honor of The Master’s birthday, I am announcing the winner of my summer contest. Thank you all for participating in Hitchtrivia! What fun and how fabulous to know there so many Hitchcock fans out there. Here are the questions and answers.

1. Name all three films that Grace Kelly starred in

Dial M for Murder, Rear Window, To Catch a Thief

2. What was the name of Hitchcock’s first American made film?

Rebecca.

3. In which of Hitchcock’s famed cameo appearance does he wear a cowboy hat?

Psycho.

4. What year was The Birds produced?

1963

5. Which model made her debut in The Birds?

Tippi Hedren

6. Who starred in Dial M for Murder, both the male and female leading roles?

Ray Milland and Grace Kelly.

7. Name Hitchcock’s first color film

Rope

8. Who played in Torn Curtain?

Paul Newman and Julie Andrews.

9. Who played Marion Crane in the 1960 original Psycho?

Janet Leigh

10. How many films did Jimmy Stewart star in?

4 for Hitchcock Rear Window Vertigo Rope The Man Who Knew Too Much

11. What color did Kim Novak object to wearing in Vertigo?

Gray

12. What was the name of the restaurant that Scotti first sees Madeline in Vertigo?

Ernie's Restaurant

Oliver pops the champagne! The winner is Melissa Keith. Congratulations Melissa! You win the Collector’s Edition DVD of Vertigo, enjoy!

HOT SUMMER GIVE AWAY

It’s a Sizzling Hot Summer Give Away! Considered the Master of Suspense, Alfred Hitchcock made 53 films in his 54 year career, my personal favorite being Vertigo. .

For a chance to win a Vertigo Collector’s Edition DVD, try your luck on the trivia quiz. In honor of The Master’s birthday, winner will be announced on August 13^{th on my blog.}

http://sharondonovan.blogspot.com

1. Name all three films that Grace Kelly starred in

2. What was the name of Hitchcock’s first American made film?

3. In which of Hitchcock’s famed cameo appearance does he wear a cowboy hat?

4. What year was The Birds produced?

5. Which model made her debut in The Birds?

6. Who starred in Dial M for Murder, both the male and female leading roles?

7. Name Hitchcock’s first color film

8. Who played in Torn Curtain?

9. Who played Marion Crane in the 1960 original Psycho?

10. How many films did Jimmy Stewart star in?

11. What color did Kim Novak object to wearing in Vertigo?

12. What was the name of the restaurant that Scotti first sees Madeline in Vertigo?

Please send answers to

sharonad@comcast.net

and put Hitchcock trivia in subject line Good luck!

Sharon Donovan

Romantic Suspense with a Twist of Faith

www.sharonadonovan.com

To be or not to be

I watched the old classic Vertigo last night. Some say this psychological thriller produced in 1958 is Alfred Hitchcock’s masterpiece because of the special effects of the movie. Let’s explore that concept.

Set in the almost dream-like haze of the empty San Francisco streets, Vertigo portrays obsession and lost romance through surrealism, a true hallmark of the master’s movies. In this story, Scotty (Jimmy Stewart) pursues Madeline (Kim Novak) as she slips in and out of her dead great grandmother’s persona. So even back then, there was a touch of paranormal in the books Alfred Hitchcock wrote

This movie is most definitely the type one may watch again and again and still miss things. Some of the props that are essential to the storyline are flowers, a painting and necklace. Although the  plot of the movie is a brilliantly planned murder, it’s all about obsession.

Scotty is obsessed with Madeline, who is seemingly obsessed with a dead woman,  and follows  her around the streets of San Francisco. Midge (Barbara Bel Gettes), an ex-girlfriend, in love with Scotty and obsessed with getting him back, follows him around as he pursues Madeline.

Alfred Hitchcock used a 3-D effect twice in this film. First in the opening scene to illustrate Scotty’s fear of heights when on a rooftop during a police chase. By using a special zoom  feature on the camera lens, perspective distortion  is achieved through trick photography.

This movie does not have a happily ever after ending, but one that is quite chilling and will leave one a bit unsettled. What are your thoughts on this? As we all know, sadly, real life does not always have a fairy tale ending. Is this essential to you when reading a book or do you prefer reading a book where the  hero and heroine, for whatever reasons, do not ride off into the sunset?