Alfred Hitchcock

Master of Suspense

Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock

Born 13th August 1899, Leytonstone, Essex, England.

Died 29th April 1980, Bel-Air, California, U.S.

English film director and producer, specifically within the Thriller Genre,
earning him the title of The Master of Suspense by his spectators
He directed Blackmail (1929) which is thought to be the first British sound
feature film, Hitchcock made effective use of sound within his films
In 1939, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood and gained US Citizenship (1955)
During the First World War he was called upon to serve in the British Army,
but was excused from military service, with a C3 classification due to his
size, height and medical conditions.

Childhood

Hitchcocks childhood was harsh and discontented,

mistreated and felt that it was worsened by his obesity.

he

was

regularly

He often describes his childhood as sheltered and lonely.

When he was around the age of 5 years old, Hitchcocks father sent him to
their local police station with a note instructing him to be locked up for 5
minutes due to his bad behaviour. This event has implanted a lifetime fear of
policemen.
These poor memories from his childhood are inspirational within his films, with
harsh treatment and wrongful accusation being key themes within his films.

Influential

In addition to his childhood mistreatment, Hitchcocks films were regularly

influenced and based on novels , for instance, Strangers on a Train is based
on the novel by Patricia Highmore.
Apart from his early work, Hitchcocks productions are stylised to Hitchcocks
iconic directorial style to such an extent that he is regarded as their Auteur.
Auteur: A film director who influences their films so much that they
rank as their author.

Cameos & Image

Hitchcock famously makes cameos in his

films, he briefly appears in the large
majority of his films, for instance in 'The
Birds' he plays a man walking dogs out
of the pet shop, in 'Strangers on a Train'
he can be seen struggling in his attempt
to board the train with a double bass.

Hitchcock had a very public image,

seen in interviews, film trailers and
cameos, and was perceived as
humorous and having a loving
persona and relationship with his
actors. However, in later years he
received a more sinister branding
and claimed to be difficult to work
with. It is stated that Tippi Hendren
has been traumatised through her
experience working with Hitchcock,
with claims of him being obsessed
with her and attempted to sexually
advance her. In 'The Birds' she was
attacked by them during a scene in
which Hitchcock did not inform her
involved real birds.

Title Sequences

Hitchcocks films have many iconic title sequences, which are intriguing and
suspenseful, creating questions within the audience and doing so in an
interesting manner. Especially his collaboration with graphic designer, Saul
Bass.
Bass collaborated with Hitchcock to produce an unofficial trilogy of opening for
his films, consisting of: Vertigo (1958), North by Northwest (1959) and
Psycho . Many believe him to be the introducer of computer graphics within
cinema.
He rejuvenated kinetic typography
Basss intentions within the titles are to metaphorically present the underlying
main theme of the films plot, as well as creating mood and atmosphere.
This is clearly evident in the opening credits for Vertigo as Bass uses lissajous
waves to create the sensibility of vertigo and disorientation.

Shots from the opening credits of

Vertigo

Techniques, Characteristics and Themes

Hitchcock films use various techniques and themes to produce an effective thriller,
inducing suspense.

Suspense: A state or feeling of excited or anxious uncertainty about what

may happen.

Hitchcocks plots are usually climactic and include the main characters life being
at risk, or a plot twist occurs at the end of the film. The protagonist is often an
average, innocent victim.
Hitchcock frequently makes use of red herrings, which he dubbed MacGuffins .
A plot device which is significant to the character on screen but poses little
importance to the audience. For example, he could introduce a specific identity
of an item which actually possesses no significance to the overall plot.
In addition to the main themes within his films, Hitchcock included many
undertones within his films, for instance, sexuality. A central theme within his
films is psychology.

Hitchcock famously used Blonde women as the lead/heroine role within his
films as he had the belief that a brunette would appear more suspicious to
an audience. Blondes are the symbol of a heroine. Examples of this are Tippi
Hendren and Kim Novak.
He stereotypically portrayed blondes within society, focusing on their
physical beauty.
Hitchcock presents mothers as intrusive and domineering, such as Lydia
Brenner in The Birds (1963)
Alcohol, specifically brandy are prominent in his films
He uses straight cuts and cross-cutting within his films to allure suspense as
the audience pieces together the overall picture, a key example of this is the
climbing frame scene in The Birds

He makes use of camera angles: Whirling camera angles, dolly and double
exposure. Placing the audience within the film, they experience the trials and
tribulations of the characters. The movement of the camera angles
disorientate the audience and evoke confusion.
Hitchcock often parallels two characters through his use of 'the double', which
can consist of two people sharing the same desires, however only one of them
is ruthless to actually take action and do it. An example of this would be
'Strangers on a Train'.
He makes use of staircases in his films, following the believe of the imagery of
the staircase being menacing (influenced by German Expressionism).

Charles Derry

Hitchcock's legacy within the Thriller genre has inspired many, resulting in the
expansion of suspense and conventions within the genre.

Charles Derry is a member of the Society for Cinema and Media Studies, teaching
writing and film criticism at Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio.

He has written on poplar cultures, melodramas and soap operas.

He has explored Hitchcock and the Suspense Thriller genre, specifically within his
novel The Suspense Thriller: Films in the Shadow of Alfred Hitchcock.

The Suspense Thriller genre consists of many sub-genres:

The Thriller of Murderous Passions , The Political Thriller , The Thriller of Acquired
Identity , The Psychotraumatic Thriller, The Thriller of Moral Confrontation, The
Innocent-on-the-run Thriller