Spellbound

This movie is one of my Hithcock favorites, and one of my all-time favorites. I can't explain it, there's just something in it that makes me marvel at it and never tire seeing

it time and time again. Here's my plot summary:

Psychoanalist Dr Constance Peterson (Ingrid Bergman), who works in a mental hospital, meets with her new boss, Dr Edwardes (Gregory Peck). They fall in love after a very short time, but she soon notices strange things about him, such as his phobia of parallel lines against a white background. It is soon revealed that the real Dr Edwardes is missing, and the man she fell in love with (whose initials are JB) has a guilt complex and assumed his identity. They hide from the police and set out to help him and prove he did not murder Dr Edwardes.

I thought the plot great and very well told, and the acting is fantastic too. This is one of the most romantic movies I've ever seen, because I think the couple of Bergman and Peck works so well (a bit, I must confess, because of my teenage crush on Gregory Peck - hehe. I have the most stupid luck with my teenage actor crushes, since they're almost all dead by now).

I loved the way "JB"'s phobias and amnesia was portrayed. Two other great performances I must include were those of Leo G. Carroll as Dr Murchison, and Michael Chekhov as Dr Brulov, Constance's old teacher, who helps them i

n the movie. Might I add he is one of the funniest characters I've seen!

The shot in the end with Dr Murchison is in my opinion very peculiar and worth seeing (not going to spoil it though!) and, also in the end, the several shots of only Constance's face through all the police and courtroom proceedings remind me of the similar shots in Dial M For Murder with Grace Kelly's face. Something important to mention is that the movie features a dream sequence which sets are by surreal artist Salvador Dalí.

And at last, I must speak of one of my favorite aspects of the movie - the soundtrack. By Miklos Rózsa, it won an Oscar and I believe it is one of the most beautiful soundtracks I've heard. It is one of the first to include a theremin, too, which I believe is very adequate with the story. (For any of you out there that play piano like me, here is a site with the musical score: http://www.classicscore.hut2.ru/R.html (it's sheet number 4057). However, Hithcock didn't like the music! As quoting Rózsa, "Alfred Hitchcock didn't like the music - said it got in the way of his direction. I never saw him since".

The director is Alfred Hithcock, the year 1945, and it was nominated to 5 Oscars: Best Director, Best Picture, Best Effects, Best Cinematography and Best Actor in a supporting role (Michael Chekhov). Here's a link of the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3Ury2w2ncw

By the way: Hithcock's cameo appearance: he can be seen coming out of an elevator at the Empire State Hotel, carrying a violin case and smoking a cigarette, about 37 minutes into the film.

Remember, comments are always welcome! Hope you liked it, and see you next week for more! :)