DVD Pick: Special Editions of Three Hitchcock Masterpieces

On October 7, 2008, Universal Studios Home Entertainment released Special Editions of three of Alfred Hitchcock's greatest movies: Psycho (1960), Vertigo (1958) and Rear Window (1954). But this is not a collection — each title each title was released separately as a two-disc DVD set.

All three titles have been previously released on DVD, and the Special Editions carry over the bonus materials from the earlier versions. But significant new supplements are added as well. Each title comes with a new audio commentary, an interview of Hitchcock by François Truffaut, an episode of the TV series Alfred Hitchcock Presents and at least one other new extra.

Arguably the best psychological thriller ever made, Psycho is a masterwork of suspense and horror. The main character, Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins), at first seems attractive, vulnerable and likable, and it's touching when he says, "A boy's best friend is his mother." But he turns out to be a psychopath, and Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) has the misfortune to check into the isolated motel he runs.

The extras from older DVD versions of Psycho, including the 94-minute 1997 making-of documentary and the two-minute featurette showing how Bernard Herrmann's screeching violin music enhances the terror in the shower scene, have been carried over to the Special Edition.

But new bonus materials have been added as well. One of these is a scholarly audio commentary by Stephen Rebello, author of Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho. Another is the 26-minute "In the Master's Shadow: Hitchcock's Legacy," in which filmmakers discuss Hitchcock's influence. Also, there's a 14-minute 1962 audio interview of Hitchcock by François Truffaut. Finally, there's "Lamb to the Slaughter" starring Barbara Bel Geddes, a half-hour episode from Season 3 of the Alfred Hitchcock Presents TV show.

Vertigo is a haunting, unsettling, twisted love story that involves deception, murder and two accidental deaths. In it, Scottie Ferguson (James Stewart) is hired to follow Madeleine (Kim Novak), an icy blonde. He becomes obsessed with her, but she mysteriously dies. Later, Ferguson meets Judy (also played by Novak) and pushes her into changing her hair, makeup and clothes to be more like Madeleine.

The bonus materials from older DVD versions are brought over, including the 29-minute making-of titled "Obsessed With Vertigo," the two-minute alternate ending made to satisfy censors in countries where the murderer could not be allowed to get away with his crime, and the sometimes informative audio commentary by associate producer Herbert Coleman, the two restorers and several other Vertigo participants.

In addition, the Special Edition contains new extras. A second audio commentary track is added, this one by William Friedkin (director of The Exorcist), but he spends an inordinate amount of time describing the obvious. Another new supplement is the 55-minute "Partners in Crime: Hitchcock's Collaborators," which takes a look at costume designer Edith Head, composer Bernard Herrmann, title creator Saul Bass, and Hitch's wife, Alma. There's also an audio recording of Truffaut interviewing Hitchcock for 14 minutes in 1962 and "The Case of Mr. Pelham" starring Tom Ewell, a half-hour episode from Season 1 of Alfred Hitchcock Presents.

An enormously entertaining movie, Rear Window is a splendid example of Hitchcock's ability to season mystery and suspense with a dash of romance. Confined to his apartment due to an injury, a photographer (James Stewart) sees things indicating his neighbor is a murderer. Aided by his gorgeous icy blonde girlfriend (Grace Kelly) and his nurse, he tries to figure out what's going on.

The Special Edition brings over extras from older DVD versions, including the 55-minute documentary "Rear Window Ethics" made in the year 2000 and the 13-minute "Conversation With Screenwriter John Michael Hayes."

New bonus materials are provided on the Special Edition DVDs as well. One of these is a new audio commentary by John Fawell, author of Hitchcock's Rear Window: The Well-Made Film. There are also the 25-minute "Pure Cinema: Through the Eyes of the Master," which takes a look at some of Hitchcock's greatest sequences, and the 23-minute "Breaking Barriers: The Sound of Hitchcock," an examination of how the great director employed sound in his films. Finally, there's 16 more minutes of Truffaut interviewing Hitchcock and "Mr. Blanchard's Secret," a half-hour episode from Season 2 of Alfred Hitchcock Presents.

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