Review of Spellbound

Spellbound (1945)
7/10
An exceptional Hitchcock film concerning a murder blended with Freudian theories.
29 September 2006
Good Alfred Hitchcock film in which Ingrid Bergman plays a psychiatrist from a mental hospital with various patients (Norman Lloyd, Rhonda Fleming), along with Leo G. Carroll and other doctors heal them . There comes Gregory Peck replacing former director . But Peck has amnesia and having panic to white color and the lines , then Ingrid falls in love with him , as she uncovers his previous life through Freudian analysis . The picture is based on novel ¨House of Edwards¨ by Bleeding and concerning the psychoanalysis , an usual theme in post-WWII time.

The movie contains thriller , tension , suspense , romance , intrigue , unlimited excitement and plenty of plot twists , as usual in Hitchcock films . Besides , it has a literately witty dialog with distinctive Hitch's touches and writing credits by Ben Hetch (Billy Wilder's habitual writer). There's also an exciting and famous dream sequence by Salvador Dali . Hitch didn't want the ordinary dream images with fog and cloud but he asked David O'Selznick (the famed Hollywood producer) for hire to prestigious surrealist painter Salvador Dali from Spain . Superb performances from main characters , a gorgeous blonde (Hitch later used Grace Kelly , Kim Novak) Ingrid Bergman (1915-1982) who would work with Hitchcock in various films (Notorious , Under Capricorn) and the elegant and brilliant Gregory Peck (Paradine trial) as the confuse amnesic , both of whom are frankly well . They are well accompanied by a good support cast , such as : Leo G Carroll, Rhonda Fleming and Norman Lloyd , Hitch' s regular. Sensational black and white cinematography by George Barnes . Dramatic, atmospheric and thrilling musical score by Miklos Rozsa , he won an Academy Award for the excellent score . The flick will appeal to Hitchcock enthusiasts as well as Ingrid Bergman/Gregory Peck fans . Rating : Above average , well worth watching.
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