The Suspense Thriller: Films in the Shadow of Alfred Hitchcock [Paperback]

Charles Derry (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2001 | ISBN-10: 0786412089 | ISBN-13: 978-0786412082

This book is a comprehensive study of one of the most popular genres in the cinema. From a perspective sympathetic to popular culture, this study analyzes a large number of primarily American and French films by a variety of distinguished directors, including Alfred Hitchcock, Claude Chabrol, John Frankenheimer, Michelangelo Antonioni, and Costa-Gavras. The first section of the book is primarily theoretical. It offers a bibliographical survey and then explains why we so profoundly enjoy these suspenseful films of murder and intrigue. A chapter on "Thrills: or, How Objects and Empty Spaces Compete to Threaten Us" explores the psychological concept of the thrill and relates it to the psyche of the spectator. To what extent does the suspense thriller represent a symbolic and vicarious experience of danger? A chapter on "Suspense That Makes the Spectator Take a Breath" explores the crucial narrative concept of suspense and relates it to the psychological mechanisms of anxiety incited in the spectator. Why do we like to be scared? A final theoretical chapter offers a dynamic definition of the suspense thriller derived in part from Edgar Allan Poe and based primarily on content analysis. The second section of the book is more of an historical survey and devotes one chapter to each of the suspense thriller's primary sub-genres. These chapters provide close readings of over 150 major films and detailed analysis of the suspense thriller's conventions, themes, and recurrent iconography. Sub-genres include The Postman Always Rings Twice, Body Heat, The Manchurian Candidate, The China Syndrome, Missing, The Passenger, Spellbound, Obsession, Marathon Man and Blue Velvet. A final chapter explores areas for further research and offers concluding insights.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Derry, a professor of cinema, here presents a detailed analysis of the suspense film, using Hitchcock's many top-shelf productions as the standard. Providing numerous references, he both defines just what makes a suspense film from the plot to the characters and subcategorizes the genre, e.g., "murderous passions," "the political thriller," "acquired identity," "the innocent on the run," etc. This 1988 title remains a solid choice for public and academic film collections.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"A comprehensive study" -- -Sightlines

"An intelligent analysis of the genre" -- -Burlington County Times

"Enlightening and interesting" -- -Film Review Annual

"Perceptive analyses" -- -American Cinematographer

"Scholarly...recommended" -- -Book Report

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 360 pages
• Publisher: McFarland & Company (September 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786412089
• ISBN-13: 978-0786412082
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #451,691 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Charles Derry was born in Cleveland, Ohio in an inner-city Italian neighborhood, then moved to suburban Maple Heights. After an undergraduate degree from Northwestern University, he got an MA in film at the University of Southern California, studying with John Russell Taylor, Arthur Knight, and philosopher John Hospers. Derry returned to Northwestern for his Ph.D., where he studied with Stuart Kaminsky, Jack Ellis, and Paddy Whannel. Now a Professor Emeritus at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, Derry taught screenwriting and film history/criticism there for thirty-one years as well as being Coordinator of its Film Studies program.

Derry is the author of several books on film, including DARK DREAMS 2.0, an analysis of contemporary horror films, and THE SUSPENSE THRILLER: FILMS IN THE SHADOW OF ALFRED HITCHCOCK. As well, he has published dozens of essays on a wide-range of film artists, among them Spike Lee, Steven Spielberg, Jerry Lewis, Robert Altman, Otto Preminger, and Claude Chabrol. Some of this criticism can be found in the ST. JAMES FILM DIRECTORS ENCYCLOPEDIA, edited by Andrew Sarris. Derry has published fiction, too, in THE CHIRON REVIEW, THE PORTLAND LITERARY REVIEW, WRITERS FORUM, HARRINGTON GAY MEN'S FICTION QUARTERLY, and in the anthologies CONTRA/DICTIONS and RECLAIMING THE HEARTLAND. His "Ten Memories of My Mother, in the Order I Think of Them," was nominated for a Pushcart Prize, published in THE CHATTAHOOCHEE REVIEW, and named a finalist for the Heidemann Award. He is especially proud of his cancer memoir, "A Year Like Any Other" published in THE SUN, a portion of which can be found at http://www.thesunmagazine.org/issues/357

Derry has also published criticism in THE HARVARD GAY AND LESBIAN REVIEW and written on soap opera and melodrama, themes which make their way into his visual work. The two short films he wrote and directed -- CEREBRAL ACCIDENT and JOAN CRAWFORD DIED FOR YOUR SINS -- have been shown widely at film festivals around the country, including festivals in Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, and San Francisco, as has the most recent short film he wrote, THE FIRST GREAT LESSON OF MY LIFE. Derry has also directed plays dealing primarily with social and family issues, such as WINGS (about stroke), WARREN (about AIDS), and THE LARAMIE PROJECT (about homophobia). His own play version of JOAN CRAWFORD DIED FOR YOUR SINS premiered at the Reality Theatre in Columbus, Ohio.

Derry has been awarded fellowships in criticism and fiction from the Ohio Arts Council. His fellowship in visual arts from Culture Works was based on "SNAPSHOTS: WE ARE HERE," his touring exhibit of still photography with text on the subject of gay marriage and social pressures.

Derry is currently finishing two books: one on the television show THIRTYSOMETHING, and a novel, CONFESSIONS OF THE ANGELS.

And finally, an interview with Charles Derry on the subject of suspense and Alfred Hitchcock was broadcast on the national radio program STUDIO 360. That interview, featuring Derry, Kurt Andersen, and Wendy Wasserstein, is archived at http://www.wnyc.org/studio360/show020505.html

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At the moment, Derry's favorite films are: Marnie, The Godfather Part II, Nashville, The Hours, The Times of Harvey Milk, Seconds, La Femme Infidele, Le Boucher, Winter Light, Wings of Desire, Three Colors Trilogy: Blue/White/Red, It's Always Fair Weather, Amores Perros, The Fountainhead, Love Me Tonight, Now Voyager, and Brokeback Mountain.

His favorite books are: Howards End, The Women's Room, The Hours, Mrs. Dalloway, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd and the children's novels by E. Nesbit.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent and thorough book, November 2, 2003

By 

Clarice Plume (Melbourne, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Suspense Thriller: Films in the Shadow of Alfred Hitchcock (Paperback)

Charles Derry's book is based on his 1978 dissertation on the psychological structure of suspense films. His approach is entirely thorough and engaging with two excellent sections on the anatomy of "suspense" and "thrills." His theory of the sub-genres are thought-provoking and filled with examples to illustrate his ideas. He also provides a framework of literature for his reader by summarising the ideas of others including Altan Loker's book "Film and Suspense." It is the work of a writer that gives so much, it is incisive and an excellent book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Teaching Tool, November 9, 2004

By 

Accidental Tourist "Marian M" (Twilight Zone, America) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Suspense Thriller: Films in the Shadow of Alfred Hitchcock (Paperback)

Charles Derry masterfully explaines the various genres of suspense and thrillers in a clear, clean cut book that will open your eyes to the true mystery of mysterys, and the suspense thriller.

A great teaching tool.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A work of PURE GENIUS!!!, March 5, 2005

By 

Paul Wagner - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Suspense Thriller: Films in the Shadow of Alfred Hitchcock (Paperback)

A must read for any filmmaker serious about their craft.