Rent Rich and Strange (1931)

3.2 of 5 from 58 ratings
1h 23min
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Synopsis:
A charming romantic comedy with Fred and Emily Hill (Henry Kendall and Joan Barry) inheriting a fortune that gives them the opportunity to shed their boring existence in London and live a life that until now they could only dream about. So together they decide to book a world cruise; something they had always wanted to do but could never afford. With all their troubles behind them, or so they think, they embark on their voyage without a care in the world. But it is a very different life on board a cruise liner from the one they've been used to at home. The people are different... they're not so friendly, and some are so snooty they don't even talk.
But undeterred they make the most of their time on the high seas and cocooned in their new life of privilege find themselves getting that romantic feeling again, although the results of this long forgotten pastime lead to comical consequences.
Actors:
, , , ,
Directors:
Producers:
John Maxwell
Writers:
Dale Collins, Alfred Hitchcock, Alma Reville, Val Valentine
Studio:
Whe Europe Limited
Genres:
Classics, Comedy, Romance
Collections:
A Brief History of Cinema Afloat: Part 2, Alfred Hitchcock's British Films
BBFC:
Release Date:
28/02/2005
Run Time:
83 minutes
Languages:
English, Silent
Subtitles:
None
DVD Regions:
Region 2
Formats:
Pal
Aspect Ratio:
Full Screen 1.33:1 / 4:3
Colour:
B & W

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Reviews (1) of Rich and Strange

Hitchcock curiosity. - Rich and Strange review by Steve

Spoiler Alert
Updated 24/02/2021

One of three films Hitchcock made in 1931 is my favourite of the oddities he produced between his sound breakthrough with Blackmail in 1929 and his crystallisation as the Master of Suspense with The Man Who Knew Too Much in 1934.

A married couple bored with suburbia and the rat race come into money and take a cruise around the world in search of excitement before concluding... that they are happy to be a boring suburban couple! Joan Barry is quite appealing as the wife, but Henry Kendall is a bit of a disaster as her spouse.

 Its main interest is  scene where a Chinese sailor gets a foot trapped in a rope and is slowly lowered into the sea to drown (yet another man in Hitchcock falling to his death) while the rest of the crew passively observe. It is perhaps the most shocking, eerie and bizarre scene in any of his films.

As with The Ring (1927), Hitch had greater control over story development, and again it flopped. It is his strangest film. Although a talkie, much of it is silent, and features title cards. It evades genre definition, being too desolate for comedy. The film has an atmosphere unlike any other he made, it's mood not so much one of suspense, but of sadness. It is unique among his work.

1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.

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