The Paradine Case - Classic Mystery Novel by Robert Hichens | Perfect for Book Clubs, Mystery Lovers & Crime Fiction Enthusiasts

Alida Valli made very few American films, and it is a loss to our history. This star known best for her work in "Miracle of the Bells" (the story of a brilliant actress who plays Joan of Arc, and then dies with that being her only film), is not just a striking beauty. Unlike many of the glamourous, beautiful stars of the 40s, she shares with us a complex and intelligent internal life. We know that we will only know 10% of what is going on in her head, but we see the wheels turning through her eyes. It is this quality which makes this film come alive, and it is a perfect vehicle for her. Gregory Peck (although slightly miscast - not old enough yet to be a middle aged lawyer in mid-life crisis) with his open accessibility to the audience, and his emotional availability is the perfect foil for Valli. This is perhaps one of his most complex roles, and possibly his sexiest. I disagree with the amazon editorial review that this film is bound by it's setting. Hitchcock enjoied the challenge of making films in small, confined sets. The direction here makes the most of Valli's talents, and there are many incredible shots. The entrance of young Louis Jordan into the courtroom behind Valli is an incredible, captivating 300 degree follow shot. This shot physicallizes the chemistry between them without them ever looking at each other. It is worth mentioning here that this film also introduced Louis Jordan. In a rare performance using an American accent, he is raw and brooding and beautiful. He does not have the mannerisms that lessened his later performances, he was not yet a star. It is interesting that in this film, Hitchcock has his usual blonde beauty (Ann Todd) protrayed as conventional and staid. We understand why Gregory Peck would both love her and be bored by her once he meets Valli. He heightens this by contrasting their acting styles as well. Todd's acting style, especially her diction, is old school, while Valli is something new entirely. As a Hitchcock fan, I feel this is one of his best films, ranking with VERTIGO, NOTORIOUS, SUSPICION and I CONFESS as one of my favorites. (It is worth mentioning for the Hitchcock fan, that this film uses many of the same music cues that were used in NOTORIOUS.) I hope the DVD companies will produce a good version of this with commentary. Meanwhile, this VHS - the restored version - is crystal clear, and velvety.