Strangers on a Train (1951) is a great DVD and certainly a must own for any Hitchcock fan. The film is presented in the original Academy aspect ratio, and the picture is quite good for a film of its age. Given the time the movie was shot, there are obviously no great explosions, etc. in store, but the audio track is quite good.
Strangers is the story of two men who meet purely by change on a train. One has a problem with his soon to be ex-wife, while the other is having difficulty with his father. A plot is suggested where they will exchange murders, however only one of the men take it seriously.
The story is a great tale of how one man deals with the consequences of his chance meeting and subsequent murder, while the other man deals with the fact that his murder has not been carried out. The story has great tension and is paced very well.
Hitchcock really shines in this movie as he creates some excellent imagery and keeps you on the edge of your seat. The DVD contains both the UK and US versions, watching the UK version first is recommended as the US version has some elements edited. The DVD's other extras several trailers from Strangers and other Hitchcock films, as well as some footage from Hitchcock's promotional tour. Overall, this is a great movie, presented nicely by Warner Brothers on DVD. Get it while you can, as this DVD will soon be out of print.
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