Alfred Hitchcock: The Master of Suspense: A Pop-up Book (Hardcover)

~ Kees Moerbeek (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6 Up–This oversize, square-format pop-up book celebrates the great director by devoting a spread apiece to seven of his better-known suspense films. Each opening is dominated by a huge, often abstract montage of stills and iconic images that rises up, enhanced by acetate windows and glimpses of moving heads or other body parts. Each spread also contains a brief, spoiler-ridden plot summary, sometimes with commentary on how a cinematic effect was achieved, and a side flap that highlights Hitchcock's trademark cameo appearance. Plainly designed for the collectors' market but featuring unusually inventive paper engineering and evocative, unsettling visual effects, this 3-D tribute–like Maxim Jakubowski and Ron Van Der Meer's The Great Movies: Live (S & S, 1987)–may entice a new generation to check out these classics of the silver screen.–John Peters, New York Public Library
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Product Description

Known worldwide as the master of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock (1899-1980) had an incredible directing career that spanned five decades and more than fifty films. He earned numerous awards, inspired countless publications and festivals, and spawned a new era in suspense cinema.

This spectacular pop-up pays tribute to the great filmmaker and features seven of his most influential films: Saboteur, Vertigo, Psycho, The Birds, Marnie, Torn Curtain, and Frenzy. With stunning three-dimensional paper engineering by Kees Moerbeek highlighting pivotal moments and Hitchcock's cameo in each film, Alfred Hitchcock: The Master of Suspense will be treasured by fans and film lovers alike for years to come.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 16 pages
• Publisher: Little Simon; Pop edition (October 17, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689875959
• ISBN-13: 978-0689875953
• Product Dimensions: 12.6 x 12.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #28,100 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Seven Suspensfull Scenes, April 11, 2007

By	M. Blatt "wild-about-books" (California and Idaho) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Seven of Alfred Hitchcock's most famous films are brought to life by Kees Moerbeek's complex paper engineering. Each of seven spreads is a large montage of scenes from the film and includes a brief synopsis of the plot. You may also lift a flap and view the scene in which Hitchcock has placed himself in the movie, something he did in almost every film he made. This is a must-have for any Hitchcock fan, and for pop-up collectors as well

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not exactly impressed, January 18, 2007

By	D. Jayson (nyc) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I gave my GF this pop-up book for Xmas. She is a big Hitchcock fan. I thought she would be really impressed but she just briefly flipped through and barely raised an eyebrow. The other day I saw it buried under a pile of junk in her room. It's a good idea but not all that interesting to look at.
I had read a glowing review of the book and the techincal genius of the "paper engineers" who constructed it in the Wall St. Journal. While some of the displays are amusing, ultimately, I was not all that impressed and found the report in the WSJ to be exaggerated.
Makes a good coffee table book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great but short Hitchcock pop-up Book, November 17, 2008

By	Shasta's D (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This is an oversized book (~12"x12") that sets some of Alfred Hitchcock's suspense movies to pop up. There are seven 2-page spreads, each one covering a different movie (chronologically): Saboteur, Vertigo, Psycho, The Birds, Marnie, Torn Curtain, and Frenzy.

Each spread contains a full-spread pop up, the title in its original font, a brief synopsis of the movie and a behind-the-sense fact, and (fan will love this!) a flip-the-flap revealing the still-photo scene and description of when Hitchcock made his cameo in the movie.

Kees Moerbeek uses images from the movie to create a moving montage. They fill the spread. Often retrofitting existing classics, whether they be illustration or movie stills, can be difficult and limiting. The paper-engineering style here doesn't fly up from the book like other contemporary pop-up books you may know (Sabuda, Reinhart). These pop ups do encompass the entire spread and use the multiple planes created very effectively. Using images from key scenes, Moerbeek transports you "into" the movie. An especially impressive feat when you consider he had 12"x24" to summarize an entire movie.

I think this book captures the feel of Hitchcock's movies. Little touches by Moerbeek mirror how Hitchcock worked -- like using reflective material in a deep fold on the Marnie spread to show a childhood flashback. In order to catch all the details, read the book from above looking down and from the bottom looking at the pop ups.

For the most part, my pages open and close smoothly. My main complaint is that it only covers seven movies. I would have loved it to go on, certainly covering North by Northwest! A minor complaint is that I wish the birds popped more menacingly in their spread.

I think the book will mostly appeal to Hitchcock fans.

*SPOILER ALERT* SUMMARY OF SCENES DEPICTED IN POP UPS
Saboteur-Statue of Liberty torch
Vertigo-Mission tower stairwell
Psycho-The house on the hill and the shower scene
The Birds-School/birds and gas station fire
Marnie-Breaking window and grabbing for money
Torn Curtain-Killing the commie
Frenzy-Strangulation