Spellbound is an artistic, yet long winded Hitchcock film noir. Ingrid Bergman and a young Gregory Peck are good enough. I just wished they had more to do.

Peck plays Dr Edwards. He is to replace the head of a mental institute. Upon arrival, he meets and is attracted to Dr. Constance Peterson (Bergman). However, it soon becomes apparent that Edwards is not himself. Constance and the head shrink Edwards was to replace, learn that Edwards has a mystery about him that involves murder.

Edwards explains his dreams to the two psychiatrists. They in turn translate them, quite literally, to find the truth. Edward's dreams are by Salvador Dali. The movie never explains why. A wagon wheel in his dream is stretched long at one end. Curtains have eyes. These are interesting images, but none-the-less pointless.

The movie drags in places and has lots of talking. Hitchcock does have some masterful direction though. During a skiing scene, Bergman and Peck are obviously not actually skiing. Due to the necessary close-ups the scene looks technically fake, but it does allow the audience to see the expressions on the actor's faces. Bergman looks scared and Peck looks menacing. You are not sure where this scene is going to go. It is a classic Hitchcock device. He liked to let the audience's imagination do the work for him. In a scene near the end of the movie, Hitchcock gives the audience a view of Bergman leaving a room that is simple yet brilliant. You have to see it.

Like Tarantino today, Hitchcock was the standout director of his time. He set new standards and took artistic chances. Spellbound is not his best work, but it does showcase his originality as well as his trade marks.

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