Foreign Correspondent [Blu-ray]

This is my most favorite Alfred Hitchcock movie. This is a Romantic - Thriller - Mystery movie.This isn't a scary movie, or a horror movie, as are several of Alfred Hitchcock's movies.One of the best aspects of "Foreign Correspondent" is the use of light and the cinematography in general. This is a pre-war black and white film."Foreign Correspondent" is a very artistic and evocative film; it often seems surreal. The sound also is crafted to pull the viewer into the scene, usually with great subtlety."Foreign Correspondent" is a wonderful thriller. The story follows a young and brave, first time abroad, first time "Foreign Correspondent" for a New York newspaper. This occupation being that of a "news" agent in a distant place to get the story "first hand" instead of relying on reports published by other news agencies in that country or region.The hero gets his name changed by his bosses, has to wear silly hats to be "in fashion" with the European crowd, is confronted by persons speaking un-recognizable languages, lands in the middle of a complex and rapidly changing political environment, within a couple of days is targeted for assassination, has no idea who or what or why; and while dealing with all that, falls for a girl who the circumstances forbid him to be in love with. Wow!There are very solid and intransient reasons for the continuing popularity of the movies of Alfred Hitchcock.My favorite Alfred Hitchcock movies:1 Foreign Correspondent (1940) Joel McCrea, Laraine Day, George Sanders (Notice the amazing use of 'light' in this film.)2 Lifeboat (1944) (Many top stars, super movie entertainment.)3 Saboteur (1942) Bob Cummings, Priscilla Lane (Glendale, CA - Boulder Dam - Rockefeller Center - Statue of Liberty; Wow!)4 The Trouble with Harry (1955) (A wonderful, quirky, dark & intriguingly romantic comedy, with a very young Shirley MacLaine)5 To Catch a Thief (1955) Cary Grant, Grace Kelly (Wonderful 'cat burglar' romance & thrills on the French Rivera)6 North by Northwest (1959) Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint (They have the wrong man, but they won't believe it.)7 The Birds (1963) (Amazing story! Tippi Hedren is gorgeous! And how'd they get those birds to do that in 1963?)8 The Wrong Man (1956) Henry Fonda (Wow, what this guy goes through. The legal system isn't much better today.)9 Notorious (1946) Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman (Can he rescue her, get out of so much trouble, she & the bad guy; How is this going to end?)Others I like:The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956) Jimmy Stewart, Doris Day (What a terrible vacation.)The Paradine Case (1947) Gregory Peck (Did Anna poison her rich older husband? Or was it the butler?)Mr. & Mrs. Smith (1941) Carole Lombard, Robert Montgomery (A screwball romantic comedy.)Torn Curtain (1966) Paul Newman, Julie Andrews (Keep in mind how extreme things were after the "Iron Curtain" fell.)Other Hitchcock Movies that I Hate! (Sorry):Psycho (Yuck! Creepy factor a mile high!)Strangers on a Train (A terrible, disgusting, "thing.")VertigoMarnieFrenzyI'd also recommend:Witness for the Prosecution (1957) by Billy Wilder. (This Hitchcock 'like' film is intriguing, suspenseful, full of twists and irony.)"All the best movies, have already been made!"

This is a gem that deserves to be stand alongside Hitchcock's best. Joel McCrea plays the rookie foreign correspondent to a "t" -- Larraine Day is unfailingly lovely as Herbert Marshall is surprisingly wicked. Benchley is always good for a laugh and the surprise is George Sanders as a young adventurous British aristocrat.

I won't spend time telling you the plot of "Foreign Correspondent." Chances are, if you're here, you are already aware of the film. I will say that I've always felt it was a bit underrated. Regardless of director, it's a suspenseful and very well-made espionage thriller, one that holds up very well today (despite a few dated elements).For fans of the film, or Hitchcock in general, the Criterion release is a cause for celebration. Although the previous Warner Bros. DVD release looked fine, it doesn't really compare to the new 2K digital restoration that has been done here. The phrase "looks like it was filmed yesterday" gets thrown around a bit too often when reviewing HD transfers of classic films, but I can't really think of a better description. The umbrella assassination scene, to pick a well-known passage from the film, is every bit as sharp and vibrant as a new movie.Bonus features: There's a terrific (19 min.) documentary on the film's incredible special effects. You'll never look at that plane crash the same way again. Even more revealing are the glimpses at scenes (such as the "Hot Europe" gag) that involved a lot more effects works than you may have realized. "Hollywood Propaganda and World War II" (28 min.) offers a look at how the U.S. Government encouraged movie studios to rally behind the war effort. I confess that politics doesn't really interest me, but the documentary was very engaging. Of special interest to long-time Alfred Hitchcock fans will be the hour-long segment of the "Dick Cavett Show," in which the host chats at length with the director. An audio-only bonus is a 1946 radio adaptation of the film, starring Joseph Cotten (this did not interest me, so I can't comment on the quality). Rounding out the supplements are the film's theatrical trailer, and a Hitchcock-directed "photo drama" composed of still pictures done for Life magazine.All features are included both on the Blu-ray disc, and the two DVD's included. And while some hardcore Blu-ray fans are complaining that the DVD's are not necessary, I always appreciate combo packs. Affordable portable Blu-ray players have yet to surface as of this writing, so I'm happy to have the extra copies to take along on trips, or maybe take to friends who haven't upgraded to Blu-ray. All in all, this is a first-rate and fully-loaded presentation of a great (if often overlooked) classic entry in the Hitchcock filmography. Certainly, it's a must-have for fans. And the bonus features plus flawless restoration make it worth an upgrade if you have the Warner DVD.

I love George Sanders! Exciting & gripping. Loved the cast.

If my entire home media collection was Criterion, I'd be broke, but it certainly doesn't hurt to have a few features from the collection if you are a true film nerd, who believes there to be value in the presentation and special features included with your home video. Foreign Correspondent definitely deserves the classic film nerd, niche audience treatment it gets. It is an underappreciated early Hollywood-Era Hitchcock film that clearly encapsulates his transition from early British success to the blockbuster icon he would become.One of two acclaimed Hitchcock features from the year 1940, Foreign Correspondent is a quintessential espionage thriller, featuring lots of the master's signature suspense. In style it is the apparent middle point between the two "Man Who Knew Too Much" films. Ultimately it was the other Hitchcock film of 1940, Rebecca, which won his only Best Picture award, however, Foreign Correspondent is more instantly recognizable as having the director's legendary style.The Criterion packaging of this DVD is exceptional, and includes a very informative insert. The special features in the DVD are numerous and entertaining. Also, for a DVD the picture and audio quality are top notch, obviously pushing the higher end of the more dated home media.