Nonureva
Really Surprised!
Curapedi
I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.
Jakoba
True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.
Mark Habeeb
This has got to be one of Hitchcock's best films ever. And I would say top film from the 40's. The movie slowly develops into a very suspencful ride that really did catch me on the edge of my seat. The charectors are very well developed and you really get attached to them. The concept of this movie involves a woman psychiatrist who falls in love with a man who at first claims to be a psychiatrist as well. Soon we find out that he is an imposter, but he does not remember why. As he leaves for new york, the woman go's after him. The movie from there takes on an adventure. As the woman falls deeper in love with the man, but does not know if he is truly insane, possibly a murderer, or simply experienced a bad case of amnesia. As the mystery unravels, the movie will keep you guessing. Only Hitchcock can blend, Suspense, Romance, Psychological thriller, and Adventure all into one perfect harmony. Truly a Masterpiece.
JohnHowardReid
In his excellent study of Ingrid Bergman for the Pyramid Illustrated History of the Movies series, Curtis F. Brown tells exactly what is wrong with Spellbound: "In addition to Gregory Peck's callow appearance and wooden acting, the film has other serious faults. One is its pretentious and simplistic 'dream sequence. Another is the dialogue." Most of the picture is thrown Bergman's way and she is such an accomplished actress and lights up the screen with such a charismatic inner radiance that it doesn't really matter what she says. The logical, pragmatic side of our brain is only half-listening. And as for Peck, for once his very shallowness and lack of presence is ideally suited for the part he is called upon to play. The support cast, led by Leo G. Carroll, is also sufficiently professional to either smooth out or neatly contrast the gauche acting of the amateurish Peck. Though why Michael Chekhov was honored with a Supporting Actor nomination is beyond me. Competent enough he certainly is, but he is among the least interesting of the supporting line-up. Other names that spring to mind well before Chekhov' are John Emery, Rhonda Fleming, Norman Lloyd and Wallace Ford. The Criterion DVD can be thoroughly recommended.
Lee Eisenberg
Years before "Marnie" focused on someone who reacts to a certain color, Alfred Hitchcock focused on the topic in "Spellbound". Ingrid Bergman plays a psychoanalyst in a mental hospital whose new director (Gregory Peck) has a strange aversion to lines in white, and he starts having doubts about his identity.Much of the plot struck me as routine, but there's one thing in the movie that really makes it worth seeing: the dream sequence. Designed by Salvador Dalí, it rivals Darren Aronofsky's movies in surrealism. When you think about it, it's too bad that Hitch and Dalí didn't collaborate more. They could've come up with some impressive things.I should say that it's not Hitch's best movie. There were a few scenes that made me think "that's not what would happen", and the ending came across as sort of a cop-out. But overall, the Sultan of Suspense shows the same flair for filmmaking that he usually does. I guess that the focus on psychoanalysis predicts AH's most famous movie.PS: Michael Chekhov (Dr. Brulov) was the nephew of playwright Anton Chekhov.
zkonedog
In this go-round, Alfred Hitchcock plays psychologist, as the themes/actions of the film revolve around a mental institution and a case of mistaken identity/amnesia.For a basic plot summary, "Spellbound" tells the story of Constance Petersen (Ingrid Bergman) and her new boss at the institution, played by Gregory Peck. Thrust together in a perplexing situation, the newly infatuated pair must piece together the mystery confound them. Saying anything more would severely spoil the twists and turns.As is usually the case with Hitch, this is a very solid, entertaining film. It's a bit slow (at least by today's standards) in the early goings, but the overall plot is engaging enough to keep you from tuning out early.The visuals, as also per Hitch, are up to the usual standard. A few scenes stand out as spectacular, while the entire film is generally visually impressive throughout. It was probably revolutionary for its time and still stands up well today.The acting is solid too, with Peck & Bergman doing what they do best and surrounded by an accomplished supporting cast.Thus, while perhaps not on the same level as "Vertigo" or "Psycho", "Spellbound" is just a notch or two below. It is entertaining, engaging, will make you think, and keep you guessing until the credits roll.
