The Life and Career of Alfred Hitchcock
advertisement
VOICE OVER: Rebecca Brayton
He had a life-long fascination with murder, mayhem, and shocking his audiences. Not only Knighted and honored with the American Institute's Lifetime achievement award, he is widely regarded as the most influential director in the history of world cinema. Even years following his passing, his large body of work, and technical achievements from a career spanning 50 years continues to be enjoyed and studied by fans and filmmakers alike. Join http://www.WatchMojo.com as we take a look at the fascinating life and career of the master of suspense himself, Alfred Hitchcock.
The Life and Career of Alfred Hitchcock
He is the master of suspense, and has been hailed as the greatest director of all time. Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we’ll be taking a look at the life and career of Alfred Hitchcock.
Born on August 13th, 1899 in Leytonstone, London, England, Hitchcock grew up a lonely boy, ashamed of his obesity and the subject of several traumatizing events.
These included his father having the police lock him up when he was five years old, and his mother making him stand at the foot of her bed for hours whenever he behaved badly.
Due to this, Hitchcock quickly became infatuated with the themes of harsh treatment, and people who are wrongfully accused of a crime.
Following his father’s untimely death when he was only 14 years old, Hitchcock left home to become a draftsman and advertising designer, and began writing short articles for the “The Henley Telegraph.”
1919 is the year that Hitchcock finally used his skill as a writer and artist to join the film industry. Starting off, he began by illustrating title cards for silent films. But he quickly learned scripting, editing and art direction at Paramount’s Famous Players-Lasky studio in London.
By 1925, he completed his first film, an Anglo-German production called “The Pleasure Garden.” This collaboration with a German studio helped shape his style early on through his introduction to Expressionism.
But it was 1927s “The Lodger” that became heralded as his breakthrough, featuring his first use of an innocent protagonist becoming accused of a crime.
Just two short years later, the director took on his first sound film, “Blackmail”, which established his use of subjective sound. And immediately afterward he linked sex and violence in 1930’s “Murder!”.
Steadily evolving as a visionary, he continued to hone his craft and garner mass attention with his projects, such as “The Man Who Knew Too Much!”, “The Lady Vanishes” and “Jamaica Inn.” However, he then left Europe due to the threat of World War II igniting.
Once in America, he began work on “Rebecca”, an Oscar award winning film, 1941’s “Suspicion”, in which a woman comes to believe that her husband is a murderer, and 1942’s highly acclaimed thriller “Saboteur.”
But it was the 1950s that became the director’s most productive and memorable decade. During this time he created dozens of legendary projects, including “Rear Window”, “Vertigo”, “North by Northwest” and the then-controversial and incredibly violent thriller “Psycho.”
By 1955, he became an American citizen and launched his own television show entitled “Alfred Hitchcock Presents”, which catapulted him from A-list director to cultural icon.
Continuing to write, produce and direct up until 1979, he produced some of his better-known films including “The Birds”, “Marnie” and “Family Plot.” The entire time continuing his long-standing practice of making cameo appearances within his films.
Despite his life-long fascination with mayhem, murder and shock, the director led a quiet and humble existence, preferring the comfort of home to the lavish life of Hollywood.
At the end of his life, Hitchcock was honored with the American Institute’s Lifetime achievement award and was knighted, before peacefully passing away in his sleep on April 29th, 1980.
He is the most widely known and influential director in the history of world cinema. Even years following his passing, Hitchcock’s large body of work, and technical achievements from over 50 years continues to be enjoyed and studied by fans and filmmakers alike.
He is the master of suspense, and has been hailed as the greatest director of all time. Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we’ll be taking a look at the life and career of Alfred Hitchcock.
Born on August 13th, 1899 in Leytonstone, London, England, Hitchcock grew up a lonely boy, ashamed of his obesity and the subject of several traumatizing events.
These included his father having the police lock him up when he was five years old, and his mother making him stand at the foot of her bed for hours whenever he behaved badly.
Due to this, Hitchcock quickly became infatuated with the themes of harsh treatment, and people who are wrongfully accused of a crime.
Following his father’s untimely death when he was only 14 years old, Hitchcock left home to become a draftsman and advertising designer, and began writing short articles for the “The Henley Telegraph.”
1919 is the year that Hitchcock finally used his skill as a writer and artist to join the film industry. Starting off, he began by illustrating title cards for silent films. But he quickly learned scripting, editing and art direction at Paramount’s Famous Players-Lasky studio in London.
By 1925, he completed his first film, an Anglo-German production called “The Pleasure Garden.” This collaboration with a German studio helped shape his style early on through his introduction to Expressionism.
But it was 1927s “The Lodger” that became heralded as his breakthrough, featuring his first use of an innocent protagonist becoming accused of a crime.
Just two short years later, the director took on his first sound film, “Blackmail”, which established his use of subjective sound. And immediately afterward he linked sex and violence in 1930’s “Murder!”.
Steadily evolving as a visionary, he continued to hone his craft and garner mass attention with his projects, such as “The Man Who Knew Too Much!”, “The Lady Vanishes” and “Jamaica Inn.” However, he then left Europe due to the threat of World War II igniting.
Once in America, he began work on “Rebecca”, an Oscar award winning film, 1941’s “Suspicion”, in which a woman comes to believe that her husband is a murderer, and 1942’s highly acclaimed thriller “Saboteur.”
But it was the 1950s that became the director’s most productive and memorable decade. During this time he created dozens of legendary projects, including “Rear Window”, “Vertigo”, “North by Northwest” and the then-controversial and incredibly violent thriller “Psycho.”
By 1955, he became an American citizen and launched his own television show entitled “Alfred Hitchcock Presents”, which catapulted him from A-list director to cultural icon.
Continuing to write, produce and direct up until 1979, he produced some of his better-known films including “The Birds”, “Marnie” and “Family Plot.” The entire time continuing his long-standing practice of making cameo appearances within his films.
Despite his life-long fascination with mayhem, murder and shock, the director led a quiet and humble existence, preferring the comfort of home to the lavish life of Hollywood.
At the end of his life, Hitchcock was honored with the American Institute’s Lifetime achievement award and was knighted, before peacefully passing away in his sleep on April 29th, 1980.
He is the most widely known and influential director in the history of world cinema. Even years following his passing, Hitchcock’s large body of work, and technical achievements from over 50 years continues to be enjoyed and studied by fans and filmmakers alike.
Bernard Sussman
“One additional fact about Hitchcock. In 1945, the British govt hired Hitchcock to make its official documentary of the Nazi Death Camps. He made a point of emphasizing the comfortable living of the Germans in the vicinity during the camp operations.”
0
0
flagged