Alfred Hitchcock: The Essentials Collection (DVD)

Five-disc set includes: Rear Window (1954)Confined to a wheelchair after breaking his leg on an assignment, photojournalist L.B. "Jeff" Jefferies' (James Stewart) "hobby" of spying on his neighbors from his apartment window with a telephoto lens leads him and girlfriend Lisa Fremont (Grace Kelly) to believe that one of his subjects may be a murderer. One of Alfred Hitchcock's personal favorites, this innovative suspense gem also stars Thelma Ritter and Raymond Burr. 115 min. C/Rtg: PG Vertigo (1958)Considered by many to be Alfred Hitchcock's most personal film, this psychological suspenser stars James Stewart as retired detective Scottie Ferguson, who, after an incident on the job, has acquired vertigo and a fear of heights. Hired by an old friend to uncover the secret his wife (Kim Novak) is keeping from him, Scottie finds a forbidden romance, a deadly plot, and an obsession that transcends the grave. With Barbara Bel Geddes, Tom Helmore; music by Bernard Herrmann. 128 min. C/Rtg: PG North By Northwest (1959)Alfred Hitchcock and Cary Grant teamed up for the fourth and final time in this landmark Hollywood suspense tale. Manhattan ad exec Roger Thornhill (Grant) is accidentally thrust into a world of international espionage as he's chased by criminals, is framed for murder, shares a train ride with a mysterious blonde, gets dusted by a crop plane, and hangs from the faces on Mount Rushmore. Eva Marie Saint, James Mason, Leo G. Carroll, Martin Landau co-star. 136 min. C/Rtg: NR Psycho (1960)Arguably Alfred Hitchcock's most popular film, this classic chiller, based on Robert Bloch's novel, is still making people terrified of showers. On the run after stealing $40,000 from her boss, secretary Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) has a fateful encounter with creepy mama's-boy hotel clerk Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins). Just what is Norman's sinister secret? And whatever happened to Mrs. Bates? With Vera Miles, John Gavin, Martin Balsam; score by Bernard Herrmann. 109 min. BW/Rtg: NR The Birds (1963)Nature runs amok in Alfred Hitchcock's loose adaptation of Daphne du Maurier's novelette. After an encounter in a San Francisco bird shop, wealthy socialite Melanie Daniels (Tippi Hedren) follows handsome Mitch Brenner (Rod Taylor) to a small California coastal town that is soon under attack by gulls, crows, and other fine feathered "friends." Jessica Tandy, Veronica Cartwright, Suzanne Pleshette also star in this classic shocker. 120 min. C/Rtg: PG-13 Widescreen; Soundtrack: English; audio commentary; documentaries; photo gallery; theatrical trailers; more.