Movies On My Mind

Stage Fright

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock

Marlene Dietrich, Jane Wyman, Michael Wilding, Alistair Sim

A couple in the car is running from the police, the man (Jonathan) starts to explain about the reason: his lover Charlotte, a famous cabaret singer, came to him, told him she’s killed her husband, and she’s begged him to go back to her apartment for another dress instead of a bloodied one she’s wearing. He went there and was spotted by the maid. The police was pursuing him and he decided to turn to his fellow student Eve, who helped him to get away from the city to her father’s cabin. Eve was in love with him and enlisted her father to help Jonathan to avoid the prison (love the father, superb work of Alistair Sim!). Little by little it appears as though the singer lady is framing Jonathan. In her attempt to clear him of the wrongdoing Eve sneaks into Charlotte’s domicile as a temporary replacement of her maid in order to find the information which would implicate Charlotte in the murder. That role will put her in quite a few awkward situations, some of them rather comic. In the course of her amateur sleuthing Eve meets a real police Detective Smith (Michael Wilding) and gradually falls in love with him. Meanwhile Jonathan is getting more desperate and the police is closing in. The end, I have to admit, had quite a twist to it and made a strong impression on me, a real thrill.

I did not like Jane Wyman at first, but as the movie progressed I realized more and more that she was perfect for this role of the girl with the strong emotions and convictions, yet sensitive enough to recognize her faults in judgment when the time comes. Alistair Sim plays her father with a flair and a lot of comic talent, very endearing character. Marlene Dietrich was herself – a diva, and quite convincing in that role.