Blu-ray review: 'Strangers on a Train'

When a horrified Guy learns what has occurred, and that Bruno now expects him to reciprocate, the cat-and-mouse begins as Bruno threatens to plant evidence that points to Guy as the killer.

A runaway merry-go-round climax in an amusement park is the knuckle-biting reward for sitting through 101 minutes of wickedly black humor and delicious suspense, and gifted character actress Marion Lorne is the hilarious bonus as Bruno's doting dingbat of a mother.

Based on a Patricia Highsmith novel and coscripted by Raymond Chandler, Ben Hecht assistant Czenzi Ormonde (because Hecht was unavailable) and an uncredited Barbara Keon, Hitchcock's associate producer, and Hitchcock's wife, Alma Reville, it's ranked No. 32 on the American Film Institute's list of 100 Most Thrilling Films, and for very good reason.

Extras include commentary from Peter Bogdanovich, Joseph Stefano, Hitchcock's daughter Patricia Hitchcock O'Connell (who co-stars in the film), and Hitchcock himself, among many others; the longer preview version of the film, and the featurettes “Strangers on a Train: A Hitchcock Classic,” “The Hitchcocks on Hitch,” “The Victim's P.O.V.,” and an appreciation by M. Night Shyamalan.”

— Gene Triplett