Foreign Correspondents: Deeper into Hitchcock

Finally Foreign Correspondents are discussing... Hitchcock's "Foreign Correspondent", starring Joel McCrea, Laraine Day, Herbert Marshall and George Sanders. This spectacular and big-budget spy story, made in 1940, competed with "Rebecca" at the Oscars. Join us as we explore the first film in which Hitch tackled the topic of WWII.

Hitchcock's first American picture and one of the most gorgeous Gothic thrillers ever to come out of Hollywood, "Rebecca" remains as fascinating and seductive as more than 80 years ago. Join us as we explore the film with Patricia White, author of the recent BFI Film Classics book on "Rebecca".

"Jamaica Inn", starring the unimitable Charles Laughton and young Maureen O'Hara, is one of the least appreciated Hitchcock films, but it is a fascinating starting point for a discussion about the director and his actors. We are joined by Dan Callahan, author of the recent book "The Camera Lies: Acting for Hitchcock", with whom we talk about the screen presence of Laughton, Barbara Stanwyck and... Hitchcock himself.

"The Lady Vanishes" is one of the most charming and beloved movies Hitchcock ever made: a spy thriller comedy with a fantastic cast, witty script and flawless mise-en-scène. Join us for this discussion of the film with our special guest: film scholar and writer J. E. Smyth.

In this episode we are joined by Alex Ramon, a film critic for the British Film Institute and Sight & Sound and our dear friend. Together we explore one of the loveliest of Hitchcock's British gems: an unassuming adaptation of a crime novel by Josephine Tey with Nova Pilbeam and Derrick De Marney in leading roles. Why the three of us like "Young and Innocent" so much? Check out the episode and let us know what you think about it.

Based on the novel by Joseph Conrad, "Sabotage" is one of the most emotionally intense among Hitchcock's British films. Join us while we explore the underworld of London saboteurs and talk about Sylvia Sidney's singular performance. The episode also features a heated discussion of the infamous "boy with a bomb scene"!

Hitchcock's follow-up to "The 39 Steps" was the first opportunity for us to finally substantially disagree with each other! Listen to our discussion of this WWI-set spy thriller starring John Gielgud, Peter Lorre, Madeleine Carroll and Robert Young. Recommended for those who like Swiss chocolate - and for everybody else.

In this episode we discuss one of Hitchcock's most admired and beloved British movies, based on John Buchan's novel. We are joined by a very special guest: critic, author and video essayist based in Scotland, David Cairns, who wrote an essay about "The 39 Steps" for the Criterion Collection edition of the film.

Hitchcock's comeback and Hitchcock's breakthrough: "The Man Who Knew Too Much" is the first movie in his "thriller sextet" and one of his most exciting British gems. Join us as we explore the 1934 version of this strange and smart story starring Peter Lorre!

This episode features our discussion of "Waltzes from Vienna" - Hitch's sole foray into the land of 1930s musicals. Is this movie as bad as they say? How is it different from other musical films of the era? Check it out!