...You want a Classic thriller that feels modern

Hi friends,

Welcome to SCREEN SOMM a newsletter filled with recommendations of what to watch, from a screenwriter. Last week we saved my your marriage with recs for couples. Next week we gear up for America’s Birthday, a cause to eat BBQ and celebrate some great movies. If you’re not already on the substack app, once you get it, you can join us in the SCREEN SOMM chat. Use it as a space to say whatever you gotta say, I sure do! On to this week’s recs.

Something to watch that’s over 50 years old and still slaps!

Suggestion: The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956) Watch On: Rent or Buy Platforms

Crime and thrillers are quite popular right now. You love them, I love them. When you want a great one, you don’t always need to rewatch Gone Girl or wait for the next one to come out and hope for the best. Instead, go with a Classic. My suggestion: The second film by Alfred Hitchcock that has the title The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956).

Growing up, I used to wander into my parents’ room to see what they were up to and my mom was often sitting on her bed and watching Turner Classic Movies. I’d be a little bored at first, but usually I’d stay and get sucked in and end up lying at the foot of the bed, watching with her. This is how I first saw The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956). The plot didn’t stick with me, just my mom singing along, trying to explain how the song was important, me having no clue what she was going on about and just thinking moms like old stuff because they, too, are old. And somehow, despite a Hitchcock deep-dive during Covid, I waited nearly 30 years to rewatch this movie. Last summer, I was on the eve of birthing my second child and sought out the comfort of a master, which for me meant Hitchcock. Surprise, surprise I was profoundly moved by this film, by how modern it felt—I am always surprised by how much more emotionally honest and confident and even progressive older movies can be than much of the confused or noted-to-death slop I’ve seen recently (and written myself, TBH). I was not only struck by the darkness of this movie (fun!), but by the realization of what had moved my mother about it all those years ago — she had felt, so deeply, the emotional turmoil of a movie that, at it’s core, is about a mother’s search for her child, and the way in which a song sung from the heart can make all the difference. No wonder she wanted me to hear and know Que Sera Sera, even while I was safe at the foot of her bed.

• Headphones - Being able to connect my headphones to my TV and watch whatever I want and not worry about disturbing a work-from-home husband or a sleeping child has literally changed my life and expanded my watch-time immensely. I have an older version of these from Sony. They’ve been with me through A LOT. But for my next pair, I might go Sonos. (Send me recs, plz.)

• Samsung Frame - Last week I mentioned the Samsung Art Store. This week, I’ll praise my TV itself which works the same as any Samsung smart TV. My last TV was also 55” but it was dumb as hell and I couldn’t even connect my headphones to it which, as mentioned, has been a game changer.

• Snacks - I don’t think I could watch anything without food, though I’ve not bothered to try and find out. If I’m not eating dinner with my nightly viewing, then I am absolutely snacking up a storm. My go-tos right now are Asha pops and I am really into Monkey Brittle.

• BONUS: My iphone - I’m not linking to it because it’s crappy and old and they probably don’t make it anymore, but I want to shout it out because I rarely watch TV without it. (I try not to second screen, or if I do so, I’m doing it intentionally because it can be fun.) I am usually writing thoughts as I watch or scanning IMDB for intel about who made what I’m watching.

MOVIES • Series • Did Not Finish* • Rewatched • Ongoing… • 🍼= first rewatch >20 years

6/15 ‘Widow’s Bay’ (S1, ep 7-9)

6/16 Ready Player One*

6/17 ‘Widow’s Bay’ (S1 Finale) - OMG?!? But also, TY to all the spinsters in my life.

6/19 Spider-Noir 7-8 (S1, ep 7-Finale) - Wrapped up pretty well. I hate how Marvel shows always take a turn for the Marvel and it usually makes them suffer for it.

6/20 Million Dollar Secret (S2, ep 7-Finale) - A good winner!

6/20 Drive to Survive (S8, ep 3…)

6/21 Survivor Panama (S12, ep 1-2, 3…)

New releases on my radar

• SUPERGIRL - Looks like a Guardians movie but the women aren’t alien faces. Could be good!

• THE INVITE - Directed by Olivia Wilde of Book Smart. Should be funny!

• The Bear is back for it’s final season! (I need to catch up, but damn did this show serve some good times.

  You can find more releases here

And more importantly, what did you think about it? Let’s discuss!

Leave a comment

This post may include affiliate links, which means I may earn an affiliate commission when you buy things through my links. Thanks for supporting SCREEN SOMM.