Stage Fright (1950)

A struggling actress tries to help a friend prove his innocence when he's accused of murdering the husband of a high society entertainer.

Director:

Alfred Hitchcock

Writers:

Whitfield Cook (screen play), Alma Reville (adaptation)

Stars:

Marlene Dietrich, Jane Wyman, Richard Todd

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Jane Wyman	...	Eve Gill
Marlene Dietrich	...	Charlotte Inwood
Michael Wilding	...	Ordinary Smith
Richard Todd	...	Jonathan Cooper
Alastair Sim	...	Commodore Gill (as Alistair Sim)
Sybil Thorndike	...	Mrs. Gill
Kay Walsh	...	Nellie Goode
Miles Malleson	...	Mr. Fortesque (as Miles Mallison)
Hector MacGregor	...	Freddie Williams
Joyce Grenfell	...	'Lovely Ducks'
André Morell	...	Inspector Byard (as Andre Morell)
Patricia Hitchcock	...	Chubby Bannister
Ballard Berkeley	...	Sergeant Mellish

Storyline

Jonathan Cooper is wanted by the police who suspect him of killing his lover's husband. His besotted friend Eve Gill offers to hide him and Jonathan explains to her that his real lover, actress Charlotte Inwood is the real murderer. Eve decides to investigate for herself, but when she meets the detective in charge of the case, she truly falls in love.

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Plot Keywords:

frame up | pretending to faint | police | actress | love | 

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Taglines:

Hands that applaud can also kill!

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Genres:

Film-Noir | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 April 1950 (USA)

Also Known As:

Die rote Lola

Filming Locations:

Mayfair, London, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$1,437,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$1,012,000, 31 December 1950

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,012,000, 31 December 1952

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to Sir Alfred Hitchcock, he ran into great difficulties with Jane Wyman. Wyman was required to appear frumpy and inelegant when she goes incognito as a maid, but Wyman was reluctant to appear so plain when Marlene Dietrich appeared so glamorous. Hitchcock recounted that Wyman would cry when she would see Dietrich looking glamorous on-set when she was in her maid disguise. Hitchcock said that she could not accept the idea of her character being frumpy or dowdy. Much to Hitchcock chagrin, Wyman secretly put on make-up or otherwise try to improve her appearance, thus failing to maintain her character.

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Goofs

Eve reports back to her father in a call box having been unable to gain entrance to the murder house. "Oh don't be ridiculous father, the police won't let anyone near the place" - she actually mouths "near the house".

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Quotes

[first lines]
Eve Gill: Any sign of the police?
Jonathan Cooper: No, no sign. Looks like we're getting away with it.
Eve Gill: Good.
Jonathan Cooper: How far is it to your father's boat?
Eve Gill: Two hours, with luck. You're luck seems to be very good. Touching wood.

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Alternate Versions

A French VHS released in the nineties contained two versions of the film: one dubbed, the other subtitled. Beside this difference numerous edits were made in the dubbed version. Many scenes were shortened such as the talk between Eve and her father outside the boathouse in the night, Eve's attempt to disguise herself as a maid... However, and more importantly, this version contained two longer scenes not present in any copy released on VHS or DVD so far.

• The first one is an extension of the bar discussion scene between the maid and the other patrons, right before Eve asks Wilfred Smith "Don't you think she's talking too much?" The dialog is dubbed in French.
• The second scene is a slightly but magnificent longer version of Marlene Dietrich singing "The Laziest Gal in Town". The complete song runs 4 minutes instead of 3.37 in the edited version. The cut occurs after the first "it's not 'cause I couldn't" in the lyrics.

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Connections

Featured in Hitchcock and 'Stage Fright' (2004)

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Soundtracks

La Vie en Rose
Music by Louiguy
Lyrics by Édith Piaf
Performed by Marlene Dietrich

User Reviews

Superb..... Hitchcock's most underrated talkie

black comedy that boasts great performances from Jane Wyman, Marlene Dietrich, Michael Wilding, Alistair Sim, Sybil Thorndike, Joyce Grenfell, Kay Walsh & Richard Todd. Great use of silent sequences, close ups, slow motion, black humor, and mood lighting, Hitch's most underrated talkie (Easy Virtue is is most underrated silent film), this murder mystery offers all kinds of plot twists and sly humor even though you know the outcome long before it unspools. It's irrelevent. Fun all the way, including the opening theatre curtain and the closing one (thump). Dietrich is a splendid bitch, and this may be the best performance Wyman ever gave. Also look for Everley Gregg, Patricia Hitchcock, Miles Malleson and Ballard Berkeley. Dietrich's final close up and the coach scene with Wyman and Todd are gems. Sim and Thorndike are hilarious, as is the always wonderful Grenfell as "Lovely Ducks." A Must See.