Book Description
Known worldwide as the master of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock (1899-1980) had an incredible directing career that spanned five decades and more than fifty films. He earned numerous awards, inspired countless publications and festivals, and spawned a new era in suspense cinema.
This spectacular pop-up pays tribute to the great filmmaker and features seven of his most influential films: Saboteur, Vertigo, Psycho, The Birds, Marnie, Torn Curtain, and Frenzy. With stunning three-dimensional paper engineering by Kees Moerbeek highlighting pivotal moments and Hitchcock's cameo in each film, Alfred Hitchcock: The Master of Suspense will be treasured by fans and film lovers alike for years to come.
Customer Reviews:
Seven Suspensfull Scenes.......2007-04-12
Seven of Alfred Hitchcock's most famous films are brought to life by Kees Moerbeek's complex paper engineering. Each of seven spreads is a large montage of scenes from the film and includes a brief synopsis of the plot. You may also lift a flap and view the scene in which Hitchcock has placed himself in the movie, something he did in almost every film he made. This is a must-have for any Hitchcock fan, and for pop-up collectors as well
Wonderful tribute to the master!.......2007-03-22
A visual delight & work of art! Though I would have liked more text, this would probably have detracted from the book's artistry & visual appeal; as it is, the text that is present is full of quirky facts & fits quite nicely with the images. Very unique & fun book!
Hitchcock Book.......2007-01-19
When I read a review about this book in the Washington Post, I thought it would make a good present for my son because Hitchcock is one of his favorite directors. My son does not, however, enjoy reading, so I wasn't sure if he would want the book. Much to my pleasure he told me it was one of his favorite Christmas presents he received.
Not exactly impressed.......2007-01-19
I gave my GF this pop-up book for Xmas. She is a big Hitchcock fan. I thought she would be really impressed but she just briefly flipped through and barely raised an eyebrow. The other day I saw it buried under a pile of junk in her room. It's a good idea but not all that interesting to look at.
I had read a glowing review of the book and the techincal genius of the "paper engineers" who constructed it in the Wall St. Journal. While some of the displays are amusing, ultimately, I was not all that impressed and found the report in the WSJ to be exaggerated.
Makes a good coffee table book.
Perfect!.......2007-01-10
This book is so unique and a must for any Hitchcock movie fan. It gave great info on the movies it covered. I just wish it had "all" of his movies!
Amazon.com
Any book-length interview with Alfred Hitchcock is valuable, but considering that this volume's interlocutor is François Truffaut, the conversation is remarkable indeed. Here is a rare opportunity to eavesdrop on two cinematic masters from very different backgrounds as they cover each of Hitch's films in succession. Though this book was initially published in 1967 when Hitchcock was still active, Truffaut later prepared a revised edition that covered the final stages of his career. It's difficult to think of a more informative or entertaining introduction to Hitchcock's art, interests, and peculiar sense of humor. The book is a storehouse of insight and witticism, including the master's impressions of a classic like Rear Window ("I was feeling very creative at the time, the batteries were well charged"), his technical insight into Psycho's shower scene ("the knife never touched the body; it was all done in the [editing]"), and his ruminations on flops such as Under Capricorn ("If I were to make another picture in Australia today, I'd have a policeman hop into the pocket of a kangaroo and yell 'Follow that car!'"). This is one of the most delightful film books in print. --Raphael Shargel
Customer Reviews:
One of three best Hitchcock books.......2007-09-08
Alfred Hitchcock rarely granted interviews. He did so only when it was required for publicity for his TV series and his movies. But in the late 1960s, French director Francois Truffaut interviewed Hitchcock at length (something like 2 or 3 hours a day for five days straight) and from a director-to-director standpoint, the book covers each and every one of Hitchcock's movies and "in-his-own-words" format. So Hitchcock is constantly commenting about his films. Truffaut thankfully, lets Hitchcock do much of the talking. There is no other book like this one and of the three must-have books on Alfred Hitchcock, this is on the top of the list.
Examples: When Truffaut asked Hitchcock why he appears at the close of the opening credits of NORTH BY NORTHWEST, the director commented that his in-joke of appearing in "almost" every movie distracted audiences spending time looking for him, shortly after the success of the TV show, hence the reason why the director made his on-screen appearances in the beginning of each of his movies after 1956, and not in the middle or end. Remember the scene in which Eva Marie Saint pulls a gun out and shoots Cary Grant towards the end of the picture? Hitchcock commented that a blooper is in that scene. A young boy in the background puts his fingers in his ears BEFORE she pulls the gun out of the purse. When Truffaut commented that Hitchcock won his only Oscar for Rebecca, which won the Academy Award for best picture of the year, Hitch corrected him saying he did not. He wold have had he won best director. The best picture Oscar went to Selznick, the producer.
There is no other book like this. It's filled with page after page of info.
(The other two must-reads are the Donald Spoto's "Art of Alfred Hitchcock" book and Grams and Wikstrom's "The Alfred Hitchcock Presents Companion". Together with these two and this book, you have the essential library and all-you-really-need references for all things Hitchcock.)
A terrific book about a film master of suspense.......2007-07-02
Yes, I'm one of those who can't hear Gounod's "Funeral March of a Marionette" without thinking of the Alfred Hitchcock Presents series that used it for a title theme.
This book is about Hitchcock and his more than 50 movies. And it is a fine work. Francois Truffaut writes it by supplying us with the results of a set of interviews with Hitchcock, and I think this works very well.
Hitchcock was an unrivaled master of suspense. Other considerations were secondary. Did the villains seem to take absurd chances or appear inadequately motivated? Well, sometimes they did, but that was not a big problem. Even in "Vertigo" Hitchcock admits that there is a "flaw" in the plot, as the entire idea by which the murderer has planned to escape might not work at all. But that did not bother me, and I doubt that it bothered Hitchcock very much either.
Another minor consideration was the exact nature of the items that the bad guys (or the good guys) make such desperate moves to acquire or defend. Hitchcock simply called such an item (such as some secret documents) a "MacGuffin." In the superb "North by Northwest" we see the exact nature of this item reduced to total insignificance (with the only comment being "government secrets"), and the movie is not any poorer for it. We do find out in this book that in 1944 (well before Hiroshima), Hitchcock wanted to use uranium as a MacGuffin, and he explained to a producer that the uranium was going to be used to make an atom bomb. Of course, when Hitchcock tried to ask a well-known physicist how big an atom bomb would be, he got a very evasive reply (and it turned out that the FBI put Hitchcock under surveillance for three months after that).
As Hitchcock explains, suspense is very different from surprise. If something dramatic happens out of the clear blue sky, the audience will be surprised. But suspense is achieved by letting the audience know that something is probably about to happen. Of course, surprise is not bad; it too is an essential element of many Hitchcock films.
Hitchcock gave himself bit parts in pretty much all of his movies; it was one of his trademarks. I'd always look to see where he'd show up when I saw a Hitchcock film. And Truffaut tells us and shows us quite a bit about these roles as well.
I admit that I was not very happy with one of the first Hitchcock movies I saw. You see, in John Buchan's exciting book, "The Thirty-nine Steps," the hero cracks the code of a now dead man to figure out the story left in a notebook. And there is this phrase in it that gets repeated a few times.
"('Thirty-nine steps') was the phrase; and at its last time of use it ran--('Thirty-nine steps, I counted them--high tide 10.17 p.m.')."
It is interesting to see the mystery worked out. And I was wondering how Hitchcock would handle it. Perhaps he would have either the victim or the hero miscount the steps! I was disappointed. The movie, albeit suspenseful, had nothing to do with either 39 or steps. It would have been better had it been titled with some mild double-entendre, such as "The Rubber Band" (the name of a very different mystery that has nothing to do with Hitchcock).
On the other hand, I truly enjoyed many other Hitchcock movies (one of my favorites is "The Trouble With Harry"). And this book is a very good and rather comprehensive tribute to Hitchcock and his cinematography. By the way, Truffaut dedicated it to Hitchcock's daughter, Patricia, who appeared in at least three of Hitchcock's movies and played an important role in "Strangers on a Train."
If you liked some of Hitchcock's movies, you'll probably find this book fascinating.
A really great conversation about film........2006-05-08
This book is a simple idea - Francois Truffaut interviews Alfred Hitchcock about his career. The simplicity makes for an engaging read. The book offers a unique look into the art of film. While it's technically an interview, it reads more like a casual conversation between two people who are incredibly skilled at what they do. If you love behind-the-scenes history of movies, you must pick up this book. Hitchcock talks about everything from casting to costumes to set design for every movie he ever made.
The book starts with Hitchcock's childhood and his first days making silent films in England in the 20's. The interview traces his career all the way to 1966's Torn Curtain. The concluding chapter includes a short interview on Frenzy, Hitch's 1972 hit, and offers Truffaut's comments on Topaz and Family Plot. It also gives a brief summary of The Short Night, a screenplay Hitch was working on shortly before his death. Truffaut also objectively examines the decline in quality of Hitchcock's films toward the end of his career, and explains his interesting theory of great flawed films.
If you love Hitchcock movies, the history of cinema, or the theory of directing, you'll enjoy this book.
I didn't actually read it.......2005-08-07
I bought this book as a gift for my brother who is going into film school soon, and it looks KICK ASS. It was mentioned in the dvd commentary of "The 400 Blows." I hope to borrow it from my bro at some juncture.
If you like the cinema, this book is a must for you! .......2005-07-19
Fifty hours, five hundred questions. This a provocative book. Two filmmakers talking about cinema: the circumstances that surrounded every film, the script elaboration, the backstage problems, the minutely precise reconstruction of the Hitchcock work enriched by the little anecdotes and the penetrating intelligence of Truffaut make of this text an absolute reference consult to explore the intimate universe of the suspense master.
And please don't forget that Truffaut made the Bride wore black in the middle sixties as perpetual homage to A.H.
Book Description
Be afraid—be very afraid: the master of suspense is serving up 58 bloodcurdling tales for your delectation. These suspenseful stories all appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, and in the words of Hitch himself, they “are guaranteed to chill and unnerve.” Bill Pronzini contributes “The Arrowmont Prison Riddle,” Margaret B. Maron has “A Very Special Talent,” Barry M. Malzberg offers “A Home Away from Home,” and Patricia Matthews chronicles “The Fall of Dr. Scourby.” Meet a girl who stalks Jack the Ripper, a clairvoyant writer of newspaper obituaries, a homicidal partygoer in a sanatorium, and a police detective who lives vicariously through the exploits of one of his most notorious suspects: they all populate these frightening pages. Caution: not recommended for late-night reading—except for the very brave!
Customer Reviews:
ah book review.......2007-01-23
hitchcock is a genius. stories may be told in a different generation, but they still hold true.
Tales of Terror : 58 Short Stories Chosen by the Master of Suspense.......2006-03-01
An Excellent collection of short stories to keep you in suspense.
Recommend to all short stories fans.......2006-02-24
I adore short stories so I was delighted to discover The Tales of Terror. I have over 200 books with short stories, so I was not surprised to find 2 or 3 stories I've "met" before. But I enjoyed reading them again, and there still remained a long list of some 55 fresh ones.
I immensely enjoyed re-reading A Cabin in the Woods by John Coyne. One must admire author's masterful way of increasing the suspense till culmination. Without revealing too much, it is a Man-against-Nature type of confrontation, only with a twist that will surprise you no matter what you happened to expect. I cannot speak for anybody else but for me this story is a gem.
There are a few stories about travelling, for those who like mystery and suspense "on the go" (Career Man by James Holding, The Perfidy of Professor Blake by Libby McCall, Sea Change by Henry Slesar and The Grateful Thief by Patrick O'Keeffe, of which the latter two take place on a sea cruise), a few newspaper tales (The Graveyard Shift by William P. McGivern, Man Bites Dog by Donald Honig,, The Death Desk by S.S. Rafferty and (sort of) also Theodore Mathieson's Second Spring).
Special mention for being truly very chilly deserve A Bottle of Wine (Borden Deal), Never Trust an Ancestor (Michael Zuroy), Sparrow on a String (Alice Scanlan Reach), That So Called Laugh (Frank Sisk), The Joker (by Betty Ren Wright), Death is a Lonely Lover (Roberty Colby) and Scheme for Destruction (Pauline C. Smith).
There were also some clever plots taking place in the ruthless world of business (Cora's Raid, Free Advice Incorporated, Hard Sell, Bank Night, The Prosperous Judds, The Time Before the Crime, The Real Criminal and the famous, ingenious Dettweiler Solution by Lawrence Block)
Last but not least, I vey much enjoyed reading several indispensable family cosies (We're Really Not That Kind of People (Samuel W. Taylor), A Very Special Talent (Margaret B. Maron) and the opening story of the book, Killed by Kindnes (Nedra Tyre). I should mention also Private Little War by William Brittain about a feuding teacher and pupil where one of them is ready to go too far. All in all, I was pleasantly surprised by contributions of some authors never encountered before.
Maybe, like me, you will not like all stories to the same extent but this book - with its 631 pages - is doubtlessly good value for money and will bring you many enjoyable moments of suspense.
Average customer rating:
- "Must" reading for all Hitchcock fans!
- The master's canon
- Excellent presentation, too little room to develop it
|
The Alfred Hitchcock Story
Ken Mogg
Manufacturer: Taylor Trade Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 Entertainers
| Arts & Literature
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Movie Directors
| Arts & Literature
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| United States
| Historical
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Movies
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
General
| England
| Europe
| History
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Foreign Languages
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Performing Arts
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
Look Inside Entertainment Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Look Inside History Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Look Inside Nonfiction Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Look Inside Reference Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
ASIN: 0878331638 |
Book Description
The authoritative guide to the world's best-loved and most respected film director. The story combines complete stroy synopes, insightful commentary, and a stunning collection of photographs to capture the essence of the acclaimed Master of Suspense.
Customer Reviews:
"Must" reading for all Hitchcock fans!.......2000-03-04
Film director Alfred Hitchcock was a master of suspense: this survey of his film contributions gathers over 300 photos from throughout his life, providing an excellent collection of revealing images spiced with film reviews and sidebars of facts. Highly recommended for any Hitchcock fan.
The master's canon.......2000-02-26
Interested in the films he directed, or just a hitchcock fan? Either way this book is a must. Not only does it cover every film he directed, but there are nice little extras on the stars he worked with, the writing process and even a look at films he inspired. The book is beautifully laid out, yet if you are looking for close analysis then this is not what you want. It looks at each film and talks about them, but there is no hard depth to this material - this is just a good look at the entire canon.
Excellent presentation, too little room to develop it.......1999-11-09
Reference books make great gifts because they can be pretty useful for years to come. Some of them are even attractive enough to leave out on coffee tables for guests to flip through when conversation drags.
by Ken Mogg (Taylor Publishing Company, 1999) is probably the most attractively produced book on that much written about director. It is well organized, each of the Master's films getting anywhere from one to five or six pages, well illustrated, with several specialized items to keep us abreast of trends in Hitch's career. For example, there is a list of all his cameo appearances in his films, a brief examination of his film techniques, his use of famous locations, and so on. Especially welcome are little inserts of trivia, such as the story behind the song the children are singing as The Birds are massing outside in the playground, and a generous number of lobby card reproductions. There is also a good discussion of his television series and even his paperback anthologies. In short, Mr. Mogg does not concentrate entirely on the films, although they do take up the bulk of the volume. By the way, listing Janet Leigh as co-author on this website is misleading: she only wrote a one-page introduction that is quite amusing. My only complaint is that 211 pages are not enough room to handle this wealth of material; and here and there I feel much more of value could have been said had the author been given more space. (Hence the one star less in my rating.) Still such a comment merely shows how much I like this book and many of you will too.
Book Description
These 63 spine-tingling stories originally appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery magazine, and in the words of the master himself, they’ll “make your blood run cold.” Hitchcock coolly serves up cool cops, clever gangsters, bodies stuffed in trunks, kidnappings, adulterous affairs, murder, and espionage, and the resulting thrills are positively delicious. The writers include Ed McBain, whose “Sadie When She Died” features a strange cat-and-mouse game between a sharp detective and the husband of a murdered woman whom the police suspect of having committed the crime. Other tales come from Donald E. Westlake, Bill Pronzini, Patricia Highsmith, Henry Slezar, and Richard M. Ellis.
Customer Reviews:
lots of great little short stories .......2005-06-01
most of the stories are about 5-10 pages. interesting easy to read stories chosen from the Alfred Hitchcock mystery magazine. The book was put together after Hitchcock's death and stories of course were not written by hitch.
Stories NOT by Alfred Hitchcock.......2002-06-20
I havent finished the book, Im saving it for those long summer days that are filled with nothing to do. For the most part the stories are cool, but some are as dull as dirt. I wont name any stories because I have 2 of these types of books and I may confuse stories from the other and write that they are in here. The big thing for me was the fact that these stories were chosen by Alfred Hitchcock, no he didnt chose some of his favorite stories that he wrote; he chose stories by other authors. The book says that he chose them, but it also states that this book is By:Alfred Hitchcock. I have no clue why, its sort of like hes stealing other authors stories. Anyway this is more an adult book unless you are a very good reader. I purchased this book when I was 14 and I am now 15 and I am able to understand most everything in the book, but there are some big words in it. But I am also one of the best readers in my class(at when reading to myself, I hate reading out loud). So if you are looking for something by Alfred Hitchcock then you might not want this book. If you want something that Mr.Hitchcock liked then you may want this. For the most part the stories are enjoyable and scarry, but dont expect this from all of them.
Book Description
The introduction gives an overview of Hitchcock's long career, with special attention to the varied influences on his work; themes that run through many of his films, from the "transference of guilt," to the connection between knowledge and danger; the overlooked importance of his presence within his films, including his famous cameo appearances and characters who represent him within the story; his fascination with performance and the ambiguities of illusion and reality; the question of viewing him and his work through the auteur theory; and other issues. Also discussed is the relationship between Hitchcock as a serious, even tormented artist and Hitchcock as a magician with a weakness for cinematic practical jokes. Six chapters then provide in-depth examinations of key films: Blackmail, his first talkie; Shadow of a Doubt, one of his personal favorites; The Wrong Man, which questions the nature of guilt and innocence; Vertigo, arguably his most profound work; Psycho, his most savage look at the nature of evil; and The Birds, his last masterpiece and one of his most widely misunderstood works. David Sterritt is film critic at The Christian Science Monitor and Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Graduate Film Division of Columbia University.
Customer Reviews:
a MUST for Hitchcock fans.......2000-03-31
Sterritt's book is somewhat modest compared to the many other tomes on cinema's Grand Wizard; he tackles only a dozen or so of the films in a few unassuming essays -- but he does a brilliant job, adding to the wealth of insights on such classics as "Shadow of a Doubt." His piece on "Psycho" is outrageous, claiming that it's actually a film about MONEY, and that money is equated with human excrement -- and he proves his case! (Marion flushes her calculations down the toilet; Cassidy says, "She sat there while I dumped it out"!) The introductory essay is also very insightful, esp. about Hitch's oversight of his own films. (Sterritt claims that H's cameos are signs that he is ever-present and always monitoring his creation.) I love Hitch, I have practically every book written about him and his work, and I can recommend this book unreservedly.
Book Description
The Analysis of Film brings together Raymond Bellour's now-classic studies of classic Hollywood film. It is at once a book about the methods of close film analysis, the narrative structure of Hollywood film, Hitchcock's work--The Birds, Marnie, Psycho, North by Northwest--and the role of the woman in western representation. But, finally, it is a book about cinema itself and the love for cinema that drives the passion for analyzing the supreme art form of the twentieth century.
Book Description
"Alfred Hitchcock Presents" and "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour" are considered by far, the most successful mystery anthology to grace the picture tube. "The Alfred Hitchcock Presents Companion" is the first and only "official" book documenting the entire history of the television program, complete with an episode-by-episode broadcast guide. The popularity of the program itself is evident among multiple reruns, now syndicated on local and cable stations around the world. This book presents a complete study of the series, both informative and scholarly, including a behind-the-scenes sneak peak at the production of these broadcasts.
Recollections and memories from the script writers, directors and actors are included. Both the original and the 1980's remake series are covered in detail, with all production credits, complete cast list (including actors uncredited), plot descriptions, Hitchcock's opening and closing remarks (including alternative remarks filmed but never shown during the initial telecasts), and insightful trivia throughout.
A section about Hitchcock's other productions and directorial efforts include "Tactic", Ford Startime's "Incident at a Corner", Alcoa Premiere's "The Jail", "Dark Intruder", "Suspicion" (TV series), "Psycho", and more are discussed in length, also with production credits. Spoofs, rip-offs, print media and collectables are also covered in detail. Hundreds of photos included.
This book covers most of the over-looked topics relating to Alfred Hitchcock's career, making this publication a must for your book shelf.
Customer Reviews:
Mystery TV show guide .......2007-01-05
If you werea fan of the Twilight Zones series then pick up the Alfred Hitchcock guide that details each show of the Alfred Hitchcock TV show of the 50's that still looks great today. There are two volumes out on DVD which you should watch each episode and then review the episode guide for questions you may have that will be answered. Shows like this one keeps your interest and are true who dunnit chapters.
Don't forget GOOD EVENING from the master himself Alfred Hitchcock!
Enjoy!!
Very Poorly Written.......2006-12-30
This book is so poorly written, it is no wonder that it has fallen out of print. The writing is horrendous, the photos (or photocopies) are beyond laughable, and the research is at best shallow. My elementary school students could have done a better job. Don't bother with this book (if you can even locate a copy now). "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" was a classy show with high quality writing, and and any book about it ought to be on par with those standards of excellence. Fans of the show should organize a class action lawsuit against the publisher for breach of compentency. Please someone, write an "unauthorized" companion reference guide, and give this series the tribute it truly deserves.
A SUPERB READ.......2005-06-02
I love HITCHCOCKS work and bought this book to find out more concerning the one area of his productions I knew very little about, namely the tv series. It is so full of detail, facts and figures..its amazing. Theres even a lengthy look at the short story anthologies HITCHCOCK was suppossed to have written introductions for (and didnt!) and much much more.
I cant believe the person who wrote the review on here who concentrated heavily on criticising the writers for their grammar, spelling and turn of phrase in general, its meant as a work of reference and not great literature....when you yourself have written a book which has been so well researched and proved so popular, THEN you'll have room to criticise. If like that reviewer you wish a book that is lacking spelling errors, has nicely reproduced photos etc etc then opt for a dull, large sized, shallow coffee table book to impress your friends. If your a true fan though and want to find out all about the tv work then this book is a MUST HAVE, a godsend to all HITCHCOCK fans.
The one and only Hitchcock book for television fans.......2003-08-20
I have to admit that I have four bookshelves from the floor to the ceiling with hundreds of books about Alfred Hitchcock. With this in mind I will state that Mr. Wikstrom and Mr. Grams has given us the one and only book that EVERY admirer of Sir Alfred should own and read. Everything about the television series from the production history to an episode guide is highly detailed. Experts in their craft from all over the world contributed and this is so clearly evident that anyone who browses the pages will admit the authors took their time to compile one heck of a book. Jaclyn Packer has a Ph.D., Ulrich Rudel is from Europe, Patrik Wikstrom is from Sweden as stated in the "about the authors" and Mr. Grams is already a familiar name. I knew Alfred Hitchcock had cancer more than once but until I read Packer's chapter, I never knew Hitchcock acted in a television episode of "Tactic" and played the role of a director in order to support the cause of fighting cancer. The bibliography even listed two sources of information that impressed me. Thomas Binotto's "Nichts Als Zufalle" from Film Dienst, April 2001 issue and Frank Arnold's "Du Hast Nur 23 Minuten-Alfred Hitchcock's Fernseharbeiten" published in Berlin, Germany in 1999. Of the hundreds of books I have read, this is the first I have seen anyone credit those sources. Obviously two chapters had to be translated to English and the translation is superb. If you want to have an enjoyable and informative book about Sir Alfred's television series, this is the book. Highest recommendation.
The definitive and comprehensive resource for fans.......2003-08-09
Presented through a special arrangement with Universal Studios, The Alfred Hitchcock Presents Companion by Martin Grams and Patrik Wikstrom is a complete and authoritative guide to the "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" television series, including a thorough episode guide with plot summaries, behind-the-scenes looks, over 100 black-and-white photographs, documentation on "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" collectibles, information concerning the 1980s remake series, notes on Hitchcock spoofs, and more. The definitive and comprehensive resource for fans of this classic spine-chilling series, The Alfred Hitchcock Presents Companion is also a welcome and very highly recommended addition to personal and academic Television History reference library collections.
Book Description
A celebration of the San Francisco films of Alfred Hitchcock, this book examines the master director's familiarity with Northern California and how it greatly influenced his decision to use the Bay Area location in several of his landmark motion pictures. More importantly, this book shows how San Francisco was often the source of inspiration for many of these same cinema classics. The masterpieces that are examined are Shadow of a Doubt, Vertigo, The Birds, Suspicion, Psycho, and Family Plot. Hitchcock fans are taken on a journey around the Bay Area, experiencing cinemagraphic intrigue and learning about Bay Area history, lore, and the timeless elegance of San Francisco and its picturesque surroundings. Hundreds of historical and contemporary photos are included, with an emphasis on those buildings and businesses that no longer exist.
Customer Reviews:
packed full of facts and photos.......2007-09-28
I always figured that Hitchcock's roots were in England or Hollywood, but after reading this book, I realized that he had many connections to the San Francisco area. Smart man.
The amount of detail in this book can be overwhelming, but if you just peruse it and enjoy the photos, it's fun. And it's especially useful if you are planning a trip to the Bay Area and enjoy seeing movie locations.
Order not received yet.......2007-02-08
Subject of order not received yet. However, according to your confirmation, the deadline for the delivery estimate was Feb 14. So, I am still waiting. The reason for the rate "1 star" is that otherwise the review would not be submitted. I surely expect to revise the rate as soon as I get and read the book.
Cinema history and travel guide.......2007-01-19
We used "Footsteps in the Fog" to plan part of a recent vacation to the San Francisco Bay area, including a trip down to San Juan Bautista. Not at all a conventional travel guide, but very useful for a Hitchcock fan visiting the area!
Great book for Hitchcock lovers!.......2006-09-01
I have been a fan of Hitchcock since I was little as one of my dad's favorite films is "The Birds" and he and I watched it many times while I was growing up. After I got older I discovered some of Hitch's other films and have loved his work for quite a while.
I was able to visit San Francisco and northern California in 2004 and one of the places I wanted to visit while there was Bodega Bay where they filmed The Birds. We rented a car and drove up the coast to Bodega Bay and it was in the Bodega Bay restaurant/gift shop where I bought this book and spent most of the flight back home reading it and once home I couldn't put it down. It is wonderful and the authors couldn't have done a better job with their research.
I had only seen Vertigo once before I bought the book, but have since bought it on DVD and really love it and love all the details in the book about the filming locations, etc.
A few weeks ago Encore Mystery had a marathon of Hitch movies in honor of his birthday and I got out the book and re-read parts of it while watching Vertigo. It is amazing to me how detailed the authors are with their photos of the filming locations and how they looked then and now. Lots of great little tidbits about the locations too!
Great book and highly recommended!!!!
Undiscovered Country.......2006-06-19
This is undiscovered country if you have not been paying close attention to your Hitchcock films. The concept of this book is intuitive. These places were there all along in all of Hitchcock's film. But San Francisco seems to hold a special place for Hitchcock. This is a rich study into the meaning that San Francisco holds fot Hitchcock.
Books:
- Alfred Hitchcock: The Master of Suspense: A Pop-up Book
- American Cinema/American Culture
- American Cinema/American Culture
- Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business
- An Exorcist Tells His Story
- An Open Book
- And Then He Kissed Her (Avon Historical Romance)
- Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging: Confessions of Georgia Nicolson
- Blue Mars (Mars Trilogy)
- Cagney
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Developing Multi-Agent Systems with JADE
- Your Yorkshire Terrier's Life: Your Complete Guide to Raising Your Pet from Puppy to Companion
- The Art of JAMA II Covers and Essays From The Journal of the American Medical Association
- The Southern Debate over Slavery: vol. 1: Petitions to Southern Legislatures, 1778-1864
- The Writer's Guide to Writing Your Screenplay: How to Write Great Screenplays for Movies and Televis
- Winning in Tough Hold 'em Games: Short-Handed and High-Stakes Concepts and Theory for Limit Hold 'em
- Walt Disney World for Couples, 2002-2003: With or Without Kids
- Buff and Polish: A Practical Guide to Enhance Your Professional Image and Communication Style
- The Digital Multimedia Cross Industry Guide
- Historical Dictionary of Utopianism
The Pop-Up Book of Celebrity Meltdowns (Pop Up)
The Pop-up Book of Sex
Mommy?
Dragons: A Pop-Up Book of Fantastic Adventures
Blue 2: A Pop-up Book for Children of All Ages
