Marnie (1964)

Instead of posting a more traditional review of Marnie, I decided to contact Sean Connery and ask the man himself what he felt about this film. Below is a partial transcript of that interview.

Me: Well hello Mr. Connery, it certainly is nice to be able to speak with you.

Sean Connery: You're very sexy with your face clean.

Me: Oh...thanks. Anyway, what I really wanted to talk about was that film Marnie that you made way back in 1964. Now from what I understand, it was a pretty big flop at the box office and only in later years did it really gain critical acclaim. It certainly does have Hitchcock's particular aesthetic written all over it. For example, the blatant use of the zoom, dolly, and extreme close up to make the viewer hyper aware that they are in fact watching a film. Also his stage like film making techniques give the audience a sense that they are watching a play as a means to heighten the drama of the situation. Honestly, I am not a big fan of these techniques and I really believe that for me, at least, it really only serves to take me outside of the film mentally.

Sean Connery: What do you believe in?

Me: Well, I understand that there are a whole lot of Hitchcock fans out there but I guess that I'm just really not one. His brand of film making tends to irritate me more than fascinate me. For instance, I have never watched a Hitchcock film and felt that it was remotely well paced. I also find the theatrics of his films very over the top and unintentionally funny. I just can't handle his particular style.

Sean Connery: By anybody? Or just me?

Me: I'm sorry, I don't understand what your asking.

Sean Connery: Really? You didn't seem to mind at my office that day, or at the stables. And all this last week i've handled you.

Me: I, uuh...don't think you understand what I'm talking about. Let's just get back to the interview. The film wasn't all bad for me though. I really loved the opening shot of Marnie walking slowly away and the camera zooming out from her bright yellow purse. It was a great introduction to her character and at least the surface aspects of her psyche. It was also just very intriguing and a great hook for the rest of the film. Do you remember what it was like to shoot the first scene?

Sean Connery: You're here to answer the questions old girl.

Me: No actually, I think that you missed the point of having an interview. And if you really want to know, I felt that the whole ending of the film was trite and there was no logical progression to it. I'm getting the feeling though the you think that I am wrong.

Sean Connery: That's right - you are. And I've caught something really wild this time, haven't I? I've tracked you and caught you and by God I'm going to keep you.

Me: I don't even know where you were going with that one but don't you find it a little silly that halfway through the film you pretty much became a professional psycologist? Your character had no reason to be such an expert on Freud and psychoanalysis in general. The worst part though, was that the ending of the movie really hinged on your talent as an amateur psychologist which made it seem more than a little contrived.

Sean Connery: I'm fighting a powerful impulse to beat the hell out of you.

Me: Well that is just really inappropriate and I think that this interview is over now. I was even going to say some more nice things about the film like how I felt that the story itself was very interesting and even that I enjoyed your character a lot. Now you'll just never know.

Sean Connery: Atlantic City opens for races at the end of the month. We could drive out there next Saturday...

Me: Yeah right. I don't even know you and just because you used to be James Bond (which is why you got the part in this film in the first place) doesn't mean that you can tell me what to do.

Sean Connery: When we get home, I'll explain that we had a lover's quarrel... That you ran away... That I went after you and brought you back.

Me: Ok well I'm going to end this interview before my boyfriend gets home because I don't think he would be to happy about this.

Sean Connery: He also admires wholesome animal lust.

6/10