Alfred Hitchcock: The Master of Suspense Continues to Fascinate Us

Throughout his illustrious six-decade career, English-born film director Alfred Hitchcock had audiences on the edges of their seats. No one was better at capturing the sheer terror and uncertainty that his protagonists faced. Born in 1899 in Leytonstone, just outside of east London, Hitchcock first showed an interest in creative writing just after the end of the First World War. He was a founding editor and business manager of The Henley Telegraph, where  he contributed several short stories. He admired American cinema in particular, with actors Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton.

After having worked on many silent films in London as a co-writer, production manager and art director, he spent some time directing in Germany, learning more about the style of German cinema. Upon returning to England, he worked on The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934) and The 39 Steps (1935) which were both very successful and gained him recognition in the United States. His success continued with The Lady Vanishes (1938) and finally in that same year, American producer David O. Selznick convinced him that he should come to the US to accept a very generous offer to make four films.

A screenshot of Hitchcock from a 1960 BBC Interview (BBC).

Hitchcock loved to cast beautiful, mysterious and often seemingly cold, blond actresses to play the heroines in his films. Grace Kelly, perhaps one of the most beautiful actresses ever to grace movie screens, faithfully fulfilled those qualities and more in three of his films: Dial M for Murder  (1954), Rear Window (1954) and then in To Catch a Thief (1955).  The stunning Eva Marie Saint played opposite Cary Grant in the 1959 thriller North by Northwest.  And who could forget Kim Novak in the classic Vertigo (1958)? She had two roles in that movie, with star James Stewart, playing both the possessed wife of a college acquaintance of his, and then later as Judy Barton, who bears a striking resemblance to Madeleine Elster, the woman he was hired to follow. 

For me, the best of his works are Psycho (1960) and Rear Window (1954).  They were shockingly ahead of their time as suspense/thriller movies. In the former, Anthony Perkins plays the shy motel proprietor who later kills Marion Crane, an unsuspecting guest, played by Janet Leigh. As the investigation unfolds, we learn that Perkins was impersonating his long dead mother! In Rear Window,  wheelchair-bound photographer James Stewart is witness to events that make him believe a man has murdered his sickly wife in the apartment across from his. With the help of his elegant and brave love interest, Grace Kelly, they ultimately solve the mystery and narrowly avoid getting killed themselves. It is so thrilling and really must be on any movie buff’s list.

Cary Grant and Grace Kelly in 1955’s To Catch a Thief (Paramount Pictures)

Besides his renowned movies, Hitchcock produced and hosted his series Alfred Hitchcock Presents for television from 1955 to 1965; the series was renamed The Alfred Hitchcock Hour between 1962 and 1965.  Throughout his long and successful career as a director, producer and host, he thrilled and scared his audiences and was a leader within this film genre. He was also extraordinarily playful as a colleague on set, and created many cameo opportunities for himself in his films. It is almost like a game for anyone watching his famous movies to spot him somewhere in the background! He truly was a master at his craft and played a significant role in the American film industry.

For more information about Alfred Hitchcock’s films: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000033/