Critic Reviews

Strangers on a Train (1951) Rank 3 Reviews

Expert Review Summary

Movie critics combined give Strangers on a Train (1951) a score of 3.3923 out of 4

based on (52) reviews

Click on the numbers to the right of the graph to see reviews of that rating

Excellent

(25)

Very Good

(26)

Good

(1)

Fair

(0)

Poor

(0)

Reviews by Score:

DVD Savant

Tennis pro Guy Haines (Farley Granger) is on his way to ask his unfaithful wife Miriam (Laura Elliott) for a divorce, when he meets eccentric Bruno Anthony (Robert Walker) on the train. Among other tall tales, Bruno proposes that the two men swap ...read the complete Strangers on a Train movie review at DVD Savant

Empire Magazine (Emma Cochrane)

The power of the story - adapted from the novel by Patricia Highsmith - lies in its simplicity, and Hitchcock's piles on the sinister layers as only he can. ...read the complete Strangers on a Train movie review at Empire Magazine (Emma Cochrane)

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

The abiding terror in Alfred Hitchcock's life was that he would be accused of a crime he did not commit. This fear is at the heart of many of his best films, including "Strangers on a Train" (1951), in which a man becomes the obvious suspect in the ...read the complete Strangers on a Train movie review at Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Michael D's Region 4 DVD Info Page (Ian Morris)

And so we get to the third of the recent classic films issued by Warner Home Video, and I suppose that it was somewhat unreasonable to expect that we would continue to dodge the age barrier as far as transfers were concerned. However, more of that ...read the complete Strangers on a Train movie review at Michael D's Region 4 DVD Info Page (Ian Morris)

In Review (Adam Suraf)

In the Hitchcock universe, one of the major rules is the rule of two's, or, the rule of duality. This rule, stated plainly, says that for every cause there is a direct effect. ...read the complete Strangers on a Train movie review at In Review (Adam Suraf)

BBC Films

In 1951 Alfred Hitchcock staked his territory in Hollywood as 'the master of suspense' with psychological thriller Strangers On A Train. A sinister Robert Walker forces Farley Granger into a murderous scheme after a chance meeting in this "ruthlessly ...read the complete Strangers on a Train movie review at BBC Films

DVDBeaver

The problem when approaching any of the major Hitchcock's are, that they will overwhelm one to such a degree, that they overshadow any other film and one almost instinctively thinks "the best". ...read the complete Strangers on a Train movie review at DVDBeaver

Classic Film Guide

Given that his last four films were unsuccessful with critics and moviegoers alike (including Under Capricorn (1949) & Stage Fright (1950)), director Alfred Hitchcock needed this film which, though thin of story & convincing dialogue, helped him to ...read the complete Strangers on a Train movie review at Classic Film Guide

txreviews.com (Curtis Edmonds)

You know what's coming before the characters do. First, you know what's coming because you've seen the movie before, or heard someone reference the plot. This is a movie, after all, that is now over fifty years old. ...read the complete Strangers on a Train movie review at txreviews.com (Curtis Edmonds)

Internet Reviews (Steve Rhodes)

Hitchcock has a deft touch with his actors producing characters in predicaments that are easy to empathize with. ...read the complete Strangers on a Train movie review at Internet Reviews (Steve Rhodes)

Crazy for Cinema (Lisa Skrzyniarz)

STRANGERS ON A TRAIN is classic Hitchcock, placing you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. One of his more suspenseful and psychological thrillers, there's only one murder in this film, but it has more power than twelve. Mainly because you ...read the complete Strangers on a Train movie review at Crazy for Cinema (Lisa Skrzyniarz)

KQEK DVD Review (Mark R. Hasan)

Two strangers flippantly discuss murder on a train, but when Guy's wife is actually killed, mama's boy Bruno expects the same favour... or else. ...read the complete Strangers on a Train movie review at KQEK DVD Review (Mark R. Hasan)

Horror View

"Strangers on a Train" comes about midway in the Hitchcock pantheon. By the beginning of the fifties, the maestro had already made such timeless classics as "The 39 Steps", "The Lady Vanishes", "Rebbeca", "Shadow of a Doubt" and "Spellbound" in a career ...read the complete Strangers on a Train movie review at Horror View

FilmDailies.com

In Truffaut's book-length interview with Hitchcock, it's apparent that Big Al's fear from the police dates back to his childhood. His father sent him to the police station carrying a note. ...read the complete Strangers on a Train movie review at FilmDailies.com

Crazy for Cinema

The BigScreen Cinema Guide - Reader Reviews

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, this thriller features tennis star Farley Granger meets up with psychopath Robert Walker entirely by accident on a train trip-a fortuitous accident, as each has a sinister deed he'd like the other to perform. ...read the complete Strangers on a Train movie review at The BigScreen Cinema Guide - Reader Reviews

DVD Authority

Bruno Anthony (Robert Walker) is a vicious, maniacal man, someone who would kill his own father, if not for the consequences. In fact, he would love to knock off his old man, as he despises him and wishes he were out of the picture. Bruno does love his ...read the complete Strangers on a Train movie review at DVD Authority

DVD Journal

Two pairs of shoes alight from two Diamond Cabs at a train station in Washington, D.C. - one a sensible black, the other a flamboyant white. ...read the complete Strangers on a Train movie review at DVD Journal

Doug Pratt's Laserdisc Review

The black-and-white contrasts are vivid. The print has a few scratches here and there, but it nevertheless looks fresh and helps one submerge in the drama. The sound is fine. We still can't get over how well Alfred Hitchcock constructed the tennis match ...read the complete Strangers on a Train movie review at Doug Pratt's Laserdisc Review

Doug Pratt's DVD Review

A 101 minute "Hollywood Version" and a 103 minute "British Version" of Alfred Hitchcock's 1951 murder swap thriller appear one to a side. ...read the complete Strangers on a Train movie review at Doug Pratt's DVD Review

DVD Town (John J. Puccio)

Alfred Hitchcock's "Strangers on a Train" from 1951 may not be among the director's most well-known films, but it is certainly a good representative of everything that was best about the director. It contains all the typical Hitchcock ingredients--the ...read the complete Strangers on a Train movie review at DVD Town (John J. Puccio)

DVD Verdict - Special Edition

After the success of Notorious in 1946, audiences were well disappointed by Alfred Hitchcock's next film, The Paradine Case (1947), a sluggish courtroom drama set in England: Think of Gregory Peck in a periwig. In Rope (1948), the director used only one ...read the complete Strangers on a Train movie review at DVD Verdict - Special Edition

Time Out (--)

Adapted from Patricia Highsmith's novel, Strangers on a Train takes as its central proposition the meeting and ensuing guilty association of two complete strangers, Granger and Walker. Walker buttonholes Granger, a star tennis player anxious to remarry ...read the complete Strangers on a Train movie review at Time Out (--)

Entertainment Insiders (Stephen Wong)

Hitchcock nearly redefined cinematic suspense with this 1951 classic, a film that works as both an edge-of-your-seat thriller as well as a perfect dual character study. Cleverly choreographed throughout, from its wonderful opening sequence to its ...read the complete Strangers on a Train movie review at Entertainment Insiders (Stephen Wong)

The Digital Bits

Strangers on a Train starts with that most faithful of crime caper setups - the chance encounter. The setup this go around, as the title would lead you to believe, happens on a passenger train. Wealthy brat Bruno (Robert Walker) takes a seat on the train ...read the complete Strangers on a Train movie review at The Digital Bits

Brilliant Observations on 1173 Films (Clayton Trapp)

Vintage Hitchcock template, but without the surprise ending. Lots of great Hitchcockisms, arriving at regular intervals and beyond what any imitator could come up with-the opening shoes, strangers' faces aghast at the train station for reasons that are ...read the complete Strangers on a Train movie review at Brilliant Observations on 1173 Films (Clayton Trapp)

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