Highsmiths strangers on a train is fueled by anxiety wsj. Strangers on a train 1950 is a psychological thriller novel by patricia highsmith about two men whose lives become entangled after one of them proposes they. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction. A psychopath forces a tennis star to comply with his theory that two strangers can get away with murder. He was a very successful architect who is currently dealing with a threeyear ongoing divorce with his former wife in order to protect the other woman he loves, anne faulkner. Strangers on a train is just as much about character as it is about plot. When guy haines and charles anthony bruno meet on a train, they discover they.
Their interactions drive much of the conflict of the. Big lessons in strangers on a train by patricia highsmith. There really isnt anyone likable in the whole book. Study guide for strangers on a train 1951 film strangers on a train 1951 film study guide contains a biography of director alfred hitchcock, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Strangers on a train 1950 is a suspense thriller by patricia highsmith, based on the premise that two strangers swap murders. The talented patricia highsmith known to most for her novels strangers on a train and the talented mr. Strangers on a train was patricia highsmiths first novel, and was first published in 1950. Strangers on a train, which stars farley granger and robert walker, is one of hitchcocks most memorable thrillers because of its juicy premise. I liked the descriptions of the beautiful alaskan landscape but i didnt want to be in this story anymore. Strangers on a train kicked off what is often considered hitchs renaissance following the directors lack of box office success in the late 1940s. Surely few expected his most riotous, unrestrained film, a gleeful melange of vicious black comedy, exciting suspense, mocking manipulation, and astonishing flights of fancy.
Brunos hitchdesigned lobster tie in strangers on a train. Strangers on a train was a contemporary crime novel when it was fit published in 1950. Guide includes comprehensive information and analysis to help you understand the book. As a consequence of his reason, man is at odds not. As the story progresses, the reader finds himself or herself at the mercy of the third person narrator. When albert camus wrote the stranger in 1942, his protagonist expounds from this rational dissociation from the world a theory pertaining to existence itself. I read strangers on a train because it was a book club choice in the office. Strangers on a train summary and study guide supersummary. Patricia highsmiths 1950 novel strangers o n a train is a moody and disturbing excavation of guilty paranoia that bears little resemblance to the hitchcock film beyond its initial premise. Strangers on a train tells of two men who meet incidentally on a train and get to talking about the people in each of their lives. Highsmith is subtly transforming the kind of character guy haines is in the first.
Buy a cheap copy of strangers on a train book by patricia highsmith. Coadapted by raymond chandler from a novel by patricia highsmith, strangers on a train perfectly exemplifies hitchcocks favorite theme of the evil that lurks just below the surface of everyday. You may be wondering what lessons you can learn from strangers on a train, a work of art, but the book is more than a psychological thriller. Patricia highsmith writes brunos psychopathic mind with terrifying fascination. The novel strangers on a train by patricia highsmith is as much mystery fiction as it is a psychological thriller. Voyeurism also plays a prominent role in strangers on a train, but in contrast with some of hitchcocks other work, the most interesting voyeurs of that work are not male, but female. The strangers on a train 1951 film community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you. Robbs book, strangers in death 2008 references both highsmiths novel and hitchcocks film as a homicide. One would have expected hitchcocks return to major studio filmmaking to err on the side of chastened caution. Highsmith, however, didnt write novels that were plotdriven only. This, her first novel, boasts an iconic plot, gruelling tension, characters with. Strangers on a train by patricia highsmith the inspiration for alfred hitchcocks classic 1951 film, strangers on a train launched highsmith on a prolific career of noir fiction, proving her a master at depicting the unsettling forces that tremble beneath the surface of everyday contemporary life. This theme was present from the beginning, when her debut novel, strangers on a train, galvanized the reading public. This practical and insightful reading guide offers a complete summary and analysis of strangers on a train by patricia highsmith.
Craig warnerbased on a novel by patricia highsmith full length, thriller characters. The premise is that two strangers meet on a train and one of them offers the idea that because both of them have someone of whom they would like to be rid, each will commit the murder for the other with whom they have no connection, thus leaving no obvious motive for the police to investigate. Guy haines he is one of two of the main characters of the novel. Guy haines is an architect in the beginning stages of a promising career. Featured content includes commentary on major characters, 25 important quotes, essay topics, and key themes like strangers and existentialism and conflict and capitalism. Pdf strangers on a train book by patricia highsmith free. Crime tale has touch of poe, stevenson at their eeriest. Bruno then proposes a double murder plot, where each would kill the others problem. Strangers on a train by patricia highsmith goodreads. Strangers on a train 1951 was director alfred hitchcocks suspenseful, noirish black and white thriller about two train passengers. Throughout the film, hitchcock develops the concept of the female gaze by connecting it with a distinctive symbolism. The most significant characters of strangers on a train are guy haines and. Strangers on a train by patricia highsmith begins with guy hainess journey to texas to divorce his wife, miriam.
Fellows train companion 47 is something contrary to fellow, their gathering a minute or turn between two obviously disparate life ways. Strangers on a train book also available for read online, mobi, docx and mobile and kindle reading. The hitchcock film strangers on a train is legendary so i thought id give the book. The rest of strangers on a train is a delicious game of catandmouse during which guy tries desperately to beat bruno at his own game.
The most significant characters of strangers on a train are guy haines and charles bruno, who possess a sort of jekyll and hyde level dynamic. While on a train to his hometown metcalf to meet miriam, haines encounters bruno anthony robert walker when they bump feet under a table, a pushy stranger who recognizes guy from the sports pages and gossip items in the newspapers and wants to discuss his marital problems. A technically perfect psychological carousel as one of hitchcocks best one of the most popular psychological crime thrillers that hitchcock ever made is definitely strangers on a train, the masters adaptation of crime novelist patricia highsmiths debut novel that hit theaters back in 1951. It provides a thorough exploration of the novels content and main themes, including morality, manipulation and duality. Guy haines, a successful architect, is heading to his hometown in texas from new york, where he hopes to finally settle an ongoing threeyear divorce with his wife, miriam. Pdf download strangers on a train free unquote books.
The synopsis gives an intriguing premise, and i sometimes read crime stories ive just downloaded the first four cadfael stories, and i enjoyed the ian rankin novels ive read. It is a book i have read three times in the space of four years having previously seen the hitchcock film adaptation a number of times. One of the strategies that patricia highsmith employs in her first novel, strangers on a train, is to bounce the narrative between two characters. Strangers and existentialism eighteenthcentury novels like gullivers travels typically parachute an outsider into a society that they struggle to understand. Buy strangers on a train by patricia highsmith from amazons fiction books store.
Sep 04, 2014 alfred hitchcocks strangers on a train 1951. Method in this thesis, the writer uses descriptive qualitative method. A chance encounter on a train journey turns into the ideal murder plan. In one of his trademark cameos, hitchcock boards the train in metcalf after farley grangers character exits. He did not take the idea of brunos exchange seriously. Download strangers on a train in pdf and epub formats for free. Bruno suffered from an abusive relationship with his father and always wanted to murder him. He begins a conversation with charles bruno, a wealthy man who invites him to his. On a train from new york to metcalf, architect guy haines hopes that he will soon be able to divorce his wife, miriam, who has been unfaithful, and marry anne faulkner, whom he loves.
Guys slow and traumatic mental breakdown is similarly affecting. The parallel structure in strangers on a train vice. Jan 06, 2014 bruno anthony thinks he has the perfect plot to rid himself of his hated father and when he meets tennis player guy haines on a train, he thinks hes found the partner he needs to pull it off. It was shot in the autumn of 1950 and released by warner bros. The inspiration for alfred hitchcocks classic 1951 film, strangers on a train launched highsmith on a prolific career of noir fiction, proving her a master at depicting the unsettling forces that tremble beneath the surface of everyday contemporary life. The following year, it was adapted into a film of the same name by alfred hitchcock, catapulting the. Strangers on a train 1950 is a psychological thriller novel by patricia highsmith about two. A native of texas, he is on his way to his hometown from new york in order to see his wife, miriam, to push for a.
The attention to details in her characters, the way she can occupy their inner worlds can make a reader or. Free download or read online strangers on a train pdf epub book. On a train from new york to metcalf, architect guy haines hopes that he will. It has its own logic and really its own characters, warner says. The ascent of hair and the slant of his long nose gave him a look of extraordinary reason and by one way or another of forward movement 9.
Strangers on a train is the second book in the nancy drew diaries series. Strangers on a train 1951 film characters gradesaver. Robbs book, strangers in death 2008 references both highsmiths novel and hitchcocks film as a homicide detective attempts to solve two seemingly unrelated murders. The plot is familiar to modern day readers, not only because of film versions but there have been many variations on the theme. Strangers on a train audiobook by patricia highsmith. When guy haines and charles anthony bruno meet on a train, they discover.
Strangers on a train character analysis fellow haines from the start, fellow haines shows up advanced and competent. He is no longer a stranger on a train, but a character that the reader can. I didnt want to keep reading about this storyline and kept tuning out. Hitchcock thrillers suspicion strangers on a train the wrong man i confess. Throughout patricia highsmiths novel strangers on a train, the reader is. Strangers on a train character analysis freebooksummary. When sue ellen is imagining how great the train must be, its an obvious reference the the thin man film series.
Thrilling and interesting screenplay based on a patricia highsmith novel and coscripted by novelist raymond chandler and uncredited the prestigious ben hecht. Guy haines is on a train, reading a book and thinking. You have a very strong sense of both guy and bruno. In the russian exemplary, as in outsiders on a train, man is an ethical combat zone. This study guide consists of approximately 27 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of strangers on a train. The 1987 film throw momma from the train provides a comedic twist on strangers on a train, with the hitchcock film inspiring a copycat scheme by danny devitos character. Bruno is a very psychopathic heavy drinker who was the one to propose the exchange of murders with guy. Strangers on a train continues on in alaska and nancy is still on the cruise. Aug 11, 2014 strangers on a train, which stars farley granger and robert walker, is one of hitchcocks most memorable thrillers because of its juicy premise. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 256 pages and is available in paperback format. He is alluded to as a virtuoso on different occasions 260. This eerie tale may be read as a story of possession in the old demonic sense as a philosophical allegory of the extremes. The story concerns the excellently named guy haines and charles anthony bruno, two strangers who meet on a train and essentially end up trading murders. The research is based on the comprehension about the correlation of the conflict of main character in the novel strangers on a train which is evaluated from character analysis.
The impact of dostoyevskys epic is routinely discernable. He is a tennis star on the amateur circuit, and is married to a woman he can no longer stand to. Throughout patricia highsmiths novel strangers on a train, the reader is exposed to the thoughts and desires of the two main characters of the story as they plan, carry out, and face the fallout of committing two murders. With a lot of booze bruno goads guy into confessing his hatred for miriam. The book was published in 1950, but it wears its years lightly. Andrea after reading patricia highsmiths first novel strangers on a train, alfred.
Their interactions drive much of the conflict of the story. Here we encounter guy haines and charles anthony bruno, passengers on. Why strangers on a train is a book you need to read. Internal focalization in strangers on a train magnificat. Strangers on a train by patricia highsmith, her first novel 1950, is the story of a psychopathic man who wants to swap murders with an architect. Guy haines and charles bruno meet on a train and, because they are strangers, they think they can say anything while chatting. Keen considers this theory and others like it in her book empathy and the novel. Strangers on a train ranks with hitchcocks most accomplished works, a masterpiece so carefully constructed, with characters so well developed, that the viewer is quickly drawn into the storylong before walker turns killer. Guy haines is a pro tennis player from metcalf that feels tennis is not what he wants to do with his life and that politics is what he is meant for. The attention to details in her characters, the way she can occupy their inner worlds can make a reader or listener feel uncomfortable in the best way possible.
There is impressive proof in the novel that person and bruno in reality work as corresponding sections of a solitary character. Strangers on a train character analysis study guides and book. May 28, 2019 why strangers on a train is a book you need to read. Strangers on a train is a 1951 american psychological thriller film noir produced and directed by alfred hitchcock, and based on the 1950 novel strangers on a train by patricia highsmith. It was a bestseller and alfred hitchcock made a film of it in 1951. Strangers on a train colangeloc chris colangelo film as an art form 32660 frank foster word count 1 ssg i. Guy is 29, a successful architect, handsome, and every bit the gentleman.
On the train, he meets slender, disturbing charles bruno, who hates his father. From this point on, a steady stream of novels and short stories followed. Her series of novels about tom ripley became particularly notorious. Its a very good film too, effectively staged, full of interesting scenes and characters, with firstrate camerawork and atmospheric lighting. In this case, if youve seen the movie, and then go to read highsmiths book, you end up with two different entities. Guy haines is on a train, reading a book and thinking of anne, the woman he loves. The title of this episode may be based on the movie strangers on a train, directed by alfred hitchcock and released in 1951 from warner brothers. The first edition of the novel was published in 1950, and was written by patricia highsmith.
Strangers on a train by patricia highsmith mysteries ahoy. Once, though, i used the novel to conceal a pastrami sandwich id snuck into a screening of delicatessen. Strangers on a train acquires new meaning in alfred hitchcocks version the 1951 adaptation of patricia highsmiths gripping novel gets its edge from. Strangers on a train by patricia highsmith book analysis. Strangers on a train is a murdersuspense, from director alfred hitchcock, based on the 1950 debut novel by patricia highsmith, with a screenplay cowritten by raymond chandler.
Engaging cameo characters include brunos eccentric mother delightfully played by marion lorne, annes outspoken sister patricia hitchcock and. Strangers on a train is another case where most people have seen the movie but havent read the book or didnt know there was a novel behind it. The main characters of this fiction, thriller story are guy haines, miriam haines. Strangers on a train 1950 is a novel by patricia highsmith which has been skillfully adapted by craig. Highsmith is known for telling stories in which relatable characters are coerced into crime, although in an interview with diana cooperclark, highsmith rejected the idea that just anyone can commit murder. Bruno is a sociopath, hopelessly in love with his mother and willing to murder his step father to have her to himself. This 46page guide for strangers on a train by patricia highsmith includes. Oct 30, 2014 strangers on a train 4 darkness, leitmotifs, symphony october 30, 2014 benjamin b this is my fourth and final commentary on the classic thriller by alfred hitchcock. Margot robbie and the birds of prey creative team had a big impact on jurnee smollett s experience as black canary. Dec 17, 2018 strangers on a train is a very different case. Strangers on a train 4 darkness, leitmotifs, symphony the.
Fellow haines from the start, fellow haines shows up advanced and competent. Tensesuspensemystery abounds in this thriller from hithcock who combines the elements of intrigue with romance, drama and action. Guy haines is one of the two main characters in patricia highsmiths novel strangers on a train. Highsmith recognized the impact of dostoyevskys work of art, wrongdoing and discipline 1866 on the book in another content, plotting and composing tension fiction. Strangers on a train characters flashcards quizlet.
1429 1085 723 351 145 713 1080 350 885 1470 1292 542 1424 149 1084 1103 548 1181 797 1309 1322 739 1107 1485 973 567 1175 1408 16 807 404 1430 1114 174 707 756 989 967 1333 655 96 622 514 296 1120 372 1209 1318