Strangers on a Train

1951

1h 41m

IMDb RATING

7.7/10

1.8K

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Crime

Thriller

A charming psychopath tries to coerce a tennis star into his theory that two strangers can commit the perfect crime by exchanging murders—each killing the other’s most-hated person.

Directors

Alfred Hitchcock

Writers

Czenzi Ormonde(screenplay by)

Whitfield Cook(adaptation by)

Patricia Highsmith(novel by)

Stars

Farley Granger

Ruth Roman

Robert Walker

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Top cast

Guy Haines

Anne Morton

Bruno Antony

Sen. Morton

Barbara Morton

Miriam Haines

Mrs. Antony

Mr. Antony

Police Capt. Turley

Prof. Collins

Mrs. Cunningham

Det. Leslie Hennessey

Brooks Benedict

Tennis Umpire (uncredited)

John Doucette

Det. Hammond (uncredited)

Harry Hines

Man Under Merry-Go-Round (uncredited)

Alfred Hitchcock

Man Boarding Train Carrying a Double Bass (uncredited)

Paul McGuire

Train Passenger (uncredited)

Oliver Cross

Party Guest (uncredited)

Directors

Alfred Hitchcock

Writers

Czenzi Ormonde(screenplay by)

Whitfield Cook(adaptation by)

Patricia Highsmith(novel by)

All cast & crew

Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Tennis pro "Haines" (Farley Granger) is quietly travelling in the club car of a train when his neighbour "Bruno" (Robert Walker) strikes up a conversation. It all seems innocuous enough, the former man is an accomplished player and it seems to him that this is a fan, of sorts, who just wants some company as he drowns his journey in Scotch. What quickly becomes clear from this chat is that both have people in their lives they'd rather be without. "Haines" is married to "Miriam" (Kasey Rogers) but would far sooner be married to senator's daughter "Anne" (Ruth Roman) whilst "Bruno" desperately wants shot of his overbearing father (Jonathan Hale). How about these two complete strangers carry out a cunningly planned murder each that will solve the other's problem? The athlete is having none of this, but when "Bruno" takes matters into his own hands a bit of menacing blackmail rears it's ugly head before the suspicious police start sniffing around and "Haines" finds himself in quite a spot. This is one of Raymond Chandler's better structured stories with quite an intricate series of layers to it - each more perilous for the hapless, lovestruck and out of his depth "Haines". There develops a palpable chemistry between the on-form Walker and Granger who both manage to keep this story compelling as director Alfred Hitchcock turns the screws gently but firmly on both of these characters. It all comes to an head in a fairground where the dazzling lights, highly pitched music and accumulating sense of panic complete a tautly presented and powerfully scored (by Dimitri Tiomkin) drama that looks at human vice, betrayal and temerity. Trains always provide well as conduits for crime thrillers, and with strong, if sparing, support from the likes of Marion Lorne, Leo G. Carroll, Hitch's own daughter Patricia as the meddling "Barbara" and a short cameo from Norma Varden (before she discovered large, ugly, hats) to add some richness - and diversion - to the machinations, then it might just make you very wary of striking up any conversation with any stranger ever again!

Geronimo196722 Aug, 2024