While Alfred Hitchcock is my personal favourite director, he's not been without his disappointments. None of his films that I've seen are terrible, or even bad, but there are a few that have underwhelmed. Rich and Strange doesn't see him at his best(and for reasons other than it not been typical Hitchcock), nor does it see him at his worst. It is beautifully shot and has very evocative scenery and very well done special effects for the time. Hitchcock also does bring some great stylistic touches that does give a feeling that you're watching a Hitchcock film(something that I did not find with Juno and the Paycock, Jamaica Inn and Under Capricorn), and with the opening sequence, Paris travel montage and climax there are some strong moments. The music has a lushly orchestrated jauntiness that fits well with Rich and Strange's tone. Joan Barry is stunningly elegant and gives Emily a real likability. The story is disjointed though, with a darker-edged second half that doesn't bode entirely with the first, and is also very slight in structure, giving a rather tedious feel to some of the less eventful moments. The dialogue has some nice bits of subtle humour but did need a more playful touch and it got turgid in the scenes that weren't paced all that well. Of the characters, Emily is the only one who comes across as interesting or likable, the rest are too thinly sketched and emotionally detached for my tastes. Henry Kendall also seemed to me a little too sophisticated and trying too hard in his role, part of why his and Barry's chemistry didn't convince was that you never really see what it is that Emily sees in Fred in the first place. All in all, strange but still interesting. 6/10 Bethany Cox
Review of East of Shanghai
