Hitchcock At Work

Book excerpt: Hitchcock at Workis a comprehensive, behind-the-scenes examination of the work of 'The Master of Suspense', Alfred Hitchcock (1899-1980). It examines the director's entire career from the early films made in the UK in the 1920s and 30s, to his move to Hollywood where he came to co-produce as well as direct his films. Film expert Bill Krohn looks beyond the usual anecdotal sources about Hitchcock, paying unprecedented attention to the director's personal papers and the archives of the film studios for which he worked. This seminal survey includes rare shooting schedules, budgets, memos, letters, storyboards and transcripts of discussions with key collaborators. The result is a major reassessment of the working methods of this historic director: one that transcends many of the myths often promulgated by Hitchcock himself that have warped previous criticism. Hitchcock at Workis fully illustrated throughout in both colour and black and white, and features stills from films, shots taken on set, storyboards and annotated film scripts. A complete filmography reveals the scope of Hitchcock's momentous career, suggesting the subtle nuances of its development.