ALFRED HITCHCOCK: THE COMPLETE FILMS / AUTHOR: PAUL DUNCAN | PUBLISHER: TASCHEN | RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW
Alfred Hitchcock is among the most legendary of film directors, and due to his gift for self promotion, easily one of the most recogniseable, even today, almost thirty years after his passing. There have been entire shelf-loads of books focusing on his incredible 53-film career, which spanned from 1925 – 1976 , examining their importance, the psychology behind them and the enigmatic man himself. Surely, then – anything that could be said about the Master of Suspense has already been said, written, printed and published.
Enter Taschen, the publishers of high-end books. As with any of the books we’ve seen from this publisher over the years, it’s a large, thick slab of a book, that delves deeply into its subject, giving a fresh insight into a familiar subject.
The first 225 pages give an overview of Hitchcock himself, his life and career are covered with impressive depth, peppered with quotes from the man himself, which themselves give an interesting insight into the mind of the man who delivered so many cinematic thrills and chills that inspired not only several generations of film fans, but also helped shape the techniques of many of today’s leading directors. Interestingly, what comes across is not only his wily and wicked sense of humour, but also a charming naivete. Example, when filming Rope, he wanted no visible cuts and had a notion that the film be delivered to cinemas on ONE single reel, until it was explained to him that there was no projector in existence that was large enough to take that size of reel.
The bulk of the book takes each film and devotes an insightful essay about its making and an astute critical appraisal. With literally hundreds of previously unseen photographs from behinds the scenes, as well as stills from the films to accompany the text this really is a handsome, indispensable book, with a section detailing every single cameo Hitchcock performed in his films to round the book off.
It is a reference book that you can happily read from cover to cover.
Very possibly one of the best available on this great man.
