HitchcockHitchcock

according to Jean-Luc Godardaccording to Jean-Luc Godard

Rebecca Rebecca (1940)(1940)

We have forgotten We have forgotten why Joan Fontaine why Joan Fontaine leans over the edge leans over the edge of the cliffof the cliff

Foreign Correspondent Foreign Correspondent (1941)(1941)

and what it was that Joel Mc and what it was that Joel Mc Crea went to do in Holland.Crea went to do in Holland.

I confess I confess (1953)(1953)

We have forgotten We have forgotten for what reason for what reason Montgomery Clift Montgomery Clift kept an eternal silencekept an eternal silence

Psycho Psycho (1960)(1960)

and Janet Leigh stopped and Janet Leigh stopped at the Bates Motel at the Bates Motel

Shadow of a Doubt Shadow of a Doubt (1943)(1943)

and why Theresa Wright is and why Theresa Wright is still devoted to Uncle Charlie.still devoted to Uncle Charlie.

The Wrong Man The Wrong Man (1956)(1956)

We have forgotten what Henry We have forgotten what Henry Fonda is not completely guiltyFonda is not completely guilty

Notorious Notorious (1946)(1946)

and why exactly did the and why exactly did the American government employ American government employ Ingrid Bergman.Ingrid Bergman.

Marnie Marnie (1964)(1964)

But we remember a handbag,

North by Northwest North by Northwest (1959)(1959)

but we remember but we remember a bus in the desert, a bus in the desert,

Suspicion Suspicion (1941)(1941)

but we remember but we remember a glass of milk, a glass of milk,

Foreign Correspondent Foreign Correspondent (1940)(1940)

a windmill's a windmill's blades, blades,

Rebecca Rebecca (1940)(1940)

a hairbrush, a hairbrush,

Notorious Notorious (1946)(1946)

but we remember but we remember a row of bottles,a row of bottles,

Strangers on a Train Strangers on a Train (1951)(1951)

a pair a pair

of glasses, of glasses,

The Man who knew too much The Man who knew too much (1956)(1956)

a musical score,a musical score,

Notorious Notorious (1946)(1946)

a bunch of keys,a bunch of keys,

because with them and through them because with them and through them Alfred Hitchcock succeeded right there Alfred Hitchcock succeeded right there where had failed Alexander, Julius where had failed Alexander, Julius Caesar Napoleon : Caesar Napoleon :

to take control of to take control of the universe.the universe.

maybe ten thousand persons maybe ten thousand persons have not forgotten have not forgotten Cezanne's apples, Cezanne's apples,

Strangers on a Train Strangers on a Train (1951)(1951)

but there are millionsand millions of but there are millionsand millions of spectators who will rememberspectators who will rememberthe lighter in Strangers on a Trainthe lighter in Strangers on a Train

Vertigo Vertigo (1958)(1958)

and if Alfred Hitchcock was the only and if Alfred Hitchcock was the only accursed poet to meet successaccursed poet to meet successit is because he was the greatest it is because he was the greatest creator of form in the 20th centurycreator of form in the 20th century

and that these forms tells us and that these forms tells us in the end what is there in the end what is there at the bottom of things now. at the bottom of things now.

And what is art if not where form And what is art if not where form becomes stylebecomes styleand what is style and what is style if not man? if not man?

Vertigo Vertigo (1958)(1958)

So it is a braless blonde tailed by a So it is a braless blonde tailed by a detective who fears the voiddetective who fears the void

who furnishes us proof that all of this who furnishes us proof that all of this is only cinema, in other wordsis only cinema, in other wordsthe infancy of art. the infancy of art.

to Hitchcock to Hitchcock

Jean Luc GodardJean Luc Godard

The endThe end