# Frenzy

> 1972 film by Alfred Hitchcock

**Wikidata**: [Q221587](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q221587)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frenzy)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/frenzy

## Summary
Frenzy is a 1972 British thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, marking his penultimate feature film. It is a neo-noir crime drama set in London, notable for being Hitchcock's first film made in his home country in nearly two decades.

## Key Facts
- Release date: May 19, 1972 (UK), June 21, 1972 (US)
- Director: Alfred Hitchcock
- Production company: Universal Pictures
- Country of origin: United Kingdom
- Genre: Thriller, crime, neo-noir, mystery, horror
- Runtime: 116 minutes
- Language: English
- IMDb rating: 7.3/10
- Rotten Tomatoes score: 91%
- Metacritic score: 92/100
- Box office: $2 million (US)
- Budget: $12.6 million
- Awards: National Board of Review Top Ten Films (1972)
- Wikipedia sitelink count: 40 language editions

## FAQs
**What is the plot of Frenzy?**
Frenzy follows a serial killer known as the "Necktie Murderer" who strangles women with neckties in London. When an innocent man is wrongfully accused, he must prove his innocence while the real killer remains at large.

**Who stars in Frenzy?**
The film features Jon Finch as Richard Blaney, Barry Foster as Bob Rusk, Barbara Leigh-Hunt as Brenda Blaney, and Anna Massey as Babs Milligan.

**What makes Frenzy significant in Hitchcock's filmography?**
Frenzy represents Hitchcock's return to London after nearly 20 years of working in Hollywood, and it showcases his mastery of suspense in a contemporary British setting. It's also notable for its more explicit content compared to his earlier works.

**How was Frenzy received by critics and audiences?**
The film received positive reviews, with critics praising Hitchcock's direction and the performances. It holds a 91% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and was selected as one of the National Board of Review's Top Ten Films of 1972.

## Why It Matters
Frenzy matters as a significant entry in Alfred Hitchcock's distinguished career, demonstrating his continued relevance and mastery of the thriller genre well into his later years. The film represents a successful return to his British roots, bringing his signature suspense techniques to a contemporary London setting. It showcases Hitchcock's ability to adapt to changing cinematic norms while maintaining his distinctive style, particularly in its handling of more explicit content than his earlier works. The film's exploration of wrongful accusation and the psychology of a serial killer reflects Hitchcock's enduring interest in human nature and moral ambiguity.

## Notable For
- Hitchcock's return to London filmmaking after nearly two decades
- First Hitchcock film to receive an R rating in the United States
- Features one of Hitchcock's most graphic murder scenes
- Last film Hitchcock made in the UK before his death
- Selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry
- One of the few Hitchcock films to be shot entirely on location in London
- Marks a transition in Hitchcock's style toward more explicit content

## Body

### Production and Development
Frenzy was produced by Alfred Hitchcock Productions and distributed by Universal Pictures, marking Hitchcock's continued relationship with the studio that had supported him since the 1950s. The film was shot entirely on location in London, marking Hitchcock's first return to his home country for filming since 1950's Stage Fright. The screenplay was written by Anthony Shaffer, based on the novel "Goodbye Piccadilly, Farewell Leicester Square" by Arthur La Bern. Filming took place from July to September 1971, with a budget of $12.6 million.

### Cast and Characters
The film stars Jon Finch as Richard Blaney, a down-on-his-luck former RAF pilot wrongfully accused of being the Necktie Murderer. Barry Foster plays Bob Rusk, the actual killer and Blaney's friend. Barbara Leigh-Hunt portrays Brenda Blaney, Richard's ex-wife who runs a matchmaking agency. Anna Massey plays Babs Milligan, a barmaid who becomes involved in the case. Alec McCowen appears as Chief Inspector Oxford, the detective investigating the murders.

### Technical Specifications
Frenzy has a runtime of 116 minutes and was filmed in color using Panavision cameras and lenses. The aspect ratio is 1.85:1. The film's score was composed by Ron Goodwin, marking one of the few Hitchcock films not scored by Bernard Herrmann. The cinematography was handled by Gil Taylor, known for his work on Star Wars and Dr. Strangelove.

### Critical Reception and Legacy
Upon release, Frenzy received generally positive reviews from critics who praised Hitchcock's direction and the performances, particularly those of Barry Foster and Alec McCowen. The film holds a 91% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 35 reviews, with an average rating of 7.5/10. Metacritic assigned the film a score of 92 out of 100, indicating "universal acclaim." The film was selected as one of the National Board of Review's Top Ten Films of 1972.

### Hitchcock's Style and Techniques
Frenzy showcases many of Hitchcock's signature techniques, including the use of suspense through dramatic irony, where the audience knows more than the characters. The film features Hitchcock's trademark cameo appearance, this time as a man in the crowd watching a politician's speech. The director also employs his famous "Hitchcock zoom" in several scenes, creating a disorienting effect that heightens tension.

### Cultural Impact
Frenzy is notable for being one of Hitchcock's most sexually explicit films, featuring nudity and frank discussions of sexuality that were uncommon in his earlier works. This shift reflects changing social mores of the early 1970s and Hitchcock's willingness to adapt his style to contemporary audiences. The film's portrayal of London, particularly Covent Garden and the River Thames, provides a vivid snapshot of the city in the early 1970s.

### Distribution and Release
The film premiered in the United Kingdom on May 19, 1972, and was released in the United States on June 21, 1972. It was rated R by the MPAA, making it Hitchcock's first film to receive this rating. The film was a modest commercial success, grossing approximately $2 million at the US box office against its $12.6 million budget.

### Awards and Recognition
Frenzy was selected as one of the National Board of Review's Top Ten Films of 1972. While it did not receive any Academy Award nominations, the film has since been recognized as an important entry in Hitchcock's filmography and in the thriller genre as a whole. In 2014, the film was deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" by the United States Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.

## References

1. [Source](http://stopklatka.pl/film/szal)
2. IMDb
3. [Source](http://decine21.com/Peliculas/Frenesi-3650)
4. FilmAffinity
5. [Source](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068611/fullcredits)
6. Česko-Slovenská filmová databáze
7. Letterboxd
8. The Movie Database
9. Frenzy. Rotten Tomatoes
10. [IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068611/releaseinfo/)
11. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
12. [IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068611/parentalguide)
13. The Numbers
14. Kinopoisk
15. [Source](https://www.kijkwijzer.nl/films/frenzy/)
16. terjesztesre_kerulo_filmalkotasok_nyilvantartasa.xlsx
17. List of film licenses issued from 1945 to 2020
18. film distribution certificate
19. Online-Filmdatenbank
20. Bechdel Test Movie List
21. [Source](https://ui.eidr.org/view/content?id=10.5240/6FAB-13A2-2BF5-F595-DF14-9)
22. [Source](https://www.acmi.net.au/works/92906)
23. Trakt.tv
24. FilmVandaag.nl