The Hilton Hyde Park is a lovely old hotel across from Hyde Park. Its central location and high standard of Hilton amenities make it a popular hotel with visitors to London.
Even years ago, this hotel was the place to be when you wanted something special, and Alfred Hitchcock took advantage of the hotel’s cachet when he was filming the movie Frenzy. This was 1972, and the hotel was called The Coburg in those days, but the structure and location remain the same.
In the film, we meet Richard Blaney (Jon Finch with a rather curious moustache), an unlucky soul who just lost his job. He goes to see his ex-wife Brenda (Barbara Leigh-Hunt) who is a successful marriage broker at her office, and has an argument that is overheard by her secretary, Miss Barling (Jean Marsh).
Brenda slips some money into Blaney’s jacket pocket to tide him over, and they make plans to meet later. When Blaney discovers the money, he tries to see Brenda again, but her office is closed. What Blaney doesn’t know is that poor Brenda lies dead inside, raped and murdered by a London serial killer.
With the sudden windfall, he decides to take his barmaid girlfriend Babs (Anna Massey) to a fine hotel, namely The Hyde Park Hilton. Blaney soon discovers that he is the prime suspect in the murder of his ex-wife, and the chase is on.
The audience knows Blaney is not to blame for the atrocities, but in typical Hitchcock fashion we are led through the process of mistaken identity and complex storytelling that is the hallmark of many of the films produced by this great director.
This is Hitchcock’s most brutal movie; the vicious rape and murder of Brenda packs a distressing emotional wallop, even to the more jaded viewers of today.
The Hyde Park Hilton was an inspired choice for a luxurious city hotel during the filming of Frenzy.
Address: 129 Bayswater Road, London, Bayswater, W24RJ
Telephone: 020 7437 4370
Photo courtesy: infraredhorsebite
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