Sir Alfred HitchcockSir Alfred Hitchcock

Obsessed master of Obsessed master of suspensesuspense

The life

The style

The conclusion

The movies

I’ve never said

that actors are

cattle. I said theyshould be treated

as cattle !

The biography : early lifeThe biography : early life

Alfred Joseph Hitchcock was born the 13 August Alfred Joseph Hitchcock was born the 13 August 1899, in Leytonstone (London). 1899, in Leytonstone (London).

He described his childhood has lonely and He described his childhood has lonely and sheltered. His two parents ( William and Emma sheltered. His two parents ( William and Emma Hitchcock) were two zealous Roman Catholic and Hitchcock) were two zealous Roman Catholic and send Alfred to a Jesuits College, where Alfred send Alfred to a Jesuits College, where Alfred feared religion and physical punition.feared religion and physical punition.

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Another crucial moments of his childhood would Another crucial moments of his childhood would be when he acted childishly, his father sent him be when he acted childishly, his father sent him to the police office, where polices locked him for to the police office, where polices locked him for 1 hour. This was the origin of Hitchcock police 1 hour. This was the origin of Hitchcock police phobia. phobia.

At 14, he lost his father and ran of his Jesuits At 14, he lost his father and ran of his Jesuits school to the School of Engineering and school to the School of Engineering and Navigation. He also started to work in an electric Navigation. He also started to work in an electric cable company, where he made publicity. cable company, where he made publicity. There, he became more and more interested inThere, he became more and more interested inphotography.photography.

The biography : beginning in The biography : beginning in cinema and early succescinema and early succes

Alfred first work in cinema industry was designing Alfred first work in cinema industry was designing intertitles for silent movie. This is where he will get the intertitles for silent movie. This is where he will get the way of drawing plan by plan a movie.way of drawing plan by plan a movie.

In 1922, he will try to produce and realize his first movie, In 1922, he will try to produce and realize his first movie, Number ThirteenNumber Thirteen, but the project was abandoned., but the project was abandoned.

After, he started to work as assistant in Michael Balcon After, he started to work as assistant in Michael Balcon company where he discovered tastes for techniques. company where he discovered tastes for techniques. During these years, he will be implicated in any aspect of During these years, he will be implicated in any aspect of a movie : costume, scenes, script, actors… This will give a movie : costume, scenes, script, actors… This will give him a extremely perfectionism attitude.him a extremely perfectionism attitude.

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He then worked at the German UFA as a scenarist and He then worked at the German UFA as a scenarist and decorator. This experience was one of the most important decorator. This experience was one of the most important in Hitchcock carrier. In 1925, he directed his first movie, in Hitchcock carrier. In 1925, he directed his first movie, The Pleasure GardenThe Pleasure Garden, who was a failure, but better would , who was a failure, but better would come.come.

His first true movie is His first true movie is The LodgerThe Lodger, a thriller based on the , a thriller based on the novel novel Where is he ?Where is he ? of Marie Belloc-Lowdes. Succes is of Marie Belloc-Lowdes. Succes is incredible and critical, never people has seen such incredible and critical, never people has seen such thrilling movie.thrilling movie.

Then after, some less good movies will appear, to Then after, some less good movies will appear, to BlackmailBlackmail, 1929, the last silent movie of Hitchcock, that , 1929, the last silent movie of Hitchcock, that made a little succes.made a little succes.

The biography : from London to The biography : from London to HollywoodHollywood

New talking movies from Hitchcock have great New talking movies from Hitchcock have great success, such success, such The Man Who Knew Too Much The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934), (1934), The 39 Steps The 39 Steps (1935) and (1935) and Young And Young And InnocentInnocent (1937). (1937).

With these movies, Hitchcock had acquired a With these movies, Hitchcock had acquired a great international reputation and already great international reputation and already qualified of ‘‘the master of suspense’’.qualified of ‘‘the master of suspense’’.

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With all this, Hitchcock is contacted by David O. Selznick With all this, Hitchcock is contacted by David O. Selznick to direct film for him. Start for Hitchcock his american era.to direct film for him. Start for Hitchcock his american era.

The first american movie of Hitchcock is The first american movie of Hitchcock is RebeccaRebecca, a , a terrifying drama, released in 1940. The movie has won an terrifying drama, released in 1940. The movie has won an Oscar for best movie of the year. Oscar for best movie of the year.

After, tensions will occur between Selznick and Hitchcock. After, tensions will occur between Selznick and Hitchcock. He will do five movies with him and became a personnal He will do five movies with him and became a personnal producer in 1947.producer in 1947.

The biography : Alfred Hitchcock The biography : Alfred Hitchcock PresentPresent

On his solo career, Alfred Hitchcock On his solo career, Alfred Hitchcock produced two bad films : produced two bad films : RopeRope and and Under Capricorn. Under Capricorn. They have so They have so much cost that Hitchcock had no much cost that Hitchcock had no choice and to get engage again.choice and to get engage again.

In 1955, he gave his name for a series named In 1955, he gave his name for a series named Alfred Hitchcock Present. Alfred Hitchcock Present. 1 hour of show of a 1 hour of show of a black tense with a cynical humor, where black tense with a cynical humor, where Hitchcock appears at the beginning and Hitchcock appears at the beginning and the end to talk to the public.the end to talk to the public.

Even if he didn’t really appreciate Even if he didn’t really appreciate the job, this series has made the job, this series has made Hitchcock famous through Hitchcock famous through America, England and France, America, England and France, and had give a lot of money.and had give a lot of money.

The series was diffused from 1955 to 1962 and The series was diffused from 1955 to 1962 and from 1985 to 1989 on the CBS and NBC chain. from 1985 to 1989 on the CBS and NBC chain. With show as With show as Bang ! Your’re Dead !Bang ! Your’re Dead !, , For Closing For Closing InIn and and The Glass EyeThe Glass Eye, this series won , this series won the Global Award of the best series.the Global Award of the best series.

Why Hitchcock didn’t appreciate Why Hitchcock didn’t appreciate this lucrative job ? Because he this lucrative job ? Because he

only wrote 18 scenarios !only wrote 18 scenarios !

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The biography : the best of the The biography : the best of the master and his declinemaster and his decline

During 1954 and 1963, Alfred Hitchcock will made During 1954 and 1963, Alfred Hitchcock will made his greatest masterpieces. his greatest masterpieces. Rear Window Rear Window (1954),(1954),Vertigo Vertigo (1958), (1958), North By Northwesr North By Northwesr (1959), (1959), PsychoPsycho (1960) and (1960) and The BirdsThe Birds (1963).(1963).

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It was only then that his age and physical disease It was only then that his age and physical disease started to slow him down. Besides started to slow him down. Besides Marnie Marnie (1964)(1964) and and Frenzy Frenzy (1972), all of his last movies lost some (1972), all of his last movies lost some of they ambitions and power.of they ambitions and power.

4 months before his death, in 1980, Hitchcock was named Knight Commander of The Order of The British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II, but he never make it the ceremony alive.

On his last days, Hitchcock was working on a spy On his last days, Hitchcock was working on a spy movie, movie, The Short NightThe Short Night. A book of the scenario . A book of the scenario has been published.has been published.

Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock died the 29 April 1980 Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock died the 29 April 1980 at the age of 81, from an urinal complication.at the age of 81, from an urinal complication.

The style : how he workedThe style : how he worked

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Alfred Hitchcock was renowned for his perfectionism. He would write the scenario and the script in every detail, drawin plan by plan, and then, go directly to the filming.

Although it was never written in the credits, his wife, Alma, helped him many times in most of his movie for writing the story.

Except for the one hired for it, Hitchcock would not accept ideas from other. All of his movie could be noted for his personal influence on it.

The style : suspenseThe style : suspense

Hitchcock preferred the use of suspense over surprise in his films. In surprise, the director assaults the viewer with frightening things. In suspense, the director tells or shows things to the audience which the characters in the film do not know, and then artfully builds tension around what will happen when the characters finally learn the truth.

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The style : spectators participatingThe style : spectators participating

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One of Hitchcock tricks is to make the spectators One of Hitchcock tricks is to make the spectators inside the movie., often as voyeur, often as part inside the movie., often as voyeur, often as part of the plot.of the plot.

For example, in For example, in PsychoPsycho, the public hopes the , the public hopes the murder wont forget to take the journal from the murder wont forget to take the journal from the police : a proof against him.police : a proof against him.

Hitchcock knows the public wants action, and Hitchcock knows the public wants action, and he’s willing to make the spectators being part of he’s willing to make the spectators being part of it.it.

To make the watchers part of the To make the watchers part of the movie, even in ugly roles, that the movie, even in ugly roles, that the power of Hitchcock. power of Hitchcock.

The style : the MacGuffinThe style : the MacGuffin

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The MacGuffin is the term of an technique The MacGuffin is the term of an technique invented by Hitchcock with invented by Hitchcock with The 39 Steps.The 39 Steps.

It is an event that starts the story and may seems It is an event that starts the story and may seems to be important, yet, in the end, doesn’t influence to be important, yet, in the end, doesn’t influence the story.the story.

For example, in For example, in North By NorthwestNorth By Northwest, the , the MacGuffin is unspecified secret informations that MacGuffin is unspecified secret informations that the main character must deliver to a man. the main character must deliver to a man. Throughout the movie, the character will search Throughout the movie, the character will search the man to discover that he the man to discover that he doesn’t exist,doesn’t exist,

Interviewed on what is the MacGuffin, Hitchcock Interviewed on what is the MacGuffin, Hitchcock replied this story.replied this story.

"It might be a"It might be a Scottish name taken from a story about two men in a train. One man says, 'What's that package up there in the baggage rack?' And the other answers, 'Oh that's a McGuffin.' The first one asks 'What's a McGuffin?' 'Well' the other man says, 'It's an apparatus for trapping lions in Scottish Highlands.' The first man says, 'But there are no lions in the Scottish Highlands,' and the other one answers 'Well, then that's no McGuffin!' So you see, a McGuffin is nothing at all."

The style : dark woman and The style : dark woman and blondeblonde

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Alfred Hitchcock always gave to woman the most Alfred Hitchcock always gave to woman the most black role. In black role. In The BirdThe Bird, Melanie is accused of , Melanie is accused of black magic. In black magic. In VertigoVertigo, Judy is part of a murder., Judy is part of a murder.

There is also the constancy of the oppressive There is also the constancy of the oppressive mother on his son. In mother on his son. In The BirdThe Bird, where the mother , where the mother fears to be abandoned by his boy. In fears to be abandoned by his boy. In PsychoPsycho, the , the murder of his mother brings Norman Blates to murder of his mother brings Norman Blates to schizophrenia.schizophrenia.

This won’t stop Hitchcock to fall in love of every This won’t stop Hitchcock to fall in love of every blonde actress he had ! This will turn in an blonde actress he had ! This will turn in an

obsession, throwing real birds to the actress Tippi obsession, throwing real birds to the actress Tippi Hedren when she refused his advances.Hedren when she refused his advances.

The style : recurring themeThe style : recurring theme

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One recurring theme of Hitchcock was ordinary One recurring theme of Hitchcock was ordinary people who lived extraordinary situation, as the people who lived extraordinary situation, as the family in family in The BirdThe Bird. .

Another theme is mistaken identity, when people Another theme is mistaken identity, when people are believed to be someone else. For example, a are believed to be someone else. For example, a prime example can be found in prime example can be found in North By North By NorthwestNorthwest, when Roger Thornhill (Cary Grant) is , when Roger Thornhill (Cary Grant) is mistaken for George Kaplan, a non-existent mistaken for George Kaplan, a non-existent government agent made up by the CIA. government agent made up by the CIA.

Also, there is the bumbling authorities. In nearly Also, there is the bumbling authorities. In nearly all the Hitchcock movie, police knows nothing or all the Hitchcock movie, police knows nothing or don’t have clues. This is due to Hitchcock fears of don’t have clues. This is due to Hitchcock fears of police.police.

An unexplained obsession of Hitchcock was An unexplained obsession of Hitchcock was staircase. If stairways could create emotions, staircase. If stairways could create emotions, Hitchcock had the way to add perfectly useless Hitchcock had the way to add perfectly useless staircase in all of his movie.staircase in all of his movie.

Hitchcock always added in his movie brandy. “I’ll Hitchcock always added in his movie brandy. “I’ll get you brandy’’ is a quote that can be hear in get you brandy’’ is a quote that can be hear in most of his film.most of his film.

Hitchcock has a nearly obsession of the number Hitchcock has a nearly obsession of the number seven, wich was included everywhere.seven, wich was included everywhere.

The style : the cameoThe style : the cameoA cameo is the furtive passage of a celebrity in a A cameo is the furtive passage of a celebrity in a movie. In all his american movies, Hitchcock movie. In all his american movies, Hitchcock appears in a silent cameo in the first 15 minutes; appears in a silent cameo in the first 15 minutes; it’s a game to the spectators to find him.it’s a game to the spectators to find him.

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Alfred in the 2th Alfred in the 2th minute of minute of The BirdThe Bird, , going out of a pet going out of a pet shop with his two fox-shop with his two fox-terrier.terrier.

The movies : The BirdThe movies : The Bird

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Melanie Daniels go the pet shop of Bogeda Bay Melanie Daniels go the pet shop of Bogeda Bay and met Mitch Brenner, come to buy lovebirds to and met Mitch Brenner, come to buy lovebirds to his sister. Mitch takes Melanie for a worker and his sister. Mitch takes Melanie for a worker and then, go away. Melanie, impressed by the guy, then, go away. Melanie, impressed by the guy, intend to brought him the couple pf lovebirds. intend to brought him the couple pf lovebirds. Unfortunately, wild birds in the area grow crazy Unfortunately, wild birds in the area grow crazy and kill everyone.and kill everyone.

This movie, released in 1963, was a thriller added This movie, released in 1963, was a thriller added with a bit of terror. Extremely powerful with a bit of terror. Extremely powerful emotionally, even today, the strong fear its emotionally, even today, the strong fear its create is in fact that create is in fact that allall the bird were real ! the bird were real !

It is considered as the best movie of Hitchcock, It is considered as the best movie of Hitchcock, with with PsychoPsycho and and VertigoVertigo. It is also very simple, in . It is also very simple, in comparison of other Hitchcock production, and comparison of other Hitchcock production, and suitable for everyone.suitable for everyone.

Definitely a must for all cinema fan.Definitely a must for all cinema fan.

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The movie : The movie : PsychoPsycho

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Marion and Sam are in love, but if financial Marion and Sam are in love, but if financial situation of Sam dos not improve, they can’t situation of Sam dos not improve, they can’t marry. Desperate, Marion stole 40,000$ to her job marry. Desperate, Marion stole 40,000$ to her job and went to an hotel, before joining Sam. and went to an hotel, before joining Sam.

The hotel is held by Norman Blates and her The hotel is held by Norman Blates and her mother, who shows some crazy tendency; she will mother, who shows some crazy tendency; she will kill Marion in the now-famous shower scene with kill Marion in the now-famous shower scene with the violin strings screeching.the violin strings screeching.

Norman, afraid, will cover the act by swallowing Norman, afraid, will cover the act by swallowing the car, the body and the 40,000$. But a the car, the body and the 40,000$. But a detective come to investigate and the mother kill detective come to investigate and the mother kill him also…him also…

This movie is extremely suspenseful and hard to This movie is extremely suspenseful and hard to your nerves. Going into more and more your nerves. Going into more and more complicates schemes, plots and actions, you will complicates schemes, plots and actions, you will fell like bursting when Sam and his sister arrives fell like bursting when Sam and his sister arrives in the action.in the action.

Using music, sounds, image and concepts to feel Using music, sounds, image and concepts to feel you the crep, this is definitely my favorite you the crep, this is definitely my favorite Hitchcock movie !Hitchcock movie !

The movie : FilmographyThe movie : FilmographySilent movieThe Lodger (1926)The Ring (1927)Easy Virtue (1927)Champagne (1928)The Farmer's Wife (1928)Manxman (1929)

British movieBlackmail (1929)Juno and the Paycock (1930)Murder! (1930)Skin Game (1931)Rich and Strange (1932)Number 17 (1932)The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934)The 39 Steps (1935)Secret Agent (1936)Sabotage (1936)Young and Innocent (1937)The Lady Vanishes (1938)Jamaica Inn (1939)

American movieRebecca (1940) Marnie (1964)Foreign Correspondent (1940) Torn Curtain (1966) Mr. & Mrs. Smith (1941) Topaz (1969)Suspicion (1941) Frenzy (1972)Saboteur (1942)Shadow of a Doubt (1943)Spellbound (1945)Lifeboat (1944)Bon Voyage & Aventure Malgache (1944)Notorious (1946)The Paradine Case (1947)Rope (1948)Under Capricorn (1949Stage Fright (1950)Strangers on a Train (1951)I Confess (1953)Dial M for Murder (1954)The Wrong Man (1956)The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)Vertigo (1958)North by Northwest (1959)Psycho by Alfred Hitchcock (1960)The Birds (1963)

49 movies ! Menu

The conclusion : the contributionThe conclusion : the contribution

Alfred Hitchcock created a particular way of doing Alfred Hitchcock created a particular way of doing suspense movie. Although he explored a bit suspense movie. Although he explored a bit camera shots or luminosity, his captivating thrill camera shots or luminosity, his captivating thrill come with his perfect mastery of the story, with come with his perfect mastery of the story, with the MacGuffin and suspense effect, using the the MacGuffin and suspense effect, using the spectators as a part of the movie.spectators as a part of the movie.

Hitchcock directed 49 movies (with 2 of them Hitchcock directed 49 movies (with 2 of them produced by himself) and wrote them. He also produced by himself) and wrote them. He also animed the show animed the show Alfred Hitchcock PresentsAlfred Hitchcock Presents and and directed a series of novels.directed a series of novels.

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Many producers are directly taking inspirations Many producers are directly taking inspirations from Hitchcock, such Steven Spielberg in from Hitchcock, such Steven Spielberg in Munich.Munich.

Hitchcock has introduced a so powerful way of Hitchcock has introduced a so powerful way of making film, production who seems to have some making film, production who seems to have some of his techniques are called of his techniques are called HitchcockianHitchcockian..

The conclusion : quoteThe conclusion : quote

’’’’The duration of a film should be The duration of a film should be adapted to the endurance of the adapted to the endurance of the bladder.’’bladder.’’

‘’‘’I am a philanthropist: I give to people I am a philanthropist: I give to people what they want. People adore being what they want. People adore being horrified, terrorized.’’horrified, terrorized.’’

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The conclusion : ovophobiaThe conclusion : ovophobiaAlfred Hitchcock had an extreme fear of eggs (also known as ovophobia), he said: I’m frightened of eggs, worse than frightened, they revolt me. That white round thing without any holes … have you ever seen anything more revolting than an egg yolk breaking and spilling its yellow liquid? Blood is jolly, red. But egg yolk is yellow, revolting. I’ve never tasted it.

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BiographyBiography

• Wikipedia : research, imagesWikipedia : research, images• Systran.com : traduction of quotesSystran.com : traduction of quotes• Google.com : imagesGoogle.com : images

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The horrible questionThe horrible question

Who’s the most sexy of those two guys ?Who’s the most sexy of those two guys ?