Spellbound lands as one of Hitchcock's classics but it's far from his best work.
Spellbound (1945)
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Reviews Counted:30
Fresh:26
Rotten:4
Average Rating:7.4/10
Runtime: 1 hr 58 mins
Genre: Dramas
Synopsis: Drawing on psychoanalysis to frame a transcendent love story, Alfred Hitchcock's SPELLBOUND is a mind-bending study of just how far people might go to escape trauma or to pursue passion. Gregory... Drawing on psychoanalysis to frame a transcendent love story, Alfred Hitchcock's SPELLBOUND is a mind-bending study of just how far people might go to escape trauma or to pursue passion. Gregory Peck is introduced as Dr. Edwardes, the newly arrived director of a mental asylum. However, when Edwardes starts displaying strange behavior in a meeting with the staff, Dr. Constance Peterson (Ingrid Bergman) begins to suspect that all is not right with him. Edwardes proves to actually be John Ballantine, a patient suffering from amnesia--and a consuming dread in relation to the missing Dr. Edwardes. As suspicion of murder falls over Ballantine, the icy Peterson finds herself growing more and more emotionally attached to him and more and more convinced that curing his amnesia is the key to proving his innocence. Retreating to an upstate residence, Peterson enlists the help of leading psychoanalyst Dr. Brulov (Michael Chekhov). Pursuing the truth of the mysterious disappearance of Dr. Edwardes leads deep into the tangled mindscape of Ballantine and proves that danger is very close indeed. To illustrate the psychological journey Ballantine undergoes, the film includes a captivating dream sequence designed by the legendary surrealist painter Salvador Dali. [More]
Starring: Ingrid Bergman, Gregory Peck, Leo G. Carroll, Michael Chekhov
Starring: Ingrid Bergman, Gregory Peck, Leo G. Carroll, Michael Chekhov, Rhonda Fleming, John Emery, Norman Lloyd, Steven Geray
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Producer: David O. Selznick
Composer: Miklos Rozsa
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Reviews for Spellbound
an incessantly talky film, with every significant action being explained in long-winded speeches about guilt and repression
once again Hitchcock's camera is the star of the film, elevating its status
The pat psychoanalytic answers seem all too easy by today’s standards, but that really doesn’t take away from enjoyment of this classic film.
It sounds utterly schematic, but this top-notch production redeems the majority of the clichés.
A syrupy serving of Freudian analysis that looks tempting but tastes of too much superego, id, and subconscious jive to be taken seriously.
Not to be speechless about it, David O. Selznick has a rare film in Spellbound.
All in all, Spellbound is more than solid, although still overrated psychological thriller. Its true importance lies not in its quality, but in the roads Hitchcock paved for future filmmakers in it.
The best suspense film dealing with psychoanalysis that I can remember.
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 77% 77% | The Hangover |
| 88% 88% | Inglourious Basterds |
| 66% 66% | Public Enemies |
| 24% 24% | G-Force |
| 44% 44% | Night at the Museum: B… |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 82% 82% | Paranormal Activity |
| 57% 57% | 9 |
| 44% 44% | Jennifer's Body |
| 58% 58% | A Perfect Getaway |
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