Can any of Alfred Hitchcock's films be classified as "bad'?

Dr. Fate

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I've seen classics such as "North By Northwest", "Vertigo", "Psycho", "The Birds", and lesser knowns or minor hits like "Torn Curtain" and "Topaz", with "Topaz" being perhaps the least interesting of Hitch's films I've seen. Tell me now, certainly Hitch had some weaker films like any director, but can any of his films really be classified as a "bad" film?
 
I'd consider Topaz bad. The story never really flows together and the film's production value and technical level are far below the average level of quality you'd expect from someone like Hithcock. The only thing that saves it is the solid acting, but otherwise, it's one of his weakest films, and undboubtedly the weakest of his peak years.
 
I'd consider Topaz bad. The story never really flows together and the film's production value and technical level are far below the average level of quality you'd expect from someone like Hithcock. The only thing that saves it is the solid acting, but otherwise, it's one of his weakest films, and undboubtedly the weakest of his peak years.
Topaz came out in 1969, by which point I thought Hitchcock's career was starting to slow down, with most of his true classics behind him. Most of Hitch's post-Birds films don't really rank up there in the "classics" category.
 
Topaz came out in 1969, by which point I thought Hitchcock's career was starting to slow down, with most of his true classics behind him. Most of Hitch's post-Birds films don't really rank up there in the "classics" category.

I know, but if one film really classifies as bad by him, it's Topaz. It just never really comes together as a cohesive piece.

As a side note, I personally feel that Marnie, Frenzy and Family Plot all rank up there with Hitch's best.
 
I know, but if one film really classifies as bad by him, it's Topaz. It just never really comes together as a cohesive piece.

As a side note, I personally feel that Marnie, Frenzy and Family Plot all rank up there with Hitch's best.

Especially Frenzy, which was one of his last films. But to answer the topic question, I don't think I've ever watched a Hitch film and gone, "That sucked".
 
I would classify Alfred Hitchcock as being dead:dry:
 
Especially Frenzy, which was one of his last films. But to answer the topic question, I don't think I've ever watched a Hitch film and gone, "That sucked".

Frenzy disturbs me to this day in a way few films can. The way Hithcock broke so many taboos and brought such a tension and realness to it is incredible. Definitely his most underrated film.
 
Frenzy disturbs me to this day in a way few films can. The way Hithcock broke so many taboos and brought such a tension and realness to it is incredible. Definitely his most underrated film.
That's why everyone loves or loved Hitchcock - he was always trying to break those taboos, and look at how many tried to keep the breaking taboos tradition alive after Hitch passed away?

Of course, in today's modern cinema there are very few things that are really taboo.
 
Think of it this way, Hicthcock's bad movies (much like Michael Mann's and Martin Scorsese's IMO) are still miles above most other director's bad films.
 
Think of it this way, Hicthcock's bad movies (much like Michael Mann's and Martin Scorsese's IMO) are still miles above most other director's bad films.

Yeah, that's true. Good point.
 
I agree that Topaz can be classified as a bad Hitchcock film.

As a side note, I personally feel that Marnie, Frenzy and Family Plot all rank up there with Hitch's best.

Marnie is actually one of my favorites.

Frenzy disturbs me to this day in a way few films can. The way Hithcock broke so many taboos and brought such a tension and realness to it is incredible. Definitely his most underrated film.

His second to last film and it was pretty good.

Think of it this way, Hicthcock's bad movies (much like Michael Mann's and Martin Scorsese's IMO) are still miles above most other director's bad films.

Yup.
 
I was so absurdly annoyed by the two leading characters, I just had to turn it of.
 
I have yet to see a Hitchcock movie I haven't enjoyed. Even Topaz is leagues above everything put out today. Because, even though it's a little week, it still has classic Hitchcock charm.

When I was in Nowheresville, North Carolina a few years ago and bored out of my mind, I went to the local Wal-Mart esque store and saw a three DVD set of some of his English movies. All of them were very good and stood up to his classics.

My favorite Hitchcock would probably be either Dial M for Murder, The Man Who Knew Too Much and Shadow of a Doubt.
 
I have yet to see a Hitchcock movie I haven't enjoyed. Even Topaz is leagues above everything put out today. Because, even though it's a little week, it still has classic Hitchcock charm.

When I was in Nowheresville, North Carolina a few years ago and bored out of my mind, I went to the local Wal-Mart esque store and saw a three DVD set of some of his English movies. All of them were very good and stood up to his classics.

My favorite Hitchcock would probably be either Dial M for Murder, The Man Who Knew Too Much and Shadow of a Doubt.

I agree that Topaz is leagues above most of modern cinema, and overall is a decent movie, but I feel that it's bad in comparison to so many of his classics. It's no doubt well made and very entertaining, but it lacks more thn most Hitchcock films.

In order, my personal Top 10 Hitchcock films are:

Rear Window
North By Northwest
Psycho
Marnie
Dial M For Murder
To Catch A Thief
Family Plot
Vertigo
The Man Who Knew Too Much
Shadow Of A Doubt
 
I was so absurdly annoyed by the two leading characters, I just had to turn it of.

I can relate, even though I love The Birds. Tippi Hendren and Rod.....Rod something....waste so much of the film not actually doing anything you just want to slap them and tell them to get on with it.
 
Hitchcock is one of those directors where you are basically shunned if you say they made a mistake.
 
Hitchcock is one of those directors where you are basically shunned if you say they made a mistake.

Yeah, even though 99% of people haven't seen all his work. Or even half of it.
 

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