Tipi Hedren in Marnie.

Now celebrating 50 years and starring Tipi Hedren, Marnie is Alfred Hitchcock’s most liberated and poetic film. After her debut in The Birds, Hedren plays the titular character Marnie Edgar in the film, a serial office burglar who travels from city to city seeking secretarial employment and then breaks into the office safes.

Until one day, Marnie’s boss Mark Rutland (Sean Connery) discovers she’s a thief. He proposes marriage and discovers the root of her deep-seated fears that threaten their tranquillity.

Euro Media Forum, in collabor-ation with Bottegin Palazzo Xara, are holding a talk to celebrate Marnie’s 50th anniversary. Guest speaker Kim Dalli will lead the audience into a greater appreciation for this classic film and how it became renowned as a masterpiece of psychological mystery mirroring all of Hitchcock’s obsessions.

The discussion will cover topics like the unleashing of suppressed female sexuality, strong-willed mothers, duplicitous personalities, false identities, childhood trauma and Hitchcock’s passionate love for icy-looking, blonde starlets.

Dalli will give an insight into how Hitchcock’s deep obsession with Hedren during the production contributed to the disquieting tone of the film. Another issue to be addressed is the uncharacteristic film technique that makes the audience wonder whether Hedren was a femme fatale off the screen.

Was there ever a real crime taking place between the film takes, as a result of Hedren’s and Hitchcock’s stormy relationship?

Wherever the discussion may lead, one thing is sure; ultimately, Marnie earned Hedren the most coveted title of them all – Hitchcock’s last screen blonde.

The event is being held on Tuesday at Palazzo Xara, Rabat at 8.30pm. For bookings send an e-mail to euromediaforum@gmail.com, SMS 9945 4066 or visit the Facebook page www.facebook.com/Euro.Media.Forum.