The Five Greatest Hitchcock Films

Everyone is familiar with some of the work of Alfred Hitchcock. Images from "Psycho," "Rear Window," and "The Birds" have become a sort of cultural shorthand, references that are know to almost everyone. Though those are his most famous and well-known films, I would argue that they are not the best Hitchcock films of all time. Here are five that deserve a second look.

Strangers on a Train--

This film is definitely one of Hitchcock's best. The theme is deeply unsettling and the plot pure genius. Two men (played wonderfully by Farley Granger and Robert Walker) plan the perfect murder -- one thinking it a dark joke, the other deadly serious. Walker's Bruno Anthony is one of Hitchcock's most compellingly evil villains, and the film provides several moments of genuine suspense. There are images in this film that still send shivers down my spine: Bruno's intense stillness at the tennis match, and murder reflected in a pair of glasses.

Shadow of a Doubt--

This film is a great example of what Hitchcock does best. Suspense and uncertainty permeate the entire film, keeping the audience at the edges of their seats. Joseph Cotten really shines as the suspicious Uncle Charlie, a unique roll for the actor. Hitchcock had a knack for getting actors to play against type, a rare feat in the studio days. The lighting and use of shadows in this film are also noteworthy. The light tells a story all its own, and the sets are beautiful through and through.

Rebecca--

This is the first Hollywood film Hitchcock made, and it stands as one of his best. No other Hitchcock film can match this one for sheer intensity and atmosphere. Dark and brooding, this film casts Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine as Mr. de Winter and his second wife, respectively. Judith Anderson also stars as the incredibly creepy Mrs. Danvers. No other Hitchcock film is quite as moody or quite as romantic as "Rebecca." This is truly one to see.

Rope--

This film is remarkable because it takes place in just one apartment, and filmed using a series of eight minute long continuous takes. The fact that a dead body acts as an invisible centerpiece in the film gives all of the action a distinctly sinister air. The casual and philosophical murder is just one aspect that makes this film so unsettling. Hitchcock is an expert of slowly building tension, and no other film showcases this better and with such a sense of overwhelming claustrophobia. Though not well-known to most audiences, this Hitchcock film is worthy of a look.

Vertigo--

We've come to my personal favorite Hitchcock film, and my favorite movie in general. This is an excellent example of film-making, even past the scope of Hitchcock's oeuvre. Aside from being the most visually stunning of Hitchcock's films, "Vertigo" is one of those rare films that one can watch again and again, and still discover hidden layers of meaning.

Ostensibly a story of possession and murder, the plot actually has little to do with the film's true focus: obsession. Jimmy Stewart plays decidedly against type, as a former San Francisco detective with a case of acrophobia and an obsession with a mysterious woman (Kim Novak playing the dual role, in her best performance). Obsession is at the heart of this film, and over time the film becomes an obsession unto itself. I'd consider "Vertigo" to be one of the few films that nears perfection.