Review: Alfred Hitchcock by Peter Ackroyd

A weekend nonfiction reading review…because even pastors need a break from heavy theological reading!

Peter Ackroyd.  Alfred Hitchcock. London, UK: Chatto & Windus, April 2nd 2015. 279 pp.

4 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

This is a biography on the famous movie director Alfred Hitchcock.  More than other directors Hitchcock himself at times was more of the “star” of his films with the prestige of his directing than the actors who played in his movie.  Even after decades following his death Hitchcock’s films are classics and Hitchcock’s silhouette is instantly recognizable by people today.  So to read this biography of him is a treat.

I’m not really a film guy but I have enjoyed Hitchcock’s films.  I was delighted reading about Hitchcock’s journey in developing great movies.  The book gives a bit of the background of Hitchcock’s parents and his upbringing but where the book really got interesting was how it covered the beginning of Hitchcock’s early days of making films in England and his rise in prominence in his home country.  However at that time the film industry in England does have its limitations and wasn’t as well regarded as the film industry in Germany and the United States.  Eventually of course Hitchcock would move to America to expand his ability of directing and making films.

Film buffs no doubt would enjoy this book with its description of the making of certain Hitckcock’s films and the inner politics of the film studio.  In addition I enjoyed the author’s analysis of Hitchcock films and his directing abilities.  For instance I thought it was insightful to read of Hitchcock’s making of Rope and Rear Window.  For me Rope is my all time favorite film by Hitchcock and the author talked about all the technical difficulties and challenges on the set (Note: If you are interested read my Christian worldview analysis of Alfred Hitchcock “Rope” (1948).  The author’s analysis of Rear Window was quite insightful in pointing out things that I would not have noticed on my own such as the fact that thirty five percent of Rear Window is silent which shows us Hitchcocks’ ability to tell stories by just using visuals, a credit to his roots going back to the silent film days of his early career.  It is quite fascinating to read about Hitchcock giving us visuals where we are trying to interpret things by observing gestures, body language and expressions.

In addition I thought the book was fascinating for his insight into films of Hitchcock that I have no plans of watching.  I thought it was interesting to learn about the background of Psycho of how it became a hit even though in the beginning it did not seem that way.  Psycho was actually one of the cheapest film that Hitchcock created but it became his most financially successful and influential.  Hitchcock had a hard time with the film in the sense that he didn’t anticipate this particular film would do so well which made him question his own filmic judgment.  Also he didn’t know where he would go from such a great success while at the same time he did not know what to make of the fact that Psycho overshadowed his other creative success such as Vertigo, Rebecca, Shadow of the Doubt, etc.  Hitchcock even called it “bloody piece of crap” to one of his cameramen.

This book also reveal the weird quirks of Hitchcock.  There was certainly a creepy side to him especially when he got older.  But one also get the sense that Hitchcock always had a had creepy side that he had come out with morbid pranks, gossips and joke.  Hitchcock was quite restrained by his cultural mores and formal expectations but there seems to be a sexual frustration that comes out with his oppressive control of leading actresses while at the same time he could be treating them with much favoritism.  Reading this made me realize no one is perfect and that Hitchcock’s themes in his movies of the creepy, strange and abnormal in the midst of society and the “normal” is quite true of reality as well.  How we need the Gospel of Jesus to save sinners and for Him to transform us from our sins!