Alfred Hitchcock: The Ultimate Collection [DVD]

I've spent the last 6 months slowly digesting this box set, and I have to say that I'm mightily impressed with its quality and assembly. The films selected, or perhaps provided, all represent the different aspects of what makes Alfred Hitchcock a timeless filmmaker. I've been a fan of Hitchcock since I was a kid, even before I'd seen a single movie of his on screen. My mom always talked to me about how horror/suspense used to be done by the master, and it wasn't all about blood and shock (though he did at times, dabble with both). What Alfred manages to do throughout his career is nothing short of amazing. Each movie has a distinct flavor, and it's kind of insane to see how it correlates to current movies today, or even those that came after it that we now regard as classics (ex. The Birds to Jaws, Psycho to slashers, Saboteur to political thrillers, etc.) The actors and actresses in these movies are marvelous, and I find myself wanting to seek out other movies during this time period even though I know they won't be quite as engaging.I find myself often saying that today, there is no other filmmaker like Christopher Nolan. Someone who constantly steps out to make films that make you think, and that he makes movies of a lifetime. Most directors would dream of making one of his films, but he has a whole catalog of thought-provoking and seemingly timeless cinema. Alfred Hitchcock was the OG of this, and I can't find a single movie in this collection that feels dated or otherwise no longer relevant. There are threads in each movie that can be applied to today's films to better help you understand plot or suspense, and also there's movies that still deal with issues we still see today in society. Nolan is doing this now, and I think we'll appreciate him fully when it's too late...I'm incredibly fortunate to have gotten this at the price tag of $59.95, and I would recommend it even at full price if you're interested in revisiting the master of suspense's greatest hits. It's easily worth more, and it's loaded with special features and even 2 discs of episodes from both of Hitch's classic television series. There are special features for each film, which seem to be dissected from an overall reel of interviews and behind the scenes and placed with their respective movies. They all stand on their own, so no need to fear, but additionally there are some commentaries from filmmakers on assorted movies throughout, as well as additional special features for some of the more popular and well-known films. Vertigo and Psycho come to mind, but it's so interesting hearing how these movies were conceived and stand up against the greats of today.Buy this set, you will not be disappointed. It's one of my favorite box sets in my collection, because I could watch any of these movies at any time and be completely, 100% engaged. These films are a true treat to cinema and those who enjoy it, just completely wonderful films. Outstanding grouping from the master, and the box includes a booklet detailing the career and crew involved with the films, as well as the beautiful displays on each movie in cardboard on the disc book contained within.

As kids, we all wanted to watch Psycho, but our parents told us we were still too young. We did get to watch The Birds, which was great. I thought that The Birds was a black and white movie because our television at the time was only black and white. I recall Hitchcock's narrative setups of his television series, as well as the wonderful theme song, Charles Gounot's "Funeral March of a Marionette." But, I discovered that I was far too young to remember what the episodes were actually like. In fact, there were many classics, including Psycho, that I thought I had seen, but over my lifetime had only seen the famous clips used in other shows. In truth, it was like watching all of these movies for the first time. I was able to fill a cultural void in my life.So, when I became aware of this large collection of Blu-rays of Alfred Hitchcock, and it was on sale, I could not resist adding it to my collection. Yes, there are some duds, but there are also come masterpieces and delightful surprises (The Trouble with Harry). With the overall price (when on sale) of less than $3 per movie, the value is simply amazing. Note that all of these movies are remastered for Blu-ray, so the video is of excellent quality. That said, many of these movies were recorded in mono only, so there is only so much remastering that could be done with the audio. Still, the quality is excellent.Since I could not find a listing of the TV episodes in this collection, I'll list them here:Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Season 1: RevengeAlfred Hitchcock Presents, Season 2: Mr. Blanchard's SecretAlfred Hitchcock Presents, Season 3: Lamb to the SlaughterAlfred Hitchcock Presents, Season 4: PoisonAlfred Hitchcock Presents, Season 5: ArthurAlfred Hitchcock Presents, Season 6: Mrs. Bixby and the Colonel's CoatAlfred Hitchcock Presents, Season 7: Bang! You're DeadThe Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Season 1: I Saw the Whole ThingThe Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Season 2: Three Wives Too ManyThe Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Season 3: Death Scene