Frenzy [DVD]

This is definitely a major upgrade from the old Blu-ray edition. That version had a lot of problems, and looked mediocre at best. It was however better than any DVD edition. But if you want the ultimate version of this movie, the 4K version is the one to buy. You won't be disappointed

Lesser known Hitchcock Classic, but it still delivers in 2024.

FRENZY**** Out of 5Tagline- From the Master of Shock, a Shocking Masterpiece!Release Date- May 25th, 1972Running Time- 115-MinutesRating- RScreenplay- Anthony ShafferDirector- Alfred HitchcockStarring- Jon Finch, Alec McCowen, Barry Foster, Billie Whitelaw, Anna Massey, Barbara Leigh-HuntReleased in 1972, Frenzy was the 2nd to last film directed by the legendary Alfred Hitchcock and some cite this as his final masterpiece. By the time Frenzy was released, filmmaking as a whole was vastly changing. When looking back at many of the films of the late 60s into the early part of the 70s, filmmakers were making films that were a little more violent as Night of the Living Dead in 1968 is a film that helped change the way horror films were made. In 1969 Sam Peckinpah made the Wild Bunch, which was quite graphic for 1969 and even in a modern era the Wild Bunch still packs a punch. In 1971 Peckinpah was at it again with Straw Dogs, which wasn't as violent as the Wild Bunch, but was probably still more graphic than audiences were used to seeing and of course there's the infamous rape scene and like the Wild Bunch, Straw Dogs also holds up. Hammer Films also towards the end of the 60s and into the 70s attempted to keep up to date as their films were now offering more violence and sexuality and lastly there's the giallo from Italy, which was popularized by Dario Argento in 1970 with the Bird with the Crystal Plumage and many of the giallo films that followed offered up more violence and sexuality. In 1964 with Marnie, 1966 with Torn Curtain and Topaz in 1969, Hitchcock just wasn't making the same impact and while most reviews rate these three films as passable, but they aren't seen as 3 of his stronger films and when originally released they didn't receive a lot of acclaim and some even felt Hitchcock was relying on old fashioned filmmaking and just wasn't quite the same filmmaker. After 3-years off, Hitchcock, with Frenzy blends in his trademark style with a more modern take on the thriller as he was most likely aware of the changing times and read the reviews about his last couple of films. Frenzy allowed Hitchcock a little more creative freedom, but despite that he's a little restrained as while there is a rape and murder on screen, but neither are very graphic, but yet highly effective, but after that all the murders are off camera and the most effective murder isn't seen or even heard, only what was implied. Frenzy was an interesting sort of change of pace for Hitchcock even with his his trademark style on display and at times while minimal Frenzy does perhaps have some exploitation elements. Frenzy was quite an interesting film in the career of Alfred Hitchcock as he blends in a new style of filmmaking with his trademarks such as the dark comedy and the wrong man accused and forced to go on the run. Frenzy also marked Alfred Hitchcock's return to the United Kingdom. After Jamaica Inn, which was released in 1939, Hitchcock then made the move to the United States and and his American film debut would be Rebecca in 1940. Alfred Hitchcock would return to the United Kingdom briefly first in 1949 with Under Capricorn and in 1950 he directed Stage Fright, which was his final film in his native England until Frenzy. However with that said the Man Who Knew too Much from 1956 while an American movie, but did have a few scenes filmed in England, Frenzy was his first picture made in the United Kingdom in 22-years and it was quite a return. Frenzy was quite a comeback film for Alfred Hitchcock and while it isn't Psycho or Rear Window, but it's a solid film in his career and can stand proudly in his iconic filmography.There's a serial rapist/killer targeting women in London dubbed the Necktie Strangler, after his wife becomes a victim Richard Blaney (Finch) becomes the top suspect in the crimes and is forced to go on the run.Frenzy was based based off the novel Goodbye Piccadilly, Farewell Leicester Square, which was written by Arthur La Bern and the screenplay was adapted by Anthony Shaffer and outside of Frenzy, Shaffer's most notable writing credit would be the 1973 version of the Wicker Man. Shaffer would also write Death on the Nile and Appointment with Death and both of those scripts were based on novels written by Agatha Christie. The author of the novel Arthur La Bern didn't like the film adaption at all and quite was quite outspoken on his disdain for the film. I haven't read the novel so I can't compare it to the screenplay by Anthony Shaffer, but the script is well written and the characters quite strong. However, there is one issue I have and that's early into the film Richard Blaney is setup as a possible suspect as he does have some angry outbursts, but within the first 25-minutes the identity of the killer is revealed. As stated I haven't read the novel, but the identity of the killer is kept a mystery until about the halfway mark and I think Frenzy would have worked a little better if we didn't know Blaney wasn't the killer. Seeing as he's the main character, it would have been interesting to identify with someone that may very well be a rapist/killer. However, despite the fact we learn early on he isn't the killer, the script by Shaffer is well plotted and still works well even knowing the identity of the killer so early on and while the subject matter is dark, the comedic aspects serve the film quite well and give the script an added layer of depth.As mentioned Frenzy was the 2nd to last film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and his first feature film came in 1925 with the Pleasure Garden and he'd follow that up with the Mountain Eagle in 1926, which is now a lost film. In 1927, Hitchcock directed the Lodger: A Story of the London Fog, which was his first thriller and in an interview, Hitchcock has stated the Lodger is the first true "Hitchcock" film as many of his trademarks were featured for the very first time and the Lodger is a great early example of what Hitchcock would become and in my opinion the Lodger is sadly overlooked. Over the next couple of years, Hitchcock would direct a number of films though most of these films aren't very well known and are all silent films then in 1929 with Blackmail it was Hitchcock's first sound film, which actually started off life as a silent film. Alfred Hitchcock's first film in the 1930s was the Shame of Mary Boyle from 1930 and that film, along with his next few are sort of forgotten in time as his next film of note would be the the Man Who Knew Too Much from 1934, but even that film is sort of forgotten in favor of Hitchcock's remake 22-years later. The Man Who Knew Too Much would begin to put Hitchcock down the path of mostly making thrillers (though he'd still have the few non-occasional thrillers). The following year in 1935 Hitchcock would direct the 39 Steps, which many regard as one of his best. I personally don't hold the film in as high regard as others as for me it was simply ok, but with that said it does have flashes of brilliance and even though Hitchcock had been in the film industry as a director for a decade when the 39 Steps was released, but he was still honing his craft. In 1936 Hitchcock would direct two more thrillers with the lesser known Secret Agent and the more well known Sabotage. In 1937 Hitchcock directed the semi-forgotten the Girl Was Young, which once again featured many aspects that would later make him a legend and in 1938 Hitchcock directed the Lady Vanishes, which along with the 39 Steps are two of his most popular films from the 30s.In many ways, the Lady Vanishes was a turning point as by this time, Hitchcock was really stating to more and more turn into the Master of Suspense, and in my opinion the Lady Vanishes was his best film in the 30s and while not perfect, but very much the beginning of a turning point in his career. In 1939 Hitchcock would direct Jamaica Inn, which was his final British film for a decade and one generally regarded as a lesser film, though not without its fans. The legend of Hitchcock began in the 30s, but it was the 1940s when he would really begin to take off even if not every film he made was successful. In 1940, Hitchcock would relocate to the United States and as mentioned he made his first Hollywood film with Rebecca, which was nominated for a few Oscars including a nomination for best director. Later in 1940 Hitchcock would direct Foreign Correspondent. In 1941 Hitchcock would direct the non-thriller Mr. & Mrs. Smith and the thriller Suspicion. In 1942 Hitchcock would direct Saboteur and in 1943 he directed the wonderful Shadow of a Doubt, but both these films were box office failures. Alfred Hitchcock would rebound from those failures with Lifeboat in 1944, which was another of his WWII thrillers and in 1945 he directed Spellbound and in 1946 Notorious. Over the next few years, Alfred Hitchcock would have 4-straight box office failures starting with the Paradine Case followed by Rope, Under Capricorn and Stage Fright. Over the years, Rope has become a favorite among Hitchcock fans and in my opinion is one of his best films. Even though the 1950s didn't start off well as Stage Fright was a box office failure, but he rebounded in 1951 with the excellent Strangers on a Train. In 1953 Hitchcock directed I Confess, which is generally well regarded, but I found ok and in 1954 Hitchcock directed Dial M for Murder, which is another film many hold in high regard. While Hitchcock made some wonderful films in the 30s, but I suppose the 40s is when he really hit his stride and perhaps the 1950s was his best decade as a whole as he'd direct such films as Rear Window, To Catch a Thief, the remake of the Man Who Knew Too Much, Vertigo, which many consider his masterpiece and lastly North by Northwest, which was his final film made in the 50s. Everyone one of those films mentioned are held in high regard and often considered among the best films Alfred Hitchcock directed. The 1960s started off brilliantly for Hitchcock with the landmark film Psycho, which just might be the most influential thriller as it inspired many films and filmmakers such as John Carpenter with Halloween and even Martin Scorsese with Raging Bull as one of the fight scenes was filmed and edited to look like the shower scene from Psycho. Alfred Hitchcock's next feature film was in 1963 with the Birds, which is another highly acclaimed film, but this would start a slight decline afterwards and Hitchcock was also a little less active. His next film was the following year in 1964 with Marnie, which is generally well received, but his next 2 the already mentioned Torn Curtain from 1966 and Topaz from 1969 aren't seen as bad films, but aren't seen on quite the level of many of his past films in particular his films from the 1950s. After 3-years away, Hitchcock would return with Frenzy and as I mentioned, while many of Hitchcock's filmmaking styles are on full display, but it also showcased a different side of Hitchcock. After Frenzy, Hitchcock would direct one last film in 1976 with the black comedy Family Plot and would than retire from the film industry and would pass away on April 29th, 1980 at the age of 80. Alfred Hitchcock is one of the most influential filmmakers of all time and his influence can be seen on filmmakers such as Brian De Palma and even the Italian giallo as Dario Argento has been dubbed the Italian Hitchcock. Mario Bava's Evil Eye has also been released as the Girl Who Knew Too Much, which its title is a homage to Hitchcock's the Man Who Knew Too Much.With Frenzy, Hitchcock makes a semi-return to form as this was his best film since the Birds in 1963. As I mentioned many reviews cite Frenzy as his final masterpiece and while I personally wouldn't go that far, but it's quite close actually and I suppose only for me slightly brought down by the 115-minute running time, which I felt was a little overly long. The pace of the film however is generally strong, but could have used some editing to tighten the pace. Many of Hitchcock's films have a layer of dark comedy to them and not every filmmaker can balance thriller and comedy without one taking away from the other, but Hitchcock, a true master of his craft was almost always successful and Frenzy was quite successful in the mix, though certain comedic bits for me didn't fully work, but didn't fail either. As I mentioned with Frenzy, Alfred Hitchcock was given a little more creative freedom, but yet he still holds back as there's only one onscreen murder, which starts off as a rape scene and when compared to say the Last House on the Left also released in 1972, Frenzy is quite tame. While this scene isn't graphic despite what's happening onscreen, it is however highly effective. Despite all the murders taking place offscreen, but there's still a sinister tone to the film and while the easy thing to do would be showing the actual murders, but the lack of onscreen murders is an asset to the film actually and despite other films around this time being far more graphic, but Frenzy never feels old fashioned.As I mentioned all the murders except 1 are off camera and there's no real set up as a body of a female is found is how we know the killer has struck again. But there's 1 murder that while offscreen is set up and it's the most effective scene in the movie as even though we don't hear or see anything, we only know what's going to happen, but what makes this scene so effective is the victim is a likable character and it's the visual side of the scene thats so powerful. As the door closes with killer and victim inside, the camera backs away in a reverse tracking shot and this is perhaps the greatest use of visuals of any Hitchcock film even the shower scene from Psycho and some of the shots from Rear Window. This reverse tracking shot is something we'd later see in a Dario Argento film. If some felt that Alfred Hitchcock was out of touch and losing it as a filmmaker, Frenzy should put those doubts to rest. As I said as much as I like the film and while it would be in my top 10 films directed by Alfred Hitchcock, as it would just miss, and while I don't hold the film in as high regard as some, but Frenzy is an excellent film and just slightly misses my top 10. Frenzy is one of the most interesting films in Alfred Hitchcock's career as just about all his trademarks are there, but yet even nearly 50-years into his career (exactly 50-years if his unfinished film from 1922 is counted), rather than being stale, his style feels fresh and it's unfortunate that he only directed one more film as shortly after Frenzy, Hitchcock's health would begin to fail. Frenzy is a little edgier than most of Hitchcock's films and also his first film with nudity, but despite the film being about a rapist/serial killer and also despite the major changes within the film industry with a lot of more sex, nudity and violence, I think holding back works in the favor of Frenzy rather than against it.Overall Frenzy was an excellent movie and a solid return to semi-form for Alfred Hitchcock. Frenzy isn't Psycho, but how many movies really are? Regardless, Frenzy is a solid film in the career of Alfred Hitchcock and he proved his still had a few tricks up his sleeve. Frenzy is far edgier than the films Alfred Hitchcock made in the past, but refrains from making a graphically violent film and while it's never as graphic as films such as the Last House on the Left or many of the giallo films, but Frenzy still packs a punch thanks to having one of the all time greatest filmmakers at the helm. Once again, Frenzy showed that Hitchcock was still the master of suspense.

The trailer for this somewhat odd, but still excellent late-career film by Alfred Hitchcock has "Hitch" floating in the Thames River, talking to the camera. Which would have been a bit gross, because, well The Thames in the 1970s? Can you say Love Canal? Ewww.And "odd" is my main reaction to what is otherwise a solid entry in the canon of perhaps the greatest English language Director of all time. A strong cast of British actors play various characters in what feels like a ripped-from-the-headlines story, involving an infamous "necktie murderer". Jon Finch is Richard Blaney, a down on his luck ex-RAF pilot who starts the story by getting fired from his job in a Pub by its owner.Fun fact, Bernard Cribbins, who plays the Pub owner, played a Hotel Inspector in perhaps my favorite episode of John Cleese's legendary Comedy series, "Faulty Towers". I recognized him straight away.The background of the plot involves the Necktie Murderer, who is abducting, raping and strangling women who live near the Covent Garden Market. Themes of class and even gender play strongly here, as the poor Blaney is a natural to be accused of the latest murder -- especially as it is of his ex-wife. And the women, as much as they have permission to burn their bras, are still very much not the power figures in what is still very much a Patriarchal society.This is clear in a remarkable scene about halfway into the film. The Murderer corners a young woman in her otherwise empty office and proceeds to, well, do his thing. Watch the camerawork and acting here, which are typical of Hitch at his best. The camera starts in a two shot, with both characters, then, as the attack proceeds, and it becomes clear to the woman (who knows the attacker) that she is going to be raped, or worse killed, the camera zooms in on each character -- mostly her -- and continues in one shots until the deed is done. Truly a master class in film-makingBarry Foster plays Blaney's good friend, and as Blaney goes "on the lam" the pace of Hitch's thriller quickens. Will he be able to prove himself innocent -- in a Justice System where the burden of proof is on the accused, and not the accuser? Will they find the real killer, to take a phrase from the OJ Trial? Will Hitch use the liberal seventies as an excuse to show actual female nudity?Well, you will need to watch Frenzy to find out. And if you watch it on Amazon Prime, as I did, expect a good print, with a successful digital transfer. Hitch and his crew put a fair amount of effort into their films, we owe it to them to watch them in a format that allows the acting, camerawork, editing and sound to come through.

I LOVE Hitchcock movies! You get thrills, suspense, murder, and a game. This movie is about a bloke who starts off having a bad day, that turns into an awful weekend, then becomes life or death. He was seen at a murder scene, after the murder. A witness said that he had just had an argument with the victim the day before. When the guy learns that police want him, he is unsure whether he will be believed. Nobody will give him an alibi. His 'boo' could alibi him, if they can find her..... I won't say more, cause I don't want to spoil the ending. But this movie kept me at the edge of my seat from the first murder. Oh, and the game? That's finding where Ol Alf has become part of the scenery in each movie. He's the original "Where's Waldo." Nice price. Seller fast and courteous. (HPB) Definitely ordering again. Yep, this is captioned.

Great movie.

Hitchcock returns home to his native London for his penultimate, and last great film. It lacks the depth and complexity of the masterpieces Vertigo and Rear Window but mixes the black comedy of The Trouble with Harry, without the whimsey, and the graphic violence of Psych and is a superb summing up of a career and a return to the wrong man entertainments of the 39 Steps. This is Hitchcock’s love letter to London, to the market where his greengrocer father carried out business and the city of Jack the Ripper.It is cast by a troupe of fine British stage actors, lead by Jon Finch as the Richard Hanney figure and Barry Foster as the, outwardly normal psychopath, but as always Hitchcock is the real star.A special mention for Barbara Leigh Hunt who proved herself to be a real trooper going well beyond the call of duty in her murder scene.The great Vivian Merchant, the first Mrs Harold Pinter, steals the show, as she did in Alfie, as the detective Alec McCowan’s cordon bleu chef wife. And less it be said that Hitchcock is a misogenist, she analyses the case far more perceptibly than her blinkered husband, neatly reversing the Holmes and Watson relationship.I would suggest that her character is an affectionate portrait of Hitchcock’s wife and adviser, Alma Reville.Anna Massey is good, as the trusting lamb to the slaughter. A decade earlier she was in Michael Powell’s derided masterpiece Peeping Tom which secured her place in cinema history.Billie Whitelaw, Barbara Leigh Hunt, Bernard Cribbins and Clive Swift ad Jean Marsh all add class to the proceedings.The author of the source novel, Goodbye Piccadilly, Farewell Leicester Square, Arthur La Bern was dissatisfied with the adaptation, even writing a letter of complaint to the Times, mainly due to the updating from the late forties to the present day and change of point of view, but also the chagrin of Hitchcock having bought the rights anonymously at a rock bottom price. But Hitchcock, who had no qualms about altering Conrad’s The Secret Agent, wasn’t concerned about hurting La Bern’s feelings.It is perfectly true that the central character, a washed-up squadron leader, traumatised by the bombing of Dresden, makes more sense in a late forties setting, but Hitchcock had no desire, or budget for that matter, to make a period piece. Hitchcock was returning to London twenty-years after filming Stage Fright and the film exists in a curious time warp between the 1971 present and the fondly remembered city of his youth.There are three extraordinary shots that demonstrate that he was still fully in control of his filmic faculties.The unbroken title shot is a tracking helicopter shot down the Thames that ends going underneath Tower Bridge, just as a choreographed steam tug boat puffs leisurely across the frame. Masterly. And all with no drones and computer animation.After the first gruesome and explicit murder, after the murderer has left the office and Blaney has turned up, failed to gain entry and then left, the secretary returs from lunch and the camera remains stationary in the alleyway for a audaciously long time waiting for the discovery of the crime and the inevitable scream. Hitchcock plays with the viewer, knowing what to show and what to leave to the imagination.I the third example, Babs, Blaey’s barmaid friend, and Rusk go up the stairs to his flat at 3 Henrietta Street and instead of following them into the flat, the camera retreats back down the stairs and back out into the bustle of the street. The invisible transition from studio to location (flat and street) masked by a porter with a sack of potatoes on his shoulder crossing the frame.The blu ray edition shows off the superb technical achievements of the British crew, under the master’s baton. Like all his work, it has the construction of a fine swiss watch and is a joy to behold

Ich habe mich immer gefragt, was denn „Frenzy“ eigentlich bedeuten sollte, übersetzt bedeutet es sowas wie „Wahnsinn“, „Raserei“ oder „Rausch“ im Sinne von „Blut- oder Mordrausch“.Der Titel ist sehr passend, denn in HITCHCOCK'S Thriller aus dem Jahr 1972, dreht es sich um einen Serienmörder der Frauen mit einer Krawatte erwürgt.In BARRY FOSTER, als „Bob Rusk“, hat HITCHCOCK einen perfekten Hauptdarsteller gefunden. Aber auch JOE FINCH (Richard Blaney), ANNA MASSEY (Babs Milligan) und ALEC McCOWEN (Chefinspektor Oxford) liefern eine tadellose Leistung ab und tragen so entscheidend zum Gelingen von „Frenzy“ bei.Mit der Figur der „Mrs. Oxford, gespielt von VIVIEN MERCHANT, hat HITCHCOCK eine humorvolle Nebenhandlung eingebaut, denn die Dame kredenzt ihrem Göttergatten allabendlich die neuesten Rezepte ihres französischen Kochkurses. Herrlich, man leidet richtig mit dem „armen“ Chefinspektor. Lustig finde ich auch, dass der „Chefinspektor“ beim Abendessen immer die aktuelle Entwicklung des Fall mit seiner etwas naiv wirkenden Frau bespricht, die dann sehr oft die richtigen Schlüsse zieht, die ihrem Mann aber nicht immer einleuchten wollen.Überhaupt nehmen Essen und Nahrungsmittel einen großen Raum ein, nicht nur der Kochkurs von „Mrs. Oxford“ ist ein Beispiel dafür, die Handlung an sich spielt in großen Teilen auf einem Obst- und Gemüsemarkt, die Leiche landet in einem Kartoffelsack und der Mörder isst bei seiner Tat einen Apfel.Mein Fazit: Wie immer bei HITCHCOCK, wurde auch „Frenzy“ perfekt inszeniert, daran gibt es wohl keinen Zweifel. Die spannende Handlung wird immer wieder mit humorvollen Szenen aufgelockert, was die ganze Sache sehr abwechslungsreich macht.Mir gefällt, wie es der Regisseur schafft, mit einfachsten Mitteln höchste Spannung zu erzeugen. HITCHCOCK braucht dazu keine Special Effects, er macht das durch kluges Schneiden von Szenen, die Kameraeinstellungen oder durch Mimik der Darsteller.Wer auf HITCHCOCK-Thriller steht, eine Prise britischen Humor zu schätzen weiß, der ist hier bestens aufgehoben, klasse Film – meine Empfehlung!

Pour les admirateurs de Hitchcock, ce Blu-ray est de très bonne qualité! Un bon film à revoir! Les histoires et films d'Alfred Hitchcock ne vieillissent pas. C’est plaisant de revoir l’époque ainsi que les acteurs et actrices de cette époque.

商品もきれいな状態で、大変満足しています。ありがとうございました。

Frenzy è senza dubbio il capolavoro dell'ultimo Hitchcock, un ulteriore svolta e rivoluzione nel suo modo unico di fare cinema, un'evoluzione sotto tutti i punti di vista e soprattutto un approccio sempre all'avanguardia senza però rinunciare al suo tocco classico ed inconfondibile, unico ! Resta e resterà sempre il "maestro della suspence" e chissà cosa altro avrebbe tirato fuori dal suo cilindro magico se fosse vissuto ancora.........Per quanto riguarda gli aspetti tecnici di questo blu-ray segnalo un miglioramento nettissimo rispetto alla precedente uscita in dvd che d'altronde era tutt'altro che deprecabile considerata l'anzianità della pellicola. Con questa riedizione però il quadro complessivo è diventato ancora più pulito, molto dettagliato, con colori vividissimi e poco rumore video... è così che va veramente visto e goduto a pieno questo capolavoro.Sul versante audio niente di rilevante da segnalare rispetto alla versione dvd, ma d'altronde per questo tipo di film non conta più di tanto.Da vedere e rivedere, consigliato a tutti i veri appassionati di cinema !!!!