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Stage Fright
1950 110 min United Kingdom 16+
★7.4
Thriller
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Trailers
Description
A struggling actress tries to help a friend prove his innocence when he's accused of murdering the husband of a high-society entertainer.
Budget:
$1.45M
Worldwide:
$1.9M
Starring
Marlene Dietrich
Actor
Jane Wyman
Actor
Richard Todd
Actor
Awards
5 wins & 1 nomination total
Key opinion
Alfred Hitchcock's Stage Fright is widely appreciated for its stylish visual execution, compelling performances by its two leads, and a narrative defined by its signature, unpredictable twists. While it marks a departure from his most intense suspense films due to a blend of melodrama and humor, it remains a highly regarded piece of cinema that rewards multiple viewings.
| Cinematography | Cinematography and lighting consistently create a sophisticated, atmospheric, and visually precise aesthetic throughout the film. | |
| Acting | Marlene Dietrich delivers a standout, quintessential femme fatale performance that commands every frame she inhabits. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay utilizes innovative, unreliable flashbacks and a surprising twist ending that effectively manipulate and challenge audience expectations. | |
| Theme | The film balances suspense with elements of humor, comedy, and melodrama, creating a tone that some viewers find refreshingly complex and others feel creates a disjointed departure from pure thriller conventions. | |
| Acting | Jane Wyman’s performance is a point of contention: some praise her emotional sincerity and evolving range, while a minority of viewers find her portrayal less compelling than Dietrich's. |