Strangers on a Train (1951) is one of the last films of Hitchcock shot in black & white. It stars Farley Granger, Robert Walker and Ruth Roman and it is a very interesting a suspenseful story about two murders. Or more accurately, a theory of two murders.
When the famous tennis player Guy Haines (Farley Granger) meets his fan and avid tabloid reader Bruno Antony (Robert Walker) on the train, he can't imagine how his life will change by this simple encounter.
Bruno starts a conversation with Guy even though the latter doesn't seem really keen to discuss his private affairs with a complete stranger.
However, Bruno keeps on asking about Guy's relationship with his soon-to-be ex-wife and his present girlfriend, Anne (Ruth Roman). When Guy isn't able to find a table at the restaurant of the train, he can't evade Bruno's invitation to eat with him in his own compartment.
It is there that Bruno shares with Guy his theory about "exchanging murders", meaning that two strangers can agree to kill the person the other one would like to be disposed of. This way, the police cannot find a motive and trace the real murderer nor can they accuse someone in random.
Bruno gives an example of his theory saying that he could kill Guy's wife so that he would be free to marry his girlfriend and Guy could kill Bruno's father who is a much hated annoyance.
Guy quickly realises that Bruno is a lunatic and tries to leave, smiling politely and not saying his opinion about the theory.
But when Bruno stalks him and finds out that his wife won't give him the divorce, he decides to take matters into his own hands and do the murder as planned and "agreed" on the train.
Thus, Guy gets in trouble, as his wife gets murdered and the only suspect with a proper motive is Guy himself.
When Guy makes it clear to Bruno that he won't do the other murder, the mad man blackmails him and tells him that he can talk to the police. He also says that the police will believe him as he has Guy's lighter and it can be used as evidence.
So, what will Guy do? Will he do the murder in order to get rid of the lunatic that has him cornered or will he find another way to get out of the mess he so involuntarily got in?
Alfred Hitchcock bought the rights to the novel for just $7,500.
This was Robert Walker's last film as some months later he died from an allergic reaction to a drug.
The character of Bruno was named after a convicted kidnapper/murderer with the same name.
Alfred Hitchcock was an admirer of Edgar Allan Poe and he put a lot of references to his work in his movies. French critics noticed many connections between the Carousel in the film and Poe's "A Descent into the Maelstrom".
With the death of Farley Granger in 2011, Patricia Hitchcock is the only cast member still alive.
Director Cameo: Really early in the film, Hitchcock boards the train carrying a cello while Granger gets off it. Patricia Hitchcock directed her father's cameo.
Memorable Quotes:
"My theory is that everyone is a potential murderer."
Bruno Antony
"Oh, daddy doesn't mind a little scandal. He's a senator."
Barbara Morton
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