Tippi Hedren and Sean Connery in the Alfred Hitchcock movie ‘Marnie’

The psychological thriller Marnie (1964) directed by Alfred Hitchcock stars Tippi Hedren in the title role with Sean Connery in support. British author Winston Graham wrote the book titled Marnie, upon which Jay Presson Allen wrote the movie’s screenplay. Marnie feels decidedly planted in the past while aspiring to modern times governing the subject matter Mr. Hitchcock offered in the last decade or so of his filmmaking career.

(From left, Tippi Hedren as Margaret ‘Marnie’ Edgar Rutland and Sean Connery as Mark Rutland in the Alfred Hitchcock movie Marnie).

The story of Marnie begins with Margaret ‘Marnie’ Edgar, a single woman portrayed by Tippi Hedren and as the character passing herself off under a different name, convincing the head of a tax consulting company to hire her without references. After stealing nearly $10,000 from the company safe and changing her appearance, Marnie flees. After stabling her horse in Virginia, Marnie visits in invalid mother Bernice. Marnie visits her mother, whom she supports financially, in Baltimore, Maryland.

(Louise Latham as Bernice Edgar, Marnie’s mother in the Alfred Hitchcock movie Marnie).

Louise Latham portrayed Bernice Edgar. Sean Connery portrays Mark Rutland, who as a wealthy widower and owner of a publishing company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania had become aware of the theft after meeting with the owner of the tax consulting company on business. Several months later, Marnie applies to Rutland’s company under a third name. Rutland hires Marnie, having recognized her from the tax consultancy. Circumstances take off from there, allowing Rutland to comfort Marnie to the level knowing personal emotional information.

(From left, Diane Baker as Lil Mainwaring, Mark’s former sister-in-law and Sean Connery as Mark Rutland in the Alfred Hitchcock movie Marnie).

Marnie steals money from Rutland’s company, with Rutland’s awareness. Mark follows the fleeing Marnie to the farm in Virginia where Marnie’s horse is boarded. Rutland blackmails Marnie into marrying him. Meanwhile, Mark’s former sister-in-law, Lil Mainwaring, feels romantic love for her former brother-in-law. Mainwaring, as portrayed by Diane Baker, suspects something improper after discovering Rutland’s extravagant spending following the marriage between Marnie and Mark. There are marital difficulties between the newlyweds from the start, with the fact of Marnie’s mother being alive becoming common knowledge only after the difficulties had presented themselves.

(From left, director Alfred Hitchcock in cameo as Man Leaving Hotel Room, an unidentified hotel worker and Tippi Hedren as Margaret ‘Marnie’ Edgar Rutland in the Alfred Hitchcock movie Marnie).

A significant bit of storytelling follows from there, with intrigue aplenty offered by Mr. Hitchcock. Even in cameo, it feels to me like the fair director offers a knowing look about the quality of the tale that is offered with Marnie. I grant Marnie as directed by Alfred Hitchcock 3.5-stars on a scale of 1-to-5.

Matt – Wednesday, January 5, 2021