A Hitchcock a Day - Marnie

Marnie (1964) came right after The Birds and starred Tippi Hedren in the title role, along with Sean Connery. It is not considered one of Hitchcock's best but the main character is a really rich and complicated one that offers the necessary mystery to the film.

Marnie is a complicated woman. A really intelligent one, for sure, but a woman with many personal problems. We first meet her after she has robbed her boss and has gotten away without any problems.

This is a lifestyle for her: Find a job, steal the money and get out. Soon, she gets hired at Rutland's and it is clear that her plan is the usual: to steal and run. Not everything goes as planned, however, as her boss is the handsome Sean Connery who seems to have recognised her from her previous job.

He flirts with her and even though she eventually steals from him, he forgives her.

The truth is that Marnie is a problematic person who cheats, lies and misguides anyone she meets. But Rutland is determined to find the source of her problems and help her.

Soon they get married, besides the fact that Marnie doesn't show any affection towards her husband and doesn't like to be touched. Everything has a reason, though, right?

The movie is based on a book and the first screenwriter did not want to include a rape scene between Marnie and her husband. Hitchcock didn't agree with the omission of the scene and hired Jay Presson Allen who had no problems with the scene and even understood that that particular moment was one of the main reasons that Hitchcock wanted to make the film.

After rehearsing with her handsome co-star, Tippi Hedren said to Hitchcock: "Marnie is supposed to be frigid. Have you seen him?". To which he answered: "It's called acting."

Sean Connery was cast after Hitchcock and his screenwriter had seen some scenes from Dr. No. They liked his charismatic performance so much, that they offered him the part.