Marnie
This used to be shown on Sky TV once a week without fail but I never got round to watching it. Naturally, as soon as I decided to finally watch it Sky stopped showing it. C'est la vie I guess. I've caught up on everything back to the original Man Who Knew Too Much in the meantime, but this was certainly worth the wait. With psychological themes and a twisted romance played out it brings to mind both Notorious and Vertigo, two of Hitch's finest. But while this doesn't quite match the quality of those films, I think it's his best out of everything post-Psycho. Sean Connery adds enough shades to his character to distinguish him from his most famous and then current role, tuxedo or no tuxedo. His actions veer from genuine affection (I don't think love is appropriate) and concern to a curiosity that borders on detached cruelty. But this is Tippi Hedren's film and she makes sure every eye is on her. It's been so long since I saw The Birds that I don't recall her performance there, but here she is excellent as the disturbed, lying kleptomaniac. Thoughts of Grace Kelly are banished before long.
There's a lot to be said about Hitch'a work too. The style is unsettling, with painted backdrops giving the technicolor film an otherworldly sheen. I also loved the way he presents Marnie's thefts, with the soundtrack almost muted as he focuses on her features. Shame about the lazy cameo though.