Sunday Times 4614 (2 Nov 2014) by Dean Mayer

Solving time: 39:28

Quite a tough one it seemed to me from Dean this week. I loved the deception in 16d so that gets my COD.

There was talk on the forum about a nina, but apparently it was news to Dean himself, so any connection amongst the across clues is clearly acciental. Not sure what people are seeing myself. Clearly 1 & 9 are Hitchcock films, but I don't see any others. Unless you count Rope which is contained in 17.

cd = cryptic def., dd = double def., rev = reversal, homophones are written in quotes, anagrams as (--)*, and removals like this

Across
1	PSYCHO = PS (By the way) + YOu about (C + H)
5	P(HARM)ACY
9	DIAL M FOR MURDER = (LURID DREAM FROM)* - Classic Hitchcock
10	P + IMPLIER
12	T(Y + C)OON
13	BULL - dd - 16d (TORO ROSSO) is Red Bull in Italian, and the bull's eye on a dartboard is surrounded by the 25 point ring
14	THIS MINUTE = (HIT TUNE)* about ISM
17	ALLOT + ROPES
18	HA(R)D
19	CRAFTS = ContaineR + AS about FT
22	ICE STORM = IM about (SECTOR)*
23	SIGN OF THE CROSS - dd
25	LISTENER = SeTtEr in LINER - There can't be many who would dispute that The Listener crossword is tough
26	RIB + BoOiNg
Down
2	SPIn + RITUAL
3	COLt
4	OFF(KILT)ER
5	PORTRAIT-PAINTER = PORTER (one carrying) about (TRAIT + PAIN)
6	A + DULl + T
7	MEDICI + NE(H)AT
8	CAR + GO
11	PILLOW FIGHT - cd
15	M(USK)ET + E + ER
16	TORO ROSSO = OR x2 (double yellow) in TOSS (throw) + O (ordinary) - I loved the deception of double yellow lines
20	ROSTI - hidden
21	SCORe + N
24	R + repUBlic