Hitchcock loved this play, he stated to Peter Bogdanovich that it was one of his favourites and saw it several times (see McGilligan, 2003). To say that it is not typical Hitchcock would be true but also small minded - dismissing a film merely because it does not fit into your idea of what it should be (Hitchcock hated the box he was put into by his public later on in his career).
This is a faithful retelling of an emotionally charged yet humourous play about troubles in Southern Ireland. It is set in one room is in black and white and concerns Irish people (yes, some with Irisha accents - although John Laurie's accent sounds like his own - Scottish) so what are you expecting from this? This film is not The Lodger and doesn't try to be.
If you do not make it to the end of the film you miss the point entirely, the play and film are essentially about the strength of women under great social pressure and this is clearly bourne out in the final scene which, by the way, Sara Allgood plays briliantly.
I would suggets that H's direction here is subtle and respectful to the text, he never lets his obvious directoral talents get in the way of narrative but does allow the full emotional impact to be felt. If you are interested in Hitchcock, I would recommend this film, not because it represents what is usually thougth of as his style but because it doesn't. It shows another, more technical, subtle side.
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