1951

101m

Strangers on a Train

Summary

Having met on a train, a smooth-talking psychotic socialite shares his theory on how two complete strangers can get away with murder to an amateur tennis player — a theory he plans to test out.

Cast

Farley Granger

Guy Haines

Ruth Roman

Anne Morton

Robert Walker

Bruno Antony

Leo G. Carroll

Sen. Morton

Patricia Hitchcock

Barbara Morton

Kasey Rogers

Miriam Haines

Marion Lorne

Mrs. Antony

Jonathan Hale

Mr. Antony

Howard St. John

Police Capt. Turley

John Brown

Prof. Collins

Norma Varden

Mrs. Cunningham

Robert Gist

Det. Leslie Hennessey

Brooks Benedict

Tennis Umpire (uncredited)

John Doucette

Det. Hammond (uncredited)

Harry Hines

Man Under Merry-Go-Round (uncredited)

Alfred Hitchcock

Man Boarding Train Carrying a Double Bass (uncredited)

Paul McGuire

Train Passenger (uncredited)

Oliver Cross

Party Guest (uncredited)

Tom Ferrandini

Linesman (uncredited)

Stuart Hall

Tennis Match Spectator (uncredited)

Joel Allen

Policeman (uncredited)

Murray Alper

Boatman (uncredited)

Monya Andre

Dowager (uncredited)

Benjie Bancroft

Police Officer (uncredited)

Harry Baum

Tennis Match Spectator (uncredited)

Al Bridge

Tennis Judge (uncredited)

Joe Brooks

Carnival Patron (uncredited)

John Butler

Blind Man (uncredited)

Leonard Carey

Anthonys' Butler (uncredited)

Edward Clark

Miriam's Boss (uncredited)

Jack Cushingham

Fred Reynolds (uncredited)

John Daheim

Detective at Merry-Go-Round (uncredited)

Marilyn Dialon

Girl on Carousel (uncredited)

Jay Eaton

General - Party Guest (uncredited)

Roy Engel

Policeman (uncredited)

Herbert Evans

Party Guest (uncredited)

Franklyn Farnum

Party Guest (uncredited)

Tommy Farrell

Miriam's Boyfriend (uncredited)

Sam Flint

Train Passenger Requesting Light (uncredited)

Kay Garrett

Tennis Match Spectator (uncredited)

Robert Haines

Bus Driver (uncredited)

Sam Harris

Party Guest (uncredited)

Edward Hearn

Lt. Campbell (uncredited)

Al Hill

Carnival Game Proprietor (uncredited)

Mary Alan Hokanson

Secretary (uncredited)

Edna Holland

Mrs. Joyce (uncredited)

J. Louis Johnson

Mortons' Butler (uncredited)

Fred Kelsey

Tennis Match Spectator / Carnival Attendee (uncredited)

Mike Lally

Detective at Carnival (uncredited)

Perc Launders

Police Desk Sergeant (uncredited)

Louis Lettieri

Boy with Balloon (uncredited)

George Magrill

Policeman at Merry-Go-Round (uncredited)

Charles Marsh

Bystander at Drain (uncredited)

Thomas Martin

Party Guest (uncredited)

David McMahon

Bystander at Drain (uncredited)

Charles Meredith

Judge Donahue (uncredited)

Ralph Moody

Seedy Man at Carnival (uncredited)

Mike Morelli

Boatman (uncredited)

Roland Morris

Miriam's Boyfriend (uncredited)

Odette Myrtil

Madame Darville (uncredited)

Richard Neill

Party Guest (uncredited)

Barry Norton

Tennis Match Spectator (uncredited)

Spec O'Donnell

Carnival Patron (uncredited)

Paul Panzer

Bystander at Merry-Go-Round (uncredited)

Minna Phillips

Dowager (uncredited)

Anthony Redondo

Train Passenger (uncredited)

Georges Renavent

Monsieur Darville (uncredited)

Suzanne Ridgway

Bystander at Merry-Go-Round (uncredited)

Dick Ryan

Minister (uncredited)

Charles Sherlock

Cop (uncredited)

Janet Stewart

Girl (uncredited)

Brick Sullivan

Carnival Patron (uncredited)

Shirley Tegge

Girl (uncredited)

Laura Treadwell

Mrs. Anderson (uncredited)

Joe Warfield

Soda Jerk (uncredited)

Howard Washington

Waiter on Train (uncredited)

Dick Wessel

Bill (uncredited)

Chalky Williams

Carnival Patron (uncredited)

Robert B. Williams

Bystander at Drain (uncredited)

Crew

Director

Alfred Hitchcock

Adaptation

Whitfield Cook

Novel

Patricia Highsmith

Screenplay

Raymond Chandler

Screenplay

Czenzi Ormonde

The "strangers on a train" are Guy, a successful athlete in an unhappy marriage, and Bruno, an amoral playboy. Bruno suggests a perfect crime whereby Guy can get rid of his wife without being suspected, and he convinces himself that Guy has agreed to it.

Bruno is obviously evil, but what about Guy? Is he is respectable as he claims? Is his wife that bad, or is Guy really a social climber who wants to be rid of his unfashionable spouse in order to acquire a trophy wife? Does he send mix signals to Bruno because he really wants Bruno's plot to succeed? The notion of hidden, shadowy evil is what gives this thriller its power.