Marnie (1964)

Director:

Alfred Hitchcock

Writers:

Winston Graham (from the novel by)
Jay Presson Allen (screenplay)

Release Date:

22 July 1964 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

"You don't love me. I'm just some kind of wild animal you've trapped!"

Plot:

Mark marries Marnie although she is a habitual thief and has serious psychological problems, and tries to help her confront and resolve them.

Plot Keywords:

Thief | Past | Memory | Honeymoon | Money

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Tippi Hedren	...	Marnie Edgar (as 'Tippi' Hedren)
Sean Connery	...	Mark Rutland
Diane Baker	...	Lil Mainwaring
Martin Gabel	...	Sidney Strutt
Louise Latham	...	Bernice Edgar
Bob Sweeney	...	Cousin Bob
Milton Selzer	...	Man at Track
Alan Napier	...	Mr. Rutland
Henry Beckman	...	First Detective
Edith Evanson	...	Rita - Cleaning Woman
Mariette Hartley	...	Susan Clabon
Bruce Dern	...	Sailor
S. John Launer	...	Sam Ward
Meg Wyllie	...	Mrs. Turpin
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Alvin	...	Hotel Chauffeur (uncredited)
Kimberly Beck	...	Jessica 'Jessie' Cotton (uncredited)
Linden Chiles	...	Office Worker (uncredited)
Rupert Crosse	...	Office Worker (uncredited)
John Hart	...	Minister (uncredited)
Emmaline Henry	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Alfred Hitchcock	...	Man Leaving Hotel Room (uncredited)
Kenner G. Kemp	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Louise Lorimer	...	Mrs. Strutt (uncredited)
Milton Parsons	...	Bald Man (uncredited)
Carmen Phillips	...	Sidney Strutt's Secretary (uncredited)
Melody Thomas Scott	...	Young Marnie (uncredited)
Bert Stevens	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Hal Taggart	...	Man at Racetrack (uncredited)

Directed by
Alfred Hitchcock

Writing credits
Winston Graham		(from the novel by)
Jay Presson Allen		(screenplay)

Produced by
Alfred Hitchcock	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Bernard Herrmann

Cinematography by
Robert Burks		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
George Tomasini		(edited by)

Production Design by
Robert F. Boyle		(as Robert Boyle)

Set Decoration by
George Milo

Makeup Department
Alexandre	....	hairstyles creator: Miss Hedren (as Alexandre of Paris)
Jack Barron	....	makeup
Virginia Darcy	....	hair stylist
Robert Dawn	....	makeup
Howard Smit	....	makeup

Production Management
Hilton A. Green	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
James H. Brown	....	assistant director
Patricia Casey	....	assistant director (uncredited)
Hilton A. Green	....	assistant director (uncredited)
William Witney	....	second unit director (uncredited)

Art Department
Harold Michelson	....	storyboard artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
William Russell	....	sound recordist
Waldon O. Watson	....	sound recordist

Visual Effects by
Albert Whitlock	....	pictorial designs

Stunts
May Boss	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Leonard J. South	....	camera operator (as Leonard South)
Bobby Greene	....	first assistant camera (uncredited)
Paul Jacobsen	....	electrician (uncredited)
Robert Willoughby	....	special still photographer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Vincent Dee	....	costume supervisor
Edith Head	....	costume designer: Miss Hedren and Miss Baker
James Linn	....	costumes: men
Rita Riggs	....	costumes: women

Other crew
Peggy Robertson	....	assistant: Mr. Hitchcock
Lois Thurman	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures (presents) (as Universal)

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1964) (USA) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures France (UPF) (1964) (France) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures (1964) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1967) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• MCA Home Video (1986) (USA) (VHS)
• Universal Pictures (1999) (Germany) (VHS)
• CIC Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Universal Home Video (Brazil) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Video (2000) (Canada) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Video (2006) (Canada) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Video (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Berliner Synchron  German dubbing

Also Known As:

Runtime:

130 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Italy:VM14 | Norway:16 (1964) | Peru:14 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 (re-rating) (1993) | UK:X (original rating) | West Germany:16 | Singapore:PG | Spain:18 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | USA:PG (1984) | USA:Approved (PCA #20710) | Portugal:M/12 | Brazil:12 | Norway:15 (TV rating) | USA:TV-PG (TV rating)

Filming Locations:

San Jose, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Noted action and serial director William Witney was the uncredited second unit director for the fox hunt sequence.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Marnie enters Mark's office to rob the safe, in order to build suspense, there are 3 quick close up shots of the safe's dial. In the first 2 shots the dial is set on 62 in the third shot the dial reads zero, although Marnie is not near it

Quotes:

[first lines]
Sidney Strutt:Robbed! Cleaned out! $9,967! Precisely as I told you over the telephone. And that girl did it. Marion Holland. That's the girl. Marion Holland.
First Detective:Can you describe her Mr. Strutt?
Sidney Strutt:Certainly I can describe her: five-five, 110 pounds, size 8 dress, blue eyes, black wavy hair, even features, good teeth.
Sidney Strutt:[detectives unable to restrain laughter] Well what's so damn funny? There's been a grand larceny committed on these premises.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Saboteur: A Closer Look (2000) (V)

Great, Genius

Marnie is a misunderstood masterpiece from the Hitchcock. Often cited as an example of a messy, flawed genius - it can be off putting to some since its quite talky. However stick with it and you will be intrigued and itching to discover all about Marnie (contrary to what most say, played with understated brilliance from Tippi Hedren).

The direction and cinematography is exceptional with Hitchcock and his usual crew i.e. Rob Burks etc on form. The atmosphere generated (apart from being 'Hitchcocky') is unique, dark, gloomy and at times akin to a horror film, yet it is utterly appealing and compelling. Theres an almost creepy, artificial humanless feel to proceedings as a result of the direction and how the actors have been directed to act as is briefly highlighted by a Hitchcock scholar in the documentary on the disk. Hitchcock knows the art of cinema, no flashy fast cuts or fast moving camera's as we see nowadays, but measured, inspired direction laced with flourishes of creative genius (thats Hithcock for you). Atmosphere, emotion is built up like poetry. Witness for example some moments of genius such as the final revelation, in what is one of Hitchcocks most underrated, powerful and shocking pieces of direction; the riding sequence which culminates in Marnies fantastic yet disturbing line of dialogue, " there there....", and also sinister momnets such as when Marnies mother wakes here from her nightmare- her voice disturbingly artificial in its lack of emotion and empathy for a clearly distraught Marnie.

Speaking of the mother, Louise Latham -the actress behind the role effortlessly steals the show from an already superb Hedren and Connery. Latham eleicits an absolutely breathtaking performance. Her character is frighteningly creepy, tragic, powerful and marvellously played to keep up the suspense and intrigue. You don't know what to make of the character except of the fact she knows or has played a part in Marnies psychological condition. In fact I would go as far as to say it is one of the greatest performances in a Hitchcock picture - an example of genius casting. Similarly her character is arguably the greatest 'mother' character in any Hitchcock film beating Pyscho and Notorious' madame Sebastion.

Marnie is a truly great picture and definetly Hitchcocks last great although Frenzy is a nice enough distraction. Not as good as Vertigo or Rear Window but certainly up there in the higher echelons of Hitchcocks work.

9/10