NoirFan

I've been on a bit of a Hitchcock bender recently, and I've been trying to watch all of his films, or at least the ones available on DVD. I just had the distinct displeasure of sitting through ninety-five excruciating minutes of Mr. and Mrs. Smith, and about halfway through I started to wonder if this was the worst Hitchcock film I had ever seen. By the end of the film, I was sure of it. A paper-thin story, unlikable characters, numbingly unfunny sequences, and a somewhat disturbingly comedic approach to domestic violence all contributed to my extreme discomfort in viewing Mr. and Mrs. Smith. it was just awful, and I'm usually a big fan of screwball comedies. So, which of Hitchcock's films do you think is his worst? I've provided nine suggestions, but as always, feel free to nominate your own.

Family Plot
Topaz
Marnie
The Trouble with Harry
Spellbound
Jamaica Inn
Number 17
Mr. and Mrs. Smith
To Catch a Thief
Other - please specify

Rockmjd23

Juno and the Paycock.

chris_sc77

Of those on the list I have to say Spellbound. Just cant get into that one or something.
I think to Catch A Thief and the Trouble with Harry are both great and Family Plot is enjoyable. The others I havn't seen.

Cosmic Bus

I've seen everything after but nothing prior to the original Man Who Knew Too Much, so I can't comment on those, but Mr. and Mrs. Smith would probably get my vote, too. Second pick? Honestly, it'd be the Lady Vanishes. I really can't stand it.

Finisher

I've seen all his sound films and my bottom three is:

Topaz
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Aventure Malgache

All three are godawful and practically unwatchable.

Hokeyboy

I'm gonna catch hell for this but... Shadow of a Doubt. That film bores me to tears, neither suspenful nor insightful. Dramatically inert. Overwrought. Boring.

I'd rather watch Mr. & Mrs. Smith for 24 hours straight.


And whomever suggested The Lady Vanishes can go shoo in the melon!!

tommyp007

Having not seen some of the earliest works, I gotta go with Topaz.

Adam Tyner

I've watched the majority of his American movies -- most repeatedly -- but Topaz practically puts me to sleep.

MBoyd

Couldn't stand Mr & Mrs Smith.

Boba Fett

Topaz.

To Catch a Thief shouldn't even be on the list.

utopianz14

Number 17 is by far the worst Hitchcock film I've ever seen. I would rather watch all the other films on the list in one sitting than have to sit through the mess of a movie that is Number 17 again.

pjflyer

Torn Curtain

Gunde

Under Capricorn.

I liked Mr. And Mrs. Smith

Cosmic Bus

Heh, as I consider Shadow of a Doubt to be his best, I guess you can go shoo, too.

Chew

There's still several silents I haven't seen, but of all the ones I have: Topaz

Adboy151

Torn Curtain and Topaz

Doughboy

I've only seen a few of those, but The Trouble With Harry was by far the worst. Boring, not funny, and not suspenseful in the least. It's 2 hours of people burying and digging up a corpse. Maybe I would've enjoyed it more had it been Terry Kiser as the corpse and Andrew McCarthy and Jonathan Silverman digging him up.

Funny that someone mentioned Shadow of a Doubt. I wasn't a big fan, although I wouldn't consider it Hitchcock's worst. But I recall reading somewhere that it was his favorite out of all his films.

frenchy

I will agree with Torn Curtain and Topaz. I liked Mr. and Mrs. Smith as well.

Geofferson

I have not yet seen Topaz. That said, I voted Family Plot.

Jaymole

I would say Under Capricorn

marty888

Some of the very early titles have limited entertainment value, but still are interesting to see. I'll give Hitch the benefit of the doubt during his "learning" years.

Once he's made some terrific films (39 Steps, Lady Vanishes) I tend to be less forgiving.

JAMAICA INN is pretty bad, but still better than THE PARADINE CASE or TOPAZ which are my least favorite of all.

For a long time, I wasn't a big fan of TORN CURTAIN but I've enjoyed it more the last few times I've watched it.

Of the movies that people dump on the most, the one that I do like a lot is MARNIE.

asianxcore

I have to agree with you there. It was one of the films I caught a Hitchcock class I took years ago. Was thoroughly bored as well.

Thought I might interest me a little more with the setting being a 30 minute drive from where I live

dick_grayson

that's funny you mention that. I, indeed, used to put that on when I couldn't sleep.

dick_grayson

Bruce Dern's hair in that movie saves it from being a bad movie.....imo

albert_m

Topaz could have been better, but I really enjoy it - Torn Curtain is decent too.