MovieChat Forums > Marnie (1964) Discussion > Hitch's cameo

Hitch's cameo

posted 12 years ago by The_Eighth_Passenger
17 replies | jump to latest

was bloody silly. Looking straight at the camera like that? It wasn't funny it was pompous and amateur. Still, good film though.

Formerly AD655321 I'm just a bloody normal bloke, a normal bloke who likes a bit of torture.

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] The_Eighth_Passenger 12 years ago

But it did disrupt the film, if not the intensity then certainly the flow.

Formerly AD655321 I'm just a bloody normal bloke, a normal bloke who likes a bit of torture.

[–] rorysa 12 years ago

You criticize this cameo for what it--and all his cameos--was intended to be: a funny interruption. Funny moments do not necessarily "disrupt" thrillers, and Hitchcock was a master at doing them.

[–] The_Eighth_Passenger 12 years ago

OK then, I accept that he wanted it to be an interruption and that funny moments do not necessarily disrupt thrillers. This one wasn't funny though. I felt like 'Yeah, OK, you've done the cameo thing, again, very clever. Can we get back to the film now?'

Formerly AD655321 I'm just a bloody normal bloke, a normal bloke who likes a bit of torture.

[–] Wakanohana 11 years ago

I can't say for sure that Hitchcock usually planted his cameo appearances in the early scenes of each film, but I was expecting an early appearance in this one and I was right.

It did not interrupt the flow of the film, as nothing much had happened and I don't think we'd even seen Marnie except from behind, when she still had black hair.

[–] rsgre 11 years ago

Thanks for your comments everyone, and yes, I always thought it was one of his more strange and awkward cameos. But maybe it fits in with the rather strange and awkward style of the film, and the fact that he had lost interest in it (as some of his biographers claim). In "Vertigo" he is seen crossing from left to right carrying what appears to be a brass instrument case...was he "tooting his own horn..??" Another awkward cameo was in "Topaz" when he gets up from a wheelchair, at the end of a beautifully recreated "early 1960's airport corridor scene" with all these extras walking around dressed in vintage clothes, for just a few seconds of film. Might have more..

RSGRE

[–] ilovetennis3 11 years ago

I've always heard that Hitch started (not sure exactly when) putting his cameos towards the beginning of his films so the audience would see him & enjoy the rest of the film without any distractions.
Does that sound familiar to you?

[–] rorysa 11 years ago

Yes, beginning with "North By Northwest."

[–] ilovetennis3 11 years ago

Thanks for the reply! Now I know which film it started with too!
Cheers!

[–] carolmr527 11 years ago

I think this was the most obvious of Hitchcock's cameos.

[–] npaxton-3 10 years ago

I agree; not very subtle or clever.

[–] Beau_Buffet 8 years ago

(not sure exactly when)

He started that after his TV show (1955) became popular and he became a recognizable figure.

[–] SamoanJoes 10 years ago

It was his most "obvious" cameo. How could anyone miss it especially considering it was five minutes into the film.

[–] melinda2001 9 years ago

I totally missed it and almost always do. I imagine Hitchcock is very good at knowing where I'll focus and where he can do as he likes without my noticing.

[–] psdhart 8 years ago

I totally missed it

me too

[–] jmillerdp 8 years ago

I just saw it for the first time, and yeah!, it was terribly awkward. If you are going to do a cameo, it should at least have a bit of purpose or entertainment value.

I. Drink. Your. Milkshake! [slurp!] I DRINK IT UP! - Daniel Plainview - There Will Be Blood

[–] Interlepos (1784) 4 years ago

It's a great cameo. Even the "looking into the camera" bit has a charm to it.