Alfred Hitchcock‘The Master Of Suspense’

Alfred Hitchcock

Full Name: Alfred Joseph Hitchcock

D.O.B: August 13th 1899

Place of birth: London

Date of death: April 29th 1980

Career: Director, Producer, Television Personality, Screenwriter

FilmmakerAlfred studied at the University of London and then moved to America and went into filmmaking and screenwriting in California and Hollywood.

Hitchcock was nicknamed the "Master of Suspense" for employing a kind of psychological suspense in his films, producing a distinct viewer experience.

In 1925, Hitchcock directed his first film and began making the thrillers for which he became known the world over. His 1929 film Blackmail is said to be the first British "talkie." In the 1930s, he directed such classic suspense films as The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934) and The 39 Steps (1935).

Alfred Hitchcock Thriller Films

The 39 Steps (1935)

North by Northwest (1959)

Rope (1948)

Shadow of a doubt (1943)

The trouble with Harry (1955)

Vertigo (1958)

Rear Window (1954)

Psycho (1960)

The Lady Vanishes (1938)

Notorious (1946)

Strangers on a train (1951)

The Birds (1963)

Hitchcock’s Techniques – Top 5

1. No music in his film ‘The Birds’

- In Hitchcock’s film ‘The Birds’ (1963) he uses no music at all, the only soundtrack audible is the sound of the birds in the background which Hitchcock uses alone to create tension throughout. The film itself is presented in such a subtle way that the audience doesn't notice that the music isn’t present.

Hitchcock uses cinematography particularly effectively (especially in his film ‘Rope’) – whereby the film was taken in around 10 long shots but were sequenced together to feel like one take. This is effective because it captures the feeling of watching a play and makes the audience feel much more involved.

Hitchcock’s use of editing compliments the soundtrack as well as the actual shots themselves. One film that Hitchcock uses editing effectively in is in ‘Psycho’ where the editing is useful in building tension and suspense. The jarring and disorientating cuts work successfully to put the audience on the edge of their seats and to create a thrilling thriller.

Hitchcock was known for his ingenious trailers that he mainly used to get his audience appeal – he targeted his audience by making his trailers as good as they get. The ‘Psycho’ trailer is six minutes long of Hitchcock himself talking to the camera and giving a tour of the house that is shown on the adverts that is used in the movie – however we do not see any clips of the film which is combined with his dark sense of humour to build tension and scare the audience – a way of teasing you into seeing the movie.

4. Hitchcock’s trailers –

The Dolly Zoom has been overused and abused by filmmakers since Hitchcock’s film ‘Vertigo’ where it originated from. The Dolly Zoom was used by Hitchcock in the famous scene of James Stewart climbing up the stairs. His character suffers from vertigo after a traumatic episode he faced in his life. As he climbs higher, he looks down and sees how high up he is and we get the point of view shot that gives us the illusion of what he’s feeling and seeing. It really brings you in and you get that feeling of too high as the camera zooms out and dollies in at the same time or vice versa.

5. The Dolly Zoom –