The Alfred Hitchcock Presents Companion [Paperback]

Martin Grams (Author), Patrik Wikstrom (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2001

For more than a decade, Alfred Hitchcock hosted a macabre television series that bore his name and became a staple in the fabric of our living rooms. From the opening them to Hitchcock's signature "Good evening..." viewers tuned in each week to watch the master at work chilling television audiences, both young and old alike. Hitchcock's involvement with the show was minimal. He hosted over 360 episodes but he did not even direct 20. Under the arrangement of Universal Studios, you now hold in your hands a complete guide to the television series. This book offers a "behind-the-scenes" look at the making of the episodes, and a complete production history. Various chapters cover the 1980s remake series, the paperback anthologies, collectibles and over 100 photos. Hitchcock spoofs, comic books and other television programs directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Exclusive interviews with Norman Lloyd, Ray Bradbury, Fess Parker, Henry Slesar, Gordon Hessler, Hazel Court, Vincent Price, Elliott Reid, Marc Richman, Warren Stevens, Hilton A. Green, Arthur Ross, Joseph Pevney, Ann Robinson, Sydney Pollack, Marian Seldes, Ann Robinson, Julie Adams and many more!

Editorial Reviews

Review

"I should add that this far-ranging, miscellaneous quality makes the book a fascinating companion." -- The Hitchcock Annual, 2001-2002

"Is a treasure trove of information and lore, based on enormous research and a number of interviews." -- Leonard Maltin, Entertainment Tonight & Movie Crazy

"This book was worth the anxious wait by Alfred Hitchcock fans worldwide." -- The Delta Star, October 2002

"contains an enormous amount of material on Hitchcock's activities apart from his role as a film director." -- Hitchcock Annual, 2001-02

From the Publisher

Officially licensed through Universal Studios and the Hitchcock estate, "The Alfred Hitchcock Presents Companion" is the final result of hard-work and sweat. Alfred Hitchcock's daughter, Patricia Hitchcock, wrote the forward. The authors themselves have spent years compiling information for this book, and spent no expense on a project that is highly agreed by all to be long over-due. Hitchcock scholars around the world, from Australia to England, Sweden and Denmark, have proofed and nit-picked every aspect of the book, to ensure the content's accuracy. Experts in the field of television horror, radio, and print media have also looked over the various chapters. Story origins have been gathered. The spelling of actors' names have been double-checked. In the case of some episode entries, the plot descriptions have been rewritten almost half a dozen times! We feel this book is as comprehensive as it can be. If you thought you knew everything about Alfred Hitc! hcock, guess again.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 660 pages
• Publisher: OTR Publishing, LLC; 1st edition (April 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0970331010
• ISBN-13: 978-0970331014
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.8 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #885,413 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Martin Grams is the author and co-author of more than 20 books, and contributed numerous appendixes and chapters for other books. His book on THE TWILIGHT ZONE was the winner of the 2008 Rondo Award for "Best Book of the Year." His recent book on THE GREEN HORNET has been well-received by critics. Martin is an active member of SPERDVAC, research consultant for a major film magazine and volunteers his time to help the Mid Atlantic Nostalgia Convention held annually in Maryland every September.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

58 of 63 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars "Oh yeah...they were called 'editors'", January 11, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Alfred Hitchcock Presents Companion (Paperback)

First, let me say that there's a lot to like about this book. It's very obvious that an exhausting amount of effort was involved in researching it, and for that the authors are to be warmly commended. One would guess that every scintilla of data related to "TV Hitchcock" has been unearthed and accounted for. This project was very obviously a labor of love.
Unfortunately, this book has an amateurish flavor that's very distracting. For one thing--as has been mentioned by other reviewers--the illustrations are evidently photocopies of photographs; they're really nasty. However, that's not the worst of it.
These guys can't write. PERIOD.
Not only is this work rife with typos, but the prose itself is awful. Grammatical errors abound, punctuation is tossed about with abandon (particularly commas), and vocabulary is misused. An editor brandishing a blue pencil in one hand and a whip in the other is DESPERATELY needed to pull this book into shape.
It hurts me to trash this book, as so much work went into it. But the fact of the matter is that literature (even popular) needs to be held to standards, and this book just doesn't meet them. I see a lot of this deterioration in contemporary writing--it's scarier than anything Hitchcock ever committed to celluloid, that's for sure. Please, bring back good editors. If one had been available to the authors of this work, it would probably have merited a 5-star rating.
Addendum--I'm editing my previous review by way of self-defense: "James Barton creditable as Hobbs (or rather Hobbs' body - since he's actually playing Fortnum for much of the show), and convinces you that he's actually suffering. Most of the acting from him was showing emotion and facial features, since the most of the dialogue was from thoughts, more so a recording of his voice."
Oh, my.
The above passage was chosen by opening the book to a random page; I believe this is from page 75 (many of the pages aren't numbered--go figure). I seem to recall encountering even more obtuse examples, e.g., the synopsis of [the original] Specialty of the House, but I thought my case was stronger for having used the method described. I took the time to revise my review in response to somewhat puzzling assertions from other reviewers (which, astonishingly, bear a remarkable stylistic similarity to each other) that this book represents a pinnacle of grammatical perfection and "proper" usage of our fair tongue. I'm willing to entertain the possibility that my own copy is unique, but common sense dictates that the odds don't favor it. Turn to any page--the whole book (my copy, anyway) is like this. And if despite all this I still haven't convinced you, check out Amazon's own editorial "From the Publisher." Clearly, given the laughable prose, "publisher" and "authors" are one (two?) and the same. BELIEVE them when they write that they "spent no expense on a project that is highly agreed by all to be long over-due."
Sigh.

22 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Very Poorly Written, December 29, 2006

By 

Queequeg (West Hollywood, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Alfred Hitchcock Presents Companion (Paperback)

This book is so poorly written, it is no wonder that it has fallen out of print. The writing is horrendous, the photos (or photocopies) are beyond laughable, and the research is at best shallow. My elementary school students could have done a better job. Don't bother with this book (if you can even locate a copy now). "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" was a classy show with high quality writing, and and any book about it ought to be on par with those standards of excellence. Fans of the show should organize a class action lawsuit against the publisher for breach of compentency. Please someone, write an "unauthorized" companion reference guide, and give this series the tribute it truly deserves.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Alfred Hitchcock Presents ... The Companion ... Grams & Wikstrom (2001)", February 19, 2010

By 

J. Lovins "Mr. Jim" (Missouri-USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Alfred Hitchcock Presents Companion (Paperback)

OTR Publishing presents "THE ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS COMPANION" (Paperback), by Martin Grams Jr. & Patrik Wikstrom --- Watching my favorite show every week was something to look forward to, now with all the episodes I have in my collection -- can follow a detailed account and the complete guide to go along with my collection of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" and "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour" with my DVD collection --- Special "behind-the-scenes" look at the making of many of the episodes plus the 1980s remake series, a chapter documenting all the "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" collectibles --- Various chapters by experts include insight into the Hitchcock spoofs, comic books, the Hitchcock-produced "Dark Intruder," "Psycho," and the "Suspicion" television series -- and over 100 photos, which one reviewer complained were copies of copies -- who cares ... we can still enjoy them.

INCLUDED IN THIS BOOK:
1. Features a lengthy history of the television series, including all three pilots!
2. Features a complete broadcast log of each and every episode, with cast lists, plot descriptions, Hitch's
opening and closing remarks, and trivia and recollections from over 100 actors, writers, directors. --
Exclusive interviews with Patricia Hitchcock, Norman Lloyd, Ray Bradbury, Fess Parker, Henry Slesar,
Gordon Hessler, Hazel Court, Vincent Price, Elliott Reid, Marc Richman, Warren Stevens, Hilton A. Green,
Arthur Ross, Joseph Pevney, Ann Robinson, Sydney Pollack, Marian Seldes, Ann Robinson, Julie Adams
and many more!
3. Features the same for the remake series of the 1980s with the colorized Hitchcock openings!
4. Documents each and every LP, magnet, matchbook, hotel soap, label pin, board game and many other collectibles!
5. Features a huge list of each and every hardcover and paperback edition of the Hitchcock anthologies!
6. And anything else you have been wanting to know about 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents'!

Special footnote, -- This contains an enormous amount of material on Hitchcock's activities apart from his role as a film director --- The bulk of this book is taken up with a meticulous index of all the episodes on the various television series Hitchcock was associated with, including a detailed synopsis of the episodes --- Grams and Wikstrom have captured every little morsel of Hitch during his journey in the entertainment world --- Definitely feel this is the "Bible" and most detailed book ever written on our favorite director during his television years --- The Master of Suspense -- HITCHCOCK!

Total Page: 660 Pages ~ OTR Publishing #ISBN- 10: 0970331010 ~ (4/01/2001)