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Amazon.co.uk Review
Alfred Hitchcock takes on Sigmund Freud in this thriller in which psychologist Ingrid Bergman tries to solve a murder by unlocking the clues hidden in the mind of amnesiac suspect Gregory Peck. Among the highlights is a bizarre dream sequence seemingly designed by Salvador Dali--complete with huge eyeballs and pointy scissors. Although the film is in black and white, the original release contained one subliminal blood-red frame, appearing when a gun pointed directly at the camera goes off. Spellbound is one of Hitchcock's strangest and most atmospheric films, providing the director with plenty of opportunities to explore what he called "pure cinema"--i.e., the power of pure visual associations. Miklós Rózsa's haunting score (which features the creepy electronic instrument, the theremin) won an Oscar, and the movie was nominated for best picture, director, supporting actor (Michael Chekhov), cinematography and special visual effects. --Jim Emerson
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29 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This movie is a product of that golden age of incredible plots, talented actors, and visionary directing. A description of the plot may sound somewhat banal, and I doubt if the same movie could be made today and be taken seriously, but this classic is a masterful piece of cinema. When Dr. Edwards (Gregory Peck) arrives at Green Manors Mental Asylum to replace the head man, he quickly falls for the heretofore distant, hyperanalytical Dr. Constance Petersen (played by the incomparable Ingrid Bergman). Constance soon discovers that the man she is falling in love with is not Dr. Edwards at all but is instead an amnesiac who has taken the place of the real Dr. Edwards. Although the impostor is afraid he killed the real doctor, Constance is determined to help him regain his memory. The mystery of Dr. Edward's disappearance quickly leads to a police investigation, but Constance follows her "patient" to the city and eventually takes him to the home of her mentor, striving to prove that the man she loves is not a murderer. The ending, I must say, does not disappoint; it actually exceeded my own expectations.
Bergman is naturally wonderful in her role, and her accent adds a trace of mystery to an already suspenseful story. The portrayal of Dr. Murchison, the previous head of the asylum, is smooth, polished, and quite effective, and the actor portraying Constance's former mentor does a masterful job as a somewhat stereotypical pseudo-Freud blessed with a penchant for making remarks I found quite humorous. While Gregory Peck is also very good, he seems to go a little over the top at times when he is reacting to troubling stimuli. Hitchcock's direction is both innovative and masterful. There are several scenes involving unusual camera shots that add much to the atmosphere of mounting suspense, and a dream sequence supposedly designed by Salvador Dali is unique and oddly compelling.
Certainly, Freudian analysis was more in vogue when this movie was made in 1955 than it is now. It is Constance's belief that something from the impostor's childhood triggered his amnesia, and she seeks to help him by unlocking his buried memories. A crucial plot point centers around a surreal dream the impostor has and Constance's interpretation of its meaning. While some modern viewers may scoff at the notions espoused here, such feelings should take nothing away from the enjoyment of this classic, atmospheric, suspenseful drama.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I already knew that I loved this film foremost the dream sequence especially made for this film by the great painter (in my mind)Salvidore Dali. As the video format will be no longer viable I wanted/required the dvd.
There is information on the main actors, notably, Ingrid Bergman and Gregory Peck which makes this dvd more collectable. As I also like the director Alfred Hitcock's work this is the start of my dvd collection of the films I admire best. One of them being "Marnie" with Tippi Hedren and one of the best loved 007 Sean Connery.
There is information on the main actors, notably, Ingrid Bergman and Gregory Peck which makes this dvd more collectable. As I also like the director Alfred Hitcock's work this is the start of my dvd collection of the films I admire best. One of them being "Marnie" with Tippi Hedren and one of the best loved 007 Sean Connery.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is one of several Hitchcock films which have been released by Fremantle as having been "restored from the original negative and...also...digitally restored for optimum picture and sound quality". The results of the process used are patchy in the other films (Notorious [1946] [DVD] and Paradine Case [DVD] [1947]) resulting in a soundtrack which needs the volume turned up high and a rather 'soft' picture quality, but 'Spellbound' seems to have turned out best.
It's an everyday tale of psychiatrists at work and play in and around the Green Manors Mental Asylum, which is suddenly disrupted by the arrival of the famous Dr Edwards (Gregory Peck), who no one from the institution has ever met or seen before - or have they?
There then follows a love affair with Ingrid Bergman, dramatic handwriting comparisons, escape from the police, drugged milk, Peck wielding a cut-throat razor, gigantic 'prop' hands, Peck skiing down a mountain whilst still wearing his lounge suit, a single frame of colour (red) and the famous Salvador Dali "dream" sequence which is satisfyingly like one of his paintings come to life.
Magnificent fun in a decent print at a very attractive price.
It's an everyday tale of psychiatrists at work and play in and around the Green Manors Mental Asylum, which is suddenly disrupted by the arrival of the famous Dr Edwards (Gregory Peck), who no one from the institution has ever met or seen before - or have they?
There then follows a love affair with Ingrid Bergman, dramatic handwriting comparisons, escape from the police, drugged milk, Peck wielding a cut-throat razor, gigantic 'prop' hands, Peck skiing down a mountain whilst still wearing his lounge suit, a single frame of colour (red) and the famous Salvador Dali "dream" sequence which is satisfyingly like one of his paintings come to life.
Magnificent fun in a decent print at a very attractive price.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Turn the music down!
I enjoyed this film when I saw it on television many years ago and jumped at the chance to buy the DVD. Read more
Published 19 days ago by Amos Spitalhatch
great film
typically great hitchcock film I enjoyed the way it showed how two people can fall in love mainly because they cared about each other without all the gratuitous graphic sex scenes... Read more
Published 1 month ago by john
Captures Hitchcock's fascination with psychoanalysis
Many of Hitchcock's films feature pschoanalysis and "Spellbound" is one such film. The starlet of this film is Ingrid Bergman, who plays a psychiatrist. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Anon
Another Hitchcock Gem
Anyone who has even a passing interest in psychology, and enjoys Alfred Hitchcock, should see this movie. Read more
Published 7 months ago by J. Lafferty
Hitchcoch is Hitchcock
Hitchcoch is Hitchcock. He was a master of suspence and with the best actors of the time in the cast they were bound to catch you.
Published 7 months ago by Kristina Suder
old film interesting subject
I haven't seen such an old film before so I was pleasantly supprised.I enjoyed the plot and the actors. Read more
Published 10 months ago by annie
Spellbound
Well worth viewing just for the Dali designed dream section,also includes a fine performance from Michael Chekov. Read more
Published 13 months ago by mixgrumble
Requiem for a Dream
`Spellbound' is best known as one Alfred Hitchcock's trippier films due to its involvement of Salvador Dali and storyline that centred on the brain and subconscious. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Sam
Flawed but excellent
SPELLBOUND spellbinds despite obvious flaws such as the psychotherapy bit and a not too likely suicide. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Movie Fan from Portugal
No, it's not Hitchcock at his best, but it will do
This is the 89th review of Alfred Hitchcock's "Spellbound" for Amazon US and the 11th for Amazon UK, and it specifically refers to the Criterion Collection version. Read more
Published 20 months ago by L. E. Cantrell
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