"Everyman" by Hitchcock

"Bobby Bloom" <bobby.bloom DeleteThis @gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1136716494.769741.123340@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...
> Hi, is there anyone, who could tell me sth about the thread of
> 'everyman' in Hitchcock's movies? The most obvious example is 'North by
> Northwest' - a reference to Kafka's novels and the model 'everyman'.
> But where else could I find the 'everyman'? Thanks, Bobby Bloom.

I used everyman recently I think, which to me implies an everyday, ordinary
person. I.e., not a king, a head of state, a famous actor, a known criminal,
etc. as opposed to an out and out reference, so I hope I didn't cause any
confusion using the term.

Almost all of Hitchcock's film contain some character (though not always the
main character) that fits this bill (and also Hitchcock may present them as
a "wrong man" - a character who is an everyman type who becomes a "someone"
(as far as the film is concerned anyway) by being thrust into a position
where they've been accused of a crime, etc.)

In Rear Window, Stewart's character is really just a Photographer who
happens to witness strange behavior at a neighbor's house.
In NxNW, Grant is just a businessman who gets mistaken for an agent.
In The Man who knew to much, the main character is just a guy on vacation
with his family, that happens to witness a murder and be given some
information.
In Rope, Stweart is just professor who gets invited to a party where
something has happened.
In Trouble with Harry, the main character is just an artist who happens upon
an apparently dead body.
In Vertigo, Stewart is just a cop who becomes embroiled in a scheme.
Then there's "The Wrong Man"!

Some characters are a little less "everyman", in that they might be a little
more important or well-known than the average Joe.
In Strangers on a Train, Granger's character is a normal guy, who happens to
be a Tennis Pro, but the idea is similar.
In to Catch a Thief, Grant is a famous (infamous) jewel thief.
In Torn Curtain, Newman is a scientist, but apparently well known enough to
be important as a defector.
In Notorius, Grant is a spy (let's say that's not a "everyday" job).

Sometimes, Hitch gives his "everyman" characters a bit of an Achille's heel,
weakness, sinful activity, or tainted past.
In Psyco, Marion is kind of just an average girl, but she's committed a
crime.
In the Birds, it seems that Tippi's character is not as truthful as she
should be.
In Dial M for Murder, the wife is having an affair.

So in these last cases, what happens to the character might be seen as
kharmic in some way.

Note of course that in some movies, there are multiple main characters and
ther may be a mix of "wrong men" and "everymen".

So I hope this is to what you were referring. If not, please ignore :-)

Best,
Steve
 >> Stay informed about: "Everyman" by Hitchcock 

Nicely done, Steve! :-)

Other examples of "everymen" who become unexpectedly embroiled in
difficult situations --

The 39 Steps (1935) in which Robert Donat's character Hannay is a simple
Canadian businessman in England who becomes involved with a deadly spy
ring.

Foreign Correspondent (1940) in which Joel McCrea's character is a news
reporter in Europe during WWII who becomes involved with a Nazi spy-ring
and political intrigue.

Saboteur (1942) in which Robert Cummings' character is an aircraft
factory worker who is wrongly accused of sabotage and murder, and
becomes involved with Nazi agents in a chase across America.
 >> Stay informed about: "Everyman" by Hitchcock 

"Bob K." <Mental-Floss-.TakeThisOut@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:26795-43C3D267-362@storefull-3175.bay.webtv.net...
> Nicely done, Steve! :-)
>
> Other examples of "everymen" who become unexpectedly embroiled in
> difficult situations --
>
> The 39 Steps (1935) in which Robert Donat's character Hannay is a simple
> Canadian businessman in England who becomes involved with a deadly spy
> ring.

I couldn't remember his job - so I didn't mention that one :-)

>
> Foreign Correspondent (1940) in which Joel McCrea's character is a news
> reporter in Europe during WWII who becomes involved with a Nazi spy-ring
> and political intrigue.

Ooh, should have remembered that one. Thanks!

>
> Saboteur (1942) in which Robert Cummings' character is an aircraft
> factory worker who is wrongly accused of sabotage and murder, and
> becomes involved with Nazi agents in a chase across America.

Another good one too. I didn't try to go in for Frenzy, Family Plot, Torn
Curtain, Lady Vanishes, but I'm sure there's that element somewhere.

Best,
Steve
 >> Stay informed about: "Everyman" by Hitchcock 

What is the everyman thread? Can it be found in a lot of Hitchcock's
movies?

Bob


p-e wrote:
> Bobby Bloom wrote:
>
> > Hi, is there anyone, who could tell me sth about the thread of
> > 'everyman' in Hitchcock's movies? The most obvious example is 'North by
> > Northwest' - a reference to Kafka's novels and the model 'everyman'.
> > But where else could I find the 'everyman'? Thanks, Bobby Bloom.
>
> Every Smith is an everyman:
>
> Mr. and Mrs. Smith, 1940/41
> Shadow of a Doubt, 1942/1943 "Just ordinary Smith", detective
> Stage Fright, 1949/1950 Wilfred O. Smith, detective
> To Catch a Thief, 1954/1955 Robie says his name is «Smith» to Hughson,
> the insurance guy from Lloyds
>
> --
> per-erik
 >> Stay informed about: "Everyman" by Hitchcock 

<spot55.TakeThisOut@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:1137647635.696736.37880@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...
What is the everyman thread? Can it be found in a lot of Hitchcock's
movies?

Bob

I may have been the culprit (originator) of this thread, but I think it may
have been misconstrued.
You can check out my older response, which is pretty detailed (and the
response to it), and not to far down now since there's not a huge amount of
activity on this group.

Basically, what I said, is , like the "wrong man" idea that's present in a
lot of hitchock movies (and AHP too for that matter), there's also a lot of
"everyman" characters. I don't mean Everyman, but I mean everyday ordinary
people who end up getting involved in the plots. These are also often "wrong
men" as well. Roger Thornhill in NxNW is a good example. Ordinary guy. Gets
mistaken as spy.

The other side of the coin is the "sinner-man" character. Hitch often also
has a character with a past sin - something that causes them to become "the
wrong man". A good example of this is Marion Crane in Psycho - she's
committed a crime, which what happens to her might be seen as some sort of
kharmic retribution.

Steve
 >> Stay informed about: "Everyman" by Hitchcock