Transatlantic Pictures

Transatlantic Pictures was founded by Alfred Hitchcock and longtime associate Sidney Bernstein at the end of World War II. They planned to produce films in both Hollywood and London. Unfortunately, after disastrous returns from the first two Transatlantic films, Hitchcock's "Rope" (1948) and "Under Capricorn" (1949), Transatlantic Pictures folded in 1950. "Rope" was banned in several U.S. cities due to the themes of homosexuality and "Under Capricorn" was overshadowed by Ingrid Bergman's extramarital affair with director Roberto Rossellini.

"Rope" (1948)

*Directed by Alfred Hitchcock
*Produced by Alfred Hitchcock (uncredited) and Sidney Bernstein (uncredited)
*Screenplay by Arthur Laurents
*Adaptation by Hume Cronyn
*Music Score by David Buttolph (uncredited) and Francis Poulenc (uncredited)
*Musical Director - Leo Forbstein

Cast - James Stewart, John Dall, Farley Granger, Joan Chandler, Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Constance Collier, Douglas Dick, Edith Evanson, Dick Hogan

Production Notes for "Rope"

* Hitchcock's cameo is Hitchcock's profile appearing on a red neon sign -- advertising "Reduco" the fictional diet aid previously used for his cameo in "Lifeboat" (1944) -- which is visible through the apartment window approximately 55 minutes into the movie.
* Hume Cronyn also wrote the adaptation for Hitchcock's next film "Under Capricorn".
* Constance Collier played Mrs. Atwater in this film. In 1927, Hitchcock directed a film called "Downhill", which was based on a play by Collier and Ivor Novello.

"Under Capricorn" (1949)

*Directed by Alfred Hitchcock
*Produced by Alfred Hitchcock (uncredited) and Sidney Bernstein (uncredited)
*Screenplay by James Bridie
*Adaptation by Hume Cronyn
*Music Score by Richard Addinsell
*Musical Director - Louis LevyCast- Ingrid Bergman, Joseph Cotten, Michael Wilding, Margaret Leighton, Cecil Parker

Production Notes for "Under Capricorn"

* Hitchcock has two cameos in "Under Capricorn". About five minutes into the movie in the town square, we see Alfred Hitchcock wearing a coat and a brown hat. Ten minutes later, he is one of three men on the steps of government house.
* According to the book "It's Only a Movie", Hitchcock originally wanted Arthur Laurents to do the screenplay. After reading Helen Simpson's novel "Under Capricorn", Laurents told Hitchcock that he was the wrong writer for the project. So Alfred Hitchcock hired James Bridie to do the screenplay instead.
* According to Michael Wilding's autobiography "The Wilding Way", on one occasion while Ingrid Bergman and Michael Wilding were in the middle of a passionate love scene Hitchcock let out a howl of pain, then in the most gentle tone said "Please move the camera a little to the right. You have just run over my foot." The X-ray revealed later that the camera's weight had broken Hitchcock's big toe.
* Margaret Leighton appeared with her future husband Michael Wilding in this film. After their marriage in 1964, they worked together several more times, but, by his own admission, Wilding preferred retirement and was happy just to be a supportive audience member for his wife. In this film, Michael Wilding played Charles Adare and Margaret Leighton played Milly.
* Burt Lancaster was Hitchcock's original choice to play Sam Flusky in "Under Capricorn", but the part went to Joseph Cotten instead, because Lancaster was deemed too expensive.
* Many French critics of the 50's, including Andre Bazin and Francois Truffaut, considered "Under Capricorn" to be one of Hitchcock's finest films.

External links

* [http://www.cobbles.com/simpp_archive/transatlantic_hitchcock.htm Hollywood Renegades article]
*imdb company|0027171