Strangers on a Train (1951)

by Tristi Pinkston | More from this Blogger

Who needs slasher movies when we've got Alfred Hitchcock? The legendary director focused on things that could have actually happened, normal people who go nuts, people you would never suspect. Well, okay, not so much the case with "The Birds" - I've never seen real birds behave like that. But I digress - the bad guys in most Hitchcock movies could be the people who live next door, and that's what makes the films so freaky.

In "Strangers on a Train," Farley Granger plays Guy Haines, a tennis star who is separated from his wife. He has fallen for Anne, the daughter of a senator, and he has plans to join the Senate himself, but his wife, Miriam, will not give him a divorce. It's causing havoc in his life as he can't move forward with his future, but there is no future with Miriam. She's pregnant with another man's child and shows no remorse for her unfaithfulness; she just wants to be a senator's wife.

Guy is taking the train to go see Miriam, hoping that she'll relent and give him the divorce, when he happens to meet Bruno Anthony (Robert Walker.) Bruno engages Guy in a conversation, recognizing Guy from the sports magazines, and because of the tabloids, knows all about Guy's marital problems. He proposes a trade: he'll kill Miriam for Guy if Guy will kill Bruno's father. It's the perfect plan; neither one can be connected to the case, because they're strangers, and they'll both get away with it.

Guy realizes that Bruno is crazy, and ends the conversation as soon as he can. He goes to see Miriam, who once again refuses the divorce, and doesn't know what he's going to do.

Meanwhile, Bruno has plans of his own. He goes out to the town where Miriam lives, follows her to an amusement park, waits until she's alone for a moment, and strangles her. He then goes to Guy's house to tell him what he's done, and to give Guy directions to his house so Guy can keep up his end of the bargain.

Guy is shocked and sickened at what Bruno has done, but Bruno is convinced they had an agreement and insists that Guy follow through. At this point, Guy is the main suspect in the murder, being the one with most motive. Bruno threatens Guy, telling him that if he doesn't kill Bruno's father, he'll take the rap for killing Miriam. Guy feels utterly helpless.

The tension in this movie is great as we follow Guy, trying to figure out how he'll get out of the trap Bruno has put him in. The ending sequence is great, with Guy and Bruno duking it out on a carousel that has been thrown into high gear. Of course, in the end they all live happily ever after, but they have to go through a lot to get to that point, and Robert Walker plays the role of Bruno very convincingly.

While this is obviously not a film for young viewers, it's a suspense you can easily share with your teenagers.

This film is not rated.

An interesting side note: The character Barbara, who is Anne's younger sister in the film, is played by Patricia Hitchcock, daughter of the director.

Related Blogs:

Invasion of the Birds

The 39 Steps

Rope: Most Interesting Hitchcock Diversion

Learn more about Tristi Pinkston

I am a stay-at-home mom, author of eight published books, a freelance editor, and the mother of four incredible children. I enjoy scrapbooking, watching good movies, and taking naps.

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