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Strangers on a Train

Play trailer Poster for Strangers on a Train PG 1951 1h 41m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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98% Tomatometer 61 Reviews 92% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
In Alfred Hitchcock's adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's thriller, tennis star Guy Haines is enraged by his trampy wife's refusal to finalize their divorce so he can wed senator's daughter Anne. He strikes up a conversation with a stranger, Bruno Anthony, and unwittingly sets in motion a deadly chain of events. Psychopathic Bruno kills Guy's wife, then urges Guy to reciprocate by killing Bruno's father. Meanwhile, Guy is murder suspect number one.
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Strangers on a Train

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Critics Consensus

A provocative premise and inventive set design lights the way for Hitchcock diabolically entertaining masterpiece.

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Critics Reviews

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Jake Wilson The Age (Australia) 11/02/2018
The upshot is a perfect Alfred Hitchcock thriller...with a ingenious plot taken from a Patricia Highsmith novel and a memorably seductive villain. Go to Full Review THR Staff The Hollywood Reporter 06/30/2017
Strangers on a Train is an admirable demonstration of Alfred Hitchcock's virtuosity in the area of suspense dramas. Go to Full Review TIME Magazine 08/30/2009
Winds up with a scene in which a merry-go-round goes wild, spins like a pin wheel, and crashes in a gaudy blaze of explosions that no earthly carrousel could touch off. The movie itself is the same way: implausible but intriguing and great fun to ride. Go to Full Review Cameron Meier MeierMovies.com 2d
4.5/5
"Strangers," shot in beautiful black and white, is a treat for the eyes and brain, particularly because it was apparently the last Hitchcock film shot on nitrate. Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Nov 4
3.5/4
Robert Walker's creepy performance ranks among the best found in any Hitchcock film. Go to Full Review Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand 02/08/2025
... one of Alfred Hitchcock’s undisputed masterpieces, a thriller of demented wish fulfillment turned into a waking nightmare that turns on a chance meeting. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Teddy B @RT90521672 Jan 27 An eclectic, small-scale thriller that upholds one master of suspense and introduces the movie-watching world to another: the excellent Patricia Highsmith, and her sterling debut novel wonderfully translated to the silver screen. See more Jason H @RT50328122 Jan 4 I liked the first half a lot more than the second half. Excellent performance by Robert Walker. See more Beth B @RT88659889 Sep 29 Get ready to be on the edge of your seat. A quick conversation between two strangers on a train leads to a one of them left on a speeding train ride with no stops. See more Steve L. @Stevio Jul 30 My Hitchcock favorites change over the years, but I think this is the one I enjoy rewatching the most. Bruno is one of the great oddball villains. “I’ve always admired people who do things.” See more Stephen C @bob25009 Jun 8 Success in 1 hour and 41 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Autumn M @RT26919073 May 26 Strangers on the Train is a mediocre thriller. The film is the story of maniacal man who tries to convince a tennis player to " swap murders" with him. The characters are too broadly drawn, and the plot is not at all clever. I kept waiting for a classic twist, but was mostly disappointed. See more Read all reviews
Strangers on a Train

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Cast & Crew

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Alfred Hitchcock

Director

Robert Walker

Bruno Anthony

Farley Granger

Guy Haines

Ruth Roman

Anne Morton

Leo G. Carroll

Sen. Morton

Patricia Hitchcock

Barbara Morton

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Strangers on a Train

Strangers on a Train (1951) Strangers on a Train (1951) Strangers on a Train (1951) A scene from "Strangers on a Train." A scene from "Strangers on a Train." A scene from "Strangers on a Train." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In Alfred Hitchcock's adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's thriller, tennis star Guy Haines is enraged by his trampy wife's refusal to finalize their divorce so he can wed senator's daughter Anne. He strikes up a conversation with a stranger, Bruno Anthony, and unwittingly sets in motion a deadly chain of events. Psychopathic Bruno kills Guy's wife, then urges Guy to reciprocate by killing Bruno's father. Meanwhile, Guy is murder suspect number one.
Director
Alfred Hitchcock
Producer
Alfred Hitchcock
Screenwriter
Whitfield Cook, Patricia Highsmith, Czenzi Ormonde
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co
Warner Bros.
Rating
PG
Genre
Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 30, 1951, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 15, 2008
Runtime
1h 41m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
35mm
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