Alfred Hitchcock (1899 – 1980) English / American film producer, director

Early Life and Career

Alfred Hitchcock was born in London, England on August 13, 1899. He was the eldest of three children born to William Hitchcock, a greengrocer, and Emma Hitchcock (née Whelan). Hitchcock's parents were Roman Catholics, and he attended Catholic schools throughout his childhood.

Hitchcock showed an early interest in cinema, and he began making short films in his teens. In 1920, he was hired by the British film company, Gainsborough Pictures. He worked his way up the ranks at Gainsborough, and he eventually became a director.

Hitchcock's early films were mostly comedies and thrillers. He made his first major hit with the 1927 film, The Lodger. The Lodger was a suspenseful thriller about a man who is suspected of being Jack the Ripper. The film was a critical and commercial success, and it helped to establish Hitchcock as a major director.

Hitchcock's American Years

In 1939, Hitchcock moved to the United States to work for the film studio, Universal Pictures. He made his American debut with the 1940 film, Rebecca. Rebecca was a Gothic thriller that was based on the novel of the same name by Daphne du Maurier. The film was a critical and commercial success, and it won the Academy Award for Best Picture.

Hitchcock continued to make successful films throughout the 1940s and 1950s. Some of his most famous films from this period include Shadow of a Doubt (1943), Notorious (1946), Strangers on a Train (1951), Dial M for Murder (1954), and North by Northwest (1959).

Hitchcock's Later Years

Hitchcock's later films were not as successful as his earlier films. However, he continued to make films that were both suspenseful and visually striking. Some of his most notable films from this period include Vertigo (1958), Psycho (1960), The Birds (1963), and Marnie (1964).

Hitchcock's final film was Family Plot (1976). He retired from filmmaking shortly after the film's release. Hitchcock died on April 29, 1980 at the age of 80.

Legacy

Alfred Hitchcock is considered one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. He is known for his suspenseful films, his visual style, and his use of symbolism. Hitchcock's films have had a major influence on other filmmakers, and he is considered a master of the suspense genre.

Opens in a new windowSome of Hitchcock's most famous techniques:

• Suspense: Hitchcock was a master of suspense. He knew how to build tension and create a sense of dread in his films. He often used techniques such as the "MacGuffin" (a plot device that is unimportant in itself but serves to drive the story forward), the "wrong man" (a character who is falsely accused of a crime), and the "bomb under the table" (a ticking clock that creates a sense of urgency).
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• Visual Style: Hitchcock was also a master of visual style. He used camera angles, lighting, and editing to create striking images that often had symbolic meaning. For example, in the film Vertigo, Hitchcock uses a spiral staircase to represent the protagonist's descent into madness.
• Symbolism: Hitchcock often used symbolism in his films. For example, in the film Psycho, the shower scene is often interpreted as a representation of the protagonist's sexual awakening.

Conclusion

Alfred Hitchcock was a complex and fascinating figure. He was a master of suspense, a visual stylist, and a master of symbolism. His films have had a major influence on other filmmakers, and he is considered one of the greatest filmmakers of all time.