Hitchcock, The Artist “Shadow of a Doubt” was one of those movies I would flip right past if it happened to be on television. If I knew that it was a Hitchcock film, perhaps I’d pause for a few seconds to see if it looked scary. If it didn’t captivate me within those few seconds, I’d cruise right by until I found MTV. But, being somewhat forced to watch “Shadow of a Doubt” in class, I had no choice other than to buckle down and pay attention. I was pleasantly surprised. I expected some twists and
Alfred Hitchcock As a cinematographer, I see Alfred Hitchcock as one of the most influential people in the history of the silver screen. My synopsis of his films, however, will be through the eyes of a young man that has witnessed tragedy. I could sit and rant and rave about how Hitchcock was a great director, his films were awesome, etc., but I’ll spare you of that. I would much rather discuss the attack, but since I must write this paper about his cinema work, I’ll try and compare the two movies
Psycho by Alfred Hitchcock A running theme that is presented to the audience in Psycho is the opposition that exists between good and evil. This is shown throughout the movie among the different characters. Examples can also be taken from conflicts within the characters. Certain conflicts and how the characters deal with them and each other are what shape the structure of the movie. The perception that the audience receives of the characters change throughout the movie by the different conflicts
A Hitchcockian Twist: Males Fighting Patriarchy, Females Reinforcing It Alfred Hitchcock is one of the most recognized directors of the Golden Age of Hollywood for his suspenseful and meticulously designed films. Although Hitchcock experimented with a few bold camera movements, the majority of his films followed the Hollywood style known for its seamless camera techniques aiming to depict reality. The reality shown on screen is limited to the perspective of a single protagonist, since the narrative
The texts Psycho, directed by Alfred Hitchcock and The Shining, written by Stephen King, both explore the theme of horror through the use of psychologically disturbed protagonists and key techniques. Psycho surrounds the lives of Marion Crane, who is on the run after stealing $40,000, and psychopathic motel owner, Norman Bates. Bates is unable to handle the guilt encompassing his mother’s murder, resulting in the murder of anyone he feels sexually attracted to. The Shining explores Jack Torrance’s
What is the secret to a suspenseful movie? Alfred Hitchcock is known as the master of suspense. Hitchcock has a certain formula to make a successful film. There are four elements that are important to a Hitchcock film. First is the story. Then is the characters. Next it is the cinematic shots. Finally it is the suspense. The story is very important to the film. The story should be simple and easy to follow. Dialogue should be used when the situation can not be explained with actions. It is important
the camera that is right in front of her head. By placing the scissors right in front of the camera, Alfred Hitchcock has tried to create a sense of foreground in the movie as well, and placed the weapon of murder, which is an important object from the story’s point of view, there. The scene in which Margot gets attacked, clever lighting effects are effectively employed by Alfred Hitchcock, to build up the anticipation of the audience and add-on greatly to the element of suspense and thrill present
At the time of its release, the 1960 masterpiece film by Alfred Hitchcock, Psycho, with its psychopathic killer and iconic shower scene, was initially given a rating of what is now a considered a PG rating under the Motion Picture Production Code (MPP code), a code that reigned in Hollywood for much of Hitchcock’s career. Made twelve years later in 1972, the Hitchcock film Frenzy was the first film by Hitchcock to be given an R rating from the start and was noticeably not held under the MPP code
The films of Alfred Hitchcock, as even the most casual cinephile knows, manage to blend the comic, romantic, tragic, and political, all with a captivating thriller plot. The 39 Steps and The Lady Vanishes, two works from the 1930s, are no exception. In the former, a Canadian man is charged with the task of carrying a secret into Scotland while on the run from the police; in the latter, an older woman disappears, leaving a bewildered young lady who uncovers a foreign spy ring while trying to find
narrator’s interpretation and presentation of Rebecca. Furthermore, du Maurier’s construction of Rebecca questions patriarchal gender stereotypes whilst also critiquing other notions that underpin and aim to preserve patriarchal order. Contrastingly, Hitchcock ultimately alters and weakens du Maurier’s didactic through the adherence to film censorship regulations and the masculine lens of cinema. Furthermore, due to the masculine gaze of the director and producers, the objectification of the woman as the
certain aspiring director began his dream of working with cinema. Eventually, the talented and mysterious director, Alfred Hitchcock, played a huge part in establishing his and others’ masterpieces as an art. Born on August 13th, 1899, Hitchcock’s family was a lower class Roman Catholic family who attended church regularly. His parents were greengrocers, William and Emma Hitchcock. A strict man, William once told a five year old Albert to go to the police station with a note from his father after some
When looking at the works of Alfred Hitchcock there are many recurring themes. Wrong man, classic Hitchcock villains, and the use of staircases are just three of the many attributes you see when watching a Hitchcock film. My favorite, however, would have to be Hitchcock’s portrayal of the mother. Whether she is there for comic relief as we see in Shadow of a Doubt, or as the root of all evil as you see in Strangers on a Train and Notorious, the mothers he creates are far from ordinary. Either their
Spike Lee Kevin Smith and Alfred Hitchcock as Film Auteurs In the film industry, there are directors who merely take someone else’s vision and express it in their own way on film, then there are those who take their own visions and use any means necessary to express their visions on film. The latter of these two types of directors are called auteurs. Not only do auteurs write the scripts from elements that they know and love in life, but they direct, produce, and sometimes act in their films
Sexual Innuendoes in the Films of Alfred Hitchcock When watching an Alfred Hitchcock movie, have you ever found yourself sympathizing with a deceptive seductress or a soon-to-be sex offender? If so, you may have felt guilt from watching such sexual innuendoes, but don’t feel too bad. This is just one of the intents of Alfred Hitchcock as he weaves many of his tales with sensual characters. His films portray a vast array of sexuality from showing a battle of the sexes and tales of romance to
Some directors like John Ford, Alfred Hitchcock and Tim Burton are all well known artistic directors. Each having their own specific style, an example of this would be Alfred Hitchcock, and his style is Horror, he however not only uses his well-known genre, but also includes his individual personality in his work. These directors who have their own distinctive identification are known as auteurs. Auteurs all have a specific style when it comes to creating their films, just like an artist or a musician
Alfred Hitchcock, the incredible director who brilliantly integrated sex, humor and suspense in his movies passed away over three decades ago. Despite the thirty years since his death, the legacy of films he made continues. His work has influenced many of the great directors today, and inspired the foundation of the spin off television series Bates Motel. To better interpret the films he created, it is essential to understand the creator of them and examine how his past life traumas and deep inner-thoughts
Alfred Hitchcock is known by many as one of the most defining and influential filmmakers of the horror genre. With innovative techniques and (at times) radical themes, Hitchcock has kept audiences captivated for decades. His movies are known for their remarkable camera work, suspenseful music, and ingenious plot. Each movie of his utilizes similar techniques and themes but yield vastly different and entrancing stories. One of the most recognizable motifs in Hitchcock’s work is the concept of the
to kill him. During the dining room scene on the train, Hitchcock expertly uses the camera to convey the characters thoughts and feelings. Interestingly, in a film that has several sequences with complicated cinematography and editing, the dining car scene is rather reserved in comparison. Hitchcock uses nominal mise-en-scène elements and instead elects to focus the camera largely on the subtleties in the performances of the actors. Hitchcock films the dining car scene in such a way that makes it
Everybody knows Alfred Hitchcock is the master of suspense and is known for inciting fear in the hearts of his audience. His multiple, fast cuts directs his audience to what he wants them to see and feel. Close-ups of the actors faces clearly shows what the characters are feeling and forces the audience to feel the same emotions. With all his expert directing skills, is there any meaning behind what he chooses to portray in his films or is it all for show? Could there be a deeper meaning to his films
Film Essay: Hitchcock In the hundred or so years of cinema, there have been many significant figures behind the camera of the films audiences have enjoyed, though there has been a select few that are considered “auteurs.” One of the most famous of auteurs in film history is the great Alfred Hitchcock, who is most identified with the use of suspense in his films, while also being notorious for the themes of voyeurism, the banality of evil, and obsession. In both the films we watched in class, Psycho