The Art of Alfred Hitchcock: Fifty Years of His Motion Pictures (Paperback)

by Donald Spoto (Author) "Alfred Joseph Hitchcock was born in London on August 13, 1899, the youngest of three children of Emma and William Hitchcock, who was a moderately..." (more)
Key Phrases: structural midpoint, vast overview, shower murder, Alfred Hitchcock, Uncle Charlie, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"Combines thoughtful and engaging analysis and wit and scholarship."--Chicago Sun-Times -- Review

Review
"Combines thoughtful and engaging analysis and wit and scholarship."--Chicago Sun-Times

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Product Details

• Paperback: 496 pages
• Publisher: Anchor; 2 Sub edition (December 1, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385418132
• ISBN-13: 978-0385418133
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #100,547 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must for Hitchcock Fans, July 6, 2005

By	William Hare (Seattle, Washington) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Daniel Spoto is well known for his fascinating biography of Alfred Hitchcock. "The Art of Alfred Hitchcock" fleshes out The Master every bit as much as the biography, but in a different way.

What makes this book a must for Hitchcock fans and, in particular, those interested in studying his mastery of the film craft, is that Spoto, bolstered by many interview hours with Hitchcock, is able to get inside a creative film genius' mind and give us an idea of how he explored his basic themes as well as the manner in which he manipulated audiences through exploiting his unique brand of suspense. Spoto also gives us a look into the technical side of the master film craftsman, letting us know how he kept audiences mesmerized with compelling scenes such as the killing of Janet Leigh in "Psycho" and those incredible special effects in "The Birds" in which it appeared that the winged creatures were about to lay total siege to the previously serene Northern California town of Bodega Bay.

In addition to what he actually did, Donald Spoto is also to be commended for something he did not do. In so many retrospectives of film greats, be they directors or performers, authors believe in devoting an equal or relatively equal amount of space to every movie with which they were involved. Thankfully Spoto did not do this, devoting greater attention to the classic Hitchcock movies that generated the most discussion among filmgoers and cinema historians. Not surprisingly for those who have studied Hitchcock's films, Spoto regards "Vertigo" starring James Stewart and Kim Novak as Hitchcock's most complete and artistic work and explains why, providing excellent insight into the film in the process.

Another film that continues generating widespread praise in the Hitchcock oeuvre for its technical genius and inventive plot and characterization is "Notorious" starring the dynamite team of Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman. Spoto covers this screen classic with comprehensive scrutiny.

Spoto covers the wide sweep of Hitchcock's career. We move from his beginnings in London in silent films and are finally transported to Hollywood and Hitchcock's impressive debut for producer David O. Selznick with "Rebecca".

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must For The Hitchcock Fan, December 12, 2000

By	Stephen Reginald (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Everything you always wanted to know about the films of Alfred Hitchcock, but were afraid to ask; this book is a must. Hitchcock biographer Donald Spoto (The Dark Side of Genius) reviews everyone of this film giants movies, from his silent films made and produced in his native England, to his final feature released in 1976. Filled with great insight and behind-the-scenes details, this is a wonderful read. Classic films get major treatment as you might expect, but so-called minor Hitchcock movies like Stage Fright, I Confess, and Marnie are thoroughly covered as well. This book just goes to prove that minor Hitchcock is better than most other directors' best work. Filled with wonderful movie stills, this book also features some interesting on-set photos, as well as personal family portraits of Hitchcock at various stages of his life. No other film director is so much a part of American popular culture. It's hard to imagine what American cinema would be like without him. A great reference for movie buffs, I've read and reread this book many, many times and gained new insight with each reading.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Book Every Hitchcock Fan Should Have, July 10, 2002

By	Mrs Baldwin (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews

We got this book from the library and it's definitely one I want to own someday. Donald Spoto writes about almost every Hitchcock film individually from the 30's onward - he also has a chapter discussing the earlier films. He gives a synopsis as well as delves into the deeper meanings, symbolism, and significance of the films. There are portions of dialogue in several of the chapters, as well as many black and white photos from the films. I found the write-ups for almost all of the films to be very good and informative.

You definitely should read this book. It's not hard to read at all. I'd also recommend Mr Spoto's biography of Ingrid Bergman, "Notorious". In relation more directly to Hitchcock, I would recommend "Hitchcock's Notebooks" by Dan Auiler as the second best Hitchcock book I've read.