The worst movie directed by Alfred Hitchcock was “Juno & the Paycock” (1930) since most of it takes place within a single setting plus the story’s pacing is slow as fuck (not until the end that the plot evolves). The best one he directed for me personally is “Strangers on a train” (1951) since the acting is good & engaging plotline. Other ones that are also good are: The Birds, Vertigo, Psycho, North by Northwest to name a few.
Best is either Rear Window or Psycho. Worst is Marnie. But it’s so over the top bad it’s kinda funny.
Rear Window, partly because he takes the ‘shot in the same location’ idea and makes the best possible movie out of it. Partly because he shines a fascinating camera on the phenomenon of people-watching. But also because the specially-built set (inside a warehouse stage IIRC) is incredibly intricate and becomes the 3rd star of the movie, effectively. All that said, viscerally I just loved it, as well.
Meanwhile, I caught a couple of Hitch’s movies later in his life and they didn’t do much for me. So, somewhere in that 4-film run of Marnie to Family Plot would be my least favorite.
North by Northwest and The Birds are my two favorites, NXNW for the epic scale and Bernard Hermann’s soundtrack, and The Birds because it’s creepy as fuck. I also really like Rear Window. While I’m not the biggest Jimmy Stewart fan, the story and the set design are amazing.
I liked The 39 Steps a lot, haven’t seen enough to see one I haven’t liked but i hear that Hitchcock’s filmography is a bit of a mixed bag.
I haven’t seen everything he’s done, but my under rated favorite is “Family Plot.”
Funny and scary, with wicked performances all around.
My Favorite Hitchcock movie is The Birds.
The only Hitchcock movie i have seen that I don’t like was Lifeboat.
Loved Rear Windows
