Rich and Strange - Alfred Hitchcock

If you look at a chronology of Hitchcock films you may find Rich and Strange, and Number Seventeen in different places. They were both released in 1932, however Number Seventeen was produced in 1931, while Rich and Strange was produced in 1932. For his 15th film, Hitchcock went to an original idea created by him and Alma Reville - his long time co-worker and wife, both as of 1926. This original idea was somewhat based on a quote from Shakespeare's The Tempest - "...Doth suffer a sea-change into something rich and strange." In the US it was released under the title "East of Shanghai."

The story is of a couple, dissatisfied with life, who are given an early inheritance from an uncle so that they can experience all they can while traveling. Considering this was 1932, and a white English director, you can already sense the casual racism coming your way. The couple takes a trip around the world - starting in Paris and ending in India. Fred Hill (Henry Kendall) and Emily Hill (Joan Barry - the voice of Anny Ondra from Blackmail) both have affairs during their trip. Hers is with Commander Gordon (Percy Marmont) and it feels like true love, though never anything physical. His affair is with a Princess (Betty Amann in somewhat of a brown-face role). His affair is physical. Both Fred and Emily are left by their lovers in Singapore - which is also when they realize they are out of money. They get on a charter boat back to England when they shipwrecked and saved by a group of Chinese. Eventually they make it back home, and that is about it.

The actors are all quite good, and there is comedy scattered through out. There is also a bit of suspense when the charter boat starts to sink and they are stuck below deck in their cabin. Visually there are some great shots - specifically the opening which shows the doldrum of commuter life for Fred. Finally, there are some near shirtless scenes for Fred which is rare in a Hitchcock. He tends to focus so much on women in lingerie, or getting dressed. If you are working your way through Hitchcock's catalog, you will see this. If not, I don't know if it is something I would watch by choice - at least not often. I've seen it twice now and that may be that. I watched this as part of the Legend Series.