In a career that spanned sixty years, Alfred Hitchcock made more than fifty feature-length films and hosted his own television series, transforming the thriller genre in the twentieth century. Author Laurent Bouzereau puts this incredible canon into perspective, examining the master's life thematically: his archetypal anti-heroes; his complicated female characters; his charming villains; and something Bouzereau calls "the Hitchcock touch" -- those elements of film that are, quite simply, Hitchcockian.
With a foreword by Hitchcock's daughter, Patricia Hitchcock O'Connell, Hitchcock, Piece by Piece is packed with photographs from the family's archive, many of which have never been published before, plus removable facsimile memorabilia such as letters, memos, and snapshots, which frame the story of the director's life and work.
Praise for Hitchcock, Piece by Piece:
"Few people alive know as much about Hitchcock as Bouzereau."
--Leonard Maltin
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From Booklist
After the hundreds of books that have been published about Alfred Hitchcock, it would seem that nothing remained to be unearthed regarding the celebrated director; but a new coffee-table book raids the Hitchcock family archives for rare photos, many heretofore unpublished. Even more fascinating are facsimile reproductions of memorabilia, housed in pouches; these scrapbook-type items, offering tactile, hands-on perusal in this digital age, include memos and handwritten notes, family snapshots, storyboards, and Hitchcock’s birth and marriage certificates. The book’s text is rather less distinctive—perhaps there’s little left to be said about the work of this most obsessed-over of filmmakers—but film historian Bouzereau avoids the standard chronological approach to Hitchcock’s lengthy career by presenting his observations thematically in chapters devoted to Hitchcock’s “wrong man” protagonists and antiheroes, his complicated women, his strangely compelling villains, and his distinctive stylistic touches. If these portions are largely rehashes—of both the films’ plots and existing commentaries—they’ll be new to most casual moviegoers, while hard-core cinephiles will relish the rarities on display in this minor but diverting addition to the voluminous shelves of Hitchcockiana. --Gordon Flagg
About the Author
Director and producer Laurent Bouzereau has collaborated with Martin Scorsese, Mel Brooks, Steven Spielberg, and Clint Eastwood—among other Hollywood legends—on more than 60 documentaries about classic films. Also the author of Abrams’ The Art of Bond, he is based in southern California.
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More About the Author
LAURENT BOUZEREAU is an Award-winning filmmaker and Best-Selling author. In addition to his books on cinema, he has written, directed and produced many documentaries on the making of films by some of the world's most acclaimed directors, including Steven Spielberg, James Cameron, Martin Scorsese, Roman Polanski, Brian De Palma, George Lucas, William Friedkin, Peter Bogdanovich and many others. His recent work includes the acclaimed Turner Classic Movies / Amblin TV series A Night at the Movies on the history of film genres, and the feature length documentaries, Roman Polanski: A Film Memoir, and Don't Say No Until I Finish Talking: The Richard D. Zanuck Story.
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19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
By Brian Saur
Format:Hardcover
Have been a fan of Laurent's work since way back when he was doing laserdisc commentaries for Criterion. I was a huge fan of all his Hitchcock documentaries so naturally this book was a must-have! I must say that it is just gorgeous! A wonderful read! Also it contains many great photos and fantastic little pull-out replicas of letters, memos, postcards, costume sketches and script pages. A perfect gift for the Hitchcock fan in your life!
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By BlogOnBooks
Format:Hardcover
Guest Review by Adam Philips
In this gorgeous new book, "Hitchcock: Piece by Piece," author Laurent Bouzereau provides a new angle on The Master of Suspense. Rather than covering Hitch's biography or looking at highlights of his filmmaking career, Bouzereau sorts Hitch's works thematically into several lengthy chapters. The chapter "Wrong Men and Anti-Heroes" looks at Hitch's male protagonists; "The Hitchcock Women" examines women of every sort as they appear in Hitch's films. Patricia Hitchcock O'Connell, the master's daughter, contributes a foreword to the book that looks at her father's lasting legacy.
There's more to "Piece by Piece" than just the categorizing of Hitchcock's many motifs, though. The book features a fantastic assortment of photography, as well as pages that open up so the reader can access reproductions of storyboards, a telegram from Hitchcock to David O. Selznick, costume designs, photo albums, the proclamation of Hitch's knighthood and much more. Like previous, similar books on Bob Dylan and John Lennon, these documents provide new insight into Hitch's approach to filmmaking as well as his life.
The photography, too, takes us deep into Hitchcock's life. Many of these pictures have never been reproduced before; my favorites may be the book's opener, a formal portrait of Hitchcock from the early 1920s, looking serious and sporting a mustache, and its closer, in which a much older Hitchcock grimaces in mock pain as he plays with his dog. It's all beautifully designed, and shows Hitchcock as a master of the camera, whether he's shooting or being shot.
Books like this make a good case for another type of Hitchcock book: One of just photography, from his films and his life, in the style of the "365 Days" series of art books ? like "Piece by Piece," also published by Abrams Books.
My only quibbles with "Piece by Piece" were fact-based. In discussing "The Birds," Bouzereau both misspells Ub Iwerks' name and provides no background about this legendary animator who first brought Mickey Mouse to life; also, the author notes the impact the finale of "Strangers on a Train" had on audiences in the forties, when the movie was released in 1951.
But these are small points. "Piece by Piece" is a treasure for fans of Hitchcock and film history in general, and is very much recommended.
Reviewing 52 thrillers in 52 weeks [...], Adam Philips is blogging the bible of all things Hitchcock. From the early classics to masterpieces like "Rear Window" and "Psycho," Adam provides an intelligent, modern perspective on the most influential filmmaker of all time, encompassing television, books, live theater and other media. For updates on new content, subscribe at [...]
In this gorgeous new book, "Hitchcock: Piece by Piece," author Laurent Bouzereau provides a new angle on The Master of Suspense. Rather than covering Hitch's biography or looking at highlights of his filmmaking career, Bouzereau sorts Hitch's works thematically into several lengthy chapters. The chapter "Wrong Men and Anti-Heroes" looks at Hitch's male protagonists; "The Hitchcock Women" examines women of every sort as they appear in Hitch's films. Patricia Hitchcock O'Connell, the master's daughter, contributes a foreword to the book that looks at her father's lasting legacy.
There's more to "Piece by Piece" than just the categorizing of Hitchcock's many motifs, though. The book features a fantastic assortment of photography, as well as pages that open up so the reader can access reproductions of storyboards, a telegram from Hitchcock to David O. Selznick, costume designs, photo albums, the proclamation of Hitch's knighthood and much more. Like previous, similar books on Bob Dylan and John Lennon, these documents provide new insight into Hitch's approach to filmmaking as well as his life.
The photography, too, takes us deep into Hitchcock's life. Many of these pictures have never been reproduced before; my favorites may be the book's opener, a formal portrait of Hitchcock from the early 1920s, looking serious and sporting a mustache, and its closer, in which a much older Hitchcock grimaces in mock pain as he plays with his dog. It's all beautifully designed, and shows Hitchcock as a master of the camera, whether he's shooting or being shot.
Books like this make a good case for another type of Hitchcock book: One of just photography, from his films and his life, in the style of the "365 Days" series of art books ? like "Piece by Piece," also published by Abrams Books.
My only quibbles with "Piece by Piece" were fact-based. In discussing "The Birds," Bouzereau both misspells Ub Iwerks' name and provides no background about this legendary animator who first brought Mickey Mouse to life; also, the author notes the impact the finale of "Strangers on a Train" had on audiences in the forties, when the movie was released in 1951.
But these are small points. "Piece by Piece" is a treasure for fans of Hitchcock and film history in general, and is very much recommended.
Reviewing 52 thrillers in 52 weeks [...], Adam Philips is blogging the bible of all things Hitchcock. From the early classics to masterpieces like "Rear Window" and "Psycho," Adam provides an intelligent, modern perspective on the most influential filmmaker of all time, encompassing television, books, live theater and other media. For updates on new content, subscribe at [...]
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By cinemaphile
Format:Hardcover
This is a great collection for any movie buff or Hitchcock fan (who isn't). The pictures are great and the "treats" - copies of original telegrams, scripts, letters,postcards etc, - tucked inside each chapter heading make this really fun. I am buying a bunch of them for holiday gifts, not only great reading but a great coffee table book and conversation piece.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
This is truly essential for any Hitchcock fan. You will have fun!
An amazing collection of Hitchcock's handwritten notes and storyboards along with the stories behind them. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Celeste Thoms
5.0 out of 5 stars
A holiday cornucopia
If you're a big Hitchcock fan, as I am, you will love this book. (I had the pleasure of meeting Tippi Hedren a year or two ago, out at her Shambala sanctuary for big cats. Read more
Published on October 27, 2010 by Eclectic Reader
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