Outstanding spy thriller

Rating: 9/10 (18 March 2003)

This film is enjoyable on so many levels. In addition to being his usual dashing and debonair self, Cary Grant also plays being flustered very convincingly. Eva Marie Saint (who hosts a very interesting documentary of the film on the DVD) is elegant and graceful in the tradition of Grace Kelly which Hitchcock loves so much. James Mason as Van Damme and Martin Landau as Leonard wonderfully underscore their villainy thereby make its implication more threatening than the actual execution (no pun intended). Van Damme and Leonard also appear to have a homosexual undertone in their relationship. There are so many memorable moments in this film. My favorite is the encounter between Roger and Eve on the train. Superb film. Highly recommended, 9/10.