This is for Sunday Scribblings, which gave the prompt word, “Hitch.” Also at Poets United, my poetic home-away-from-home. Enjoy, movie buffs! Amy
HITCH
Close-up, sloooowly, Grace leans in
and Jimmy Stewart wakes to a kiss.
Raymond Buff commits a sin,
but Grace and James still find their bliss.
Tippi Hendren, without words,
the schoolkids must deliver:
Running from the pecking birds
to a house where they all shiver.
Wartime Cummings, Saboteur?
Joel McCrea, war correspondent.
Ingrid, a provocateur,
leaves Claude Raines despondent.
And how can we forget the sight
of Janet Leigh’s ill-fated shower:
Black and white blood, one stark fright.
Tony Perkins’ finest hour.
When the planes swooped o’er the grain
Hitch made Cary Grant look tough.
We won’t see Hitchcock’s like again…
but Tarantino steals his stuff.
Alfred Hitchcock, Lord of Thrills,
his wife an aide in everything,
he still brings us stellar chills.
Screw “no Oscar,” Hitch is king.
Sharp Little Pencil 
Tilly Bud
A great praise poem!
I’ve seen most of them, but long ago, so I was glad to get the references.
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks. The only ones I wanted to sneak in were “To Catch a Thief” and the Joseph Cotten/Teresa Wright “Shadow of a Doubt,” but I got my absolute favorite, “Rear Window,” including my favorite shot of Hitchcock’s, that close-up slow-motion kiss! Classic stuff. ONly Hitch movies I didn’t like were “Marnie” and “The Trouble With Harry.”
Jae Rose
I know very little about Hitchcock..now, thank you, I know a bit more..he had a wife? That’s a startler for one..was it Tippi Hendren lying on the sofa swatting off seagulls? Growing up in a seaside town that led to a few nerves walking the dog..your breadth of interests and poetical ease never ceases to amaze..Jae 😉
Sharp Little Pencil
Yes, Jae, he had a wonderful, creative, supportive wife who actually edited a lot of his scripts but never took credit. Their daughter, Susan, can be seen in documentaries, along with great family footage. Hitch was apparently a wonderful father (but a rover of a husband, sleeping with lots of his blonde costars. His wife obviously had a lot of patience…). Amy
christine
His wife was very instrumental to his success, love Hitchcock. Spent one summer with a friend going every Friday night to the local art gallery for a Hitchcock festival. It was the best summer of my teen life. Bravo for your tribute. My fav. film Rear View Mirror I’ve watched it at least 20 times.
Sharp Little Pencil
ALSO MINE! We own it and I’ve seen it at least as many times as you have! And yes, his wife was his script editor, etc., but strangely, she was never credited. Her signature round eyeglasses turn up in the little sister in “Shadow of a Doubt” among many others! Oh, to see “Rear Window” on widescreen again (saw it in NYC) would be heaven! Amy
Altonian
Now why didn’t I think of that! I’m one of his greatest fans. Yours is a fine tribute to a fine film-maker. He shot some great scenes, but I still think the cornfield scene from ‘North by North West’ is one of his best. Thanks for the memories.
Sharp Little Pencil
That was my reference to making Cary Grant look like an action star! Love that movie, even though Eva Marie Saint is one of my least fave “Hitchcock blondes.” Hitchcock would have to be up there in my top five, along with Cukor, Fleming, Ford, and Spielberg. Thanks, Leigh! Amy
vivienne Blake
Nostalgic, rhythmic treat. Thank you, Amy
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks for noting the rhythms, Viv, as I don’t often “go there.” Amy
Serena Shay
Nice job! Hitchcock was a master of chills, definitely!
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Serena. Lots of Hitch fans chiming in! Amy
Lilibeth
He did have a way with the screen. I remember his “rear window” the best. That was real suspense.
Sharp Little Pencil
Aha, my favorite, too – as well as several other readers! Something about Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelly, plus the fact that, because of air conditioning, that movie could never occur now unless there was a blackout!
booguloo
I do enjoy watching his movies.
Sharp Little Pencil
Amen, brother. Love me some Hitch!
Roger Green
Have the damnb Hitchcocxk TV theme music stuck in my head now!
I saw Rear Window in rerelease on the big screen in the mid-1980s . The Birds terrified me.
Sharp Little Pencil
The name of the song he used for the TV show is called, “Funeral March of the Marionettes.” Only Hitchcock would do that…!
Yeah, I’m with you on The Birds, just about died watching it, and I also saw the Rear Window re-release in NYC. Glorious!! Thanks, Roger, Amy
Old Egg
Hitchcock was certainly an entertainer. Much of the thrill in seeing his pictures again after so many years is locating him among the the walk on extras as he signs his work with his presence. Thanks for the memories.
Sharp Little Pencil
Robin, so nice to hear from you! Yes, those little insertions are a delight in every film, I agree. Favorite walk-on is in my favorite of his, “Rear Window.”
pmwanken
Nice tribute to Hitchcock! 🙂
Here’s my “hitch” (along with three others, all wrapped into one): Between the Lines.
Sharp Little Pencil
Paula, thanks as always for sending me the link directly to your poem! Love your visits and your work. Peace, Amy
Debbie
Wonderful, Amy! Thank you for taking me back to the movies!
Sharp Little Pencil
And with Netflix, we can see them all over again!! Love, Amy
wordsandthoughtspjs
Amy, this made me laugh. Thanks for the trip down memory lane. I love Hitchcock’s movies. Glad the link works, now we can stay tuned 🙂
Pamela
Sharp Little Pencil
You know, WordPress just posted your stupid Gravatar address again: gravatar.com/wordsandthoughtspjs. No idea why. But don’t worry, I’ll track you down. And glad you like Hitchcock, too! Not surprised, really… 😉 Amy
mindlovemisery
I admit I’ve not seen all the Hitchcock movies but what I have seen has been phenomenal =) Awesome tribute
Sharp Little Pencil
If you have Netflix, might I humbly suggest a little-known gem called, “Shadow of a Doubt”? It’s not the typical big-city suspense piece, and Hume Cronyn has a cute recurring role. Teresa Wright was never more convincing, and Joseph Cotten is beyond belief!! Thanks, Amy
MiskMask
Grace and Jimmy were always a magical couple on the silver screen, and certainly Hitchcock knew how to bring out the best in those two. Grace and Cary, too. Now there was real chemistry on the screen with those two. Yes, I quite agree that he was one of a kind and irreplaceable.
Sharp Little Pencil
You have that one right, sister. Best part: Our old library had loads of his original British versions of Saboteur and The Lady Vanishes, etc., on VHS, so we watched Michael Redgrave back when he was yummy! I figured you’d like that, being in the UK. Lots of hints of the career to come on those originals… Yes, Hitch was magic. Thanks, Amy
J Cosmo Newbery
A nice spin in ‘Hitch’ – one word, lots of interpretations!
Sharp Little Pencil
I did get around a bit after writing and realized that there were so many ways one could take this prompt! But for me, there was but one road… the path to my informal altar honoring Hitchcock!!! Thanks, Cos, Amy
Susannah
What a wonderful use of the word ‘Hitch’ i loved your tale and all the film memories that came with it! Nice one. 🙂
Sharp Little Pencil
“Rear WIndow” is on my top ten faves of all time… followed closely by “Shadow of a Doubt,” one of his lesser-known films. Thanks for the compliment! Amy
Pat Cegan
Thanks for the laugh and great memories. He was a favorite of mine. We loved watching for his appearance as a background character. My sister and I always tried to see who could see him first. Sweet fun! hugs, pat
Sharp Little Pencil
Oh, I forgot to reference that! My favorite Hitch movie also has my fave of his cameos: “Rear Window,” in which the starving composer is playing his song for a prospective patron, and when the man turns around, it’s a far-and-away shot of Hitchcock!! Nice to hear from so many Hitch fans. My sisters and I did the same thing, and my sister Jo usually won – sharp eye, that girl!
Kim Nelson
I AM such a Hitchcock fan, Amy, and you’ve identified so many of the scenes that garnered my attention and admiration. This one is fun!
Sharp Little Pencil
Ah, Kim, so many Hitchcock fans out there – I’m so glad I wrote this! Each with a favorite; all with devotion to The Master of Suspense.
scape
good humor
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks so much. Who are you? Do you have a blog? Would love to visit. Amy
Bodhirose
This is great! I love Alfred Hitchcock movies still today–classics. “Rear Window” was a favorite of mine too as well as “Dial M for Murder” and, of course, “Psycho”. I always loved looking for his cameo appearances in his movies.
Thanks for this little trip down memory lane, Amy.
Gayle ~
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Gayle. Yes, it seems we poets are all in agreement about Hitchcock. A true master of cinema! Amy