Customer Reviews

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

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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

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.

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

I have always had a fascination for Pop-Up books.This book combines two things;Hitchcock nostalgia,and Pop-Up book Paper Engineering.As to Hitchcock nostalgia,it gives us seven Pop-Up scenes for famous suspense movies;Saboteur,Vertigo,Psycho,The Birds,Marnie,Torn Curtain,and Frenzy.When opened, we get a large scene of approximately 20" X 14",with most having a depth of 3 or 4 inches.Differing from most Pop-Up books ,this one uses actual photographic scenes from the movies, rather than drawings to create the displays.Each scene is supplied with some basic text of explanation.Each scene also provides an insert of the scene where Hitchcock made his cameo appearance. Pop-Up books can contain some very fascinating ,ingenious,and intricate paper engineering displays;using many types of materials,including even strings,pull-tabs producing motion,etc.What we get here is just rather ordinary and not near the greatness in the world of Pop-Up Art as Hitchcock's work is in the world of Suspense Movies. The quality of construction is always important with Pop-Up books.The cover ,and the hinge (being cloth) ,with silvery images is very good.The folds and unfolding parts making up the scenes are not as well constructed ;and my copy is already showing damages,after only a few ,though careful openings. In the scene of "Torn Curtain",the arm holding the dagger has already become loose and fallen out,and be darned if I can figure how it should be put back.I note that another reviever commented on similar shortcomings;and I certainly concur.
I am sure Hitchcock fans may want to add this book to their collection of nostalgia;but it is unlikely to provide much more than a few minutes of perusal for most,even fans;and certainly less than enthusastic response from connoisseurs of the art of Pop-Up book Paper Engineering.

I did not enjoy this as much I expected I would. The popups snagged on each other--perhaps too much of a good thing. The dark subject matter did not convert well. Not something to enjoy over and over.

I got this book for Christmas, and I love it. I'm a huge Hitchcock fan, and this book highlights his more popular movies. They even pay homage to his film cameos. It's these little touches that make it special.

The only problem I had is some of the pop-ups in the book stick. They don't open as well as some of my Sabuda books. That said, there are still some wonderful effects. Just open the pages carefully.

When I read a review about this book in the Washington Post, I thought it would make a good present for my son because Hitchcock is one of his favorite directors. My son does not, however, enjoy reading, so I wasn't sure if he would want the book. Much to my pleasure he told me it was one of his favorite Christmas presents he received.

I purchased this book for my brother who, like me, loves Alfred Hitchcock. He absolutely loved it! When I opened it for the first time, I almost didn't want to wrap it up and give it as a gift. The pages are beautifully done, I especially like the Illustration for Vertigo. It's definitely a nice conversation piece for your living room table.

I am a collector of pop up books and this one is unbelievable. Not for little ones, however.

A visual delight & work of art! Though I would have liked more text, this would probably have detracted from the book's artistry & visual appeal; as it is, the text that is present is full of quirky facts & fits quite nicely with the images. Very unique & fun book!