Robert Walker offers a "killer" proposition in "Strangers on a Train"

The great thing about Strangers on a Train is that it doesn’t mess around. It gets right to the point and doesn’t get all cutesy with its plot twists. You can thank the combination of a Raymond Chandler script and a Alfred Hitchcock‘s direction for that kind of singlar focus.

Granted it’s not my favorite of the Hitchcock murder mysteries, but when Bruno Anthony, who’s played sinisterly well by Robert Walker (who resembles a very young Bill Murray) suggests that everybody should do everything at least once in their life and that he can’t stand his father, well, you can kind of see where things are going.

For my money, Hitchcock is the best director when dealing with movies taking place in one place. (Rope, Dial M For Murder and Rear Window, for the most part, are other examples). Can you imagine what he could do with the upcomong Ryan Reynolds flick Buried?! Which raises an interesting question, what would Hitch’s signature cameo role be?

And before you all jump on my back and say that this movie doesn’t take place ENTIRELY on a train, I’m referring to the opening sequence. Anyway, tomorrow we get musical, Singin’ in the Rain.