Product Description

In a career that spanned six decades and more than sixty films, Alfred Hitchcock became the most widely recognized director who ever lived. His films -- including The 39 Steps, Notorious, Rear Window, Vertigo, Psycho, and The Birds -- set new standards for cinematic invention and storytelling Élan. Since his death, Hitchcock has become crystallized in the public imagination as the macabre Englishman, the sexual obsessive, the Master of Suspense. But this remarkable biography draws on prodigious new research to restore Hitchcock the man -- the ingenious craftsman, the avid collaborator, the constant trickster, provocateur, and romantic. Like Hitchcock's best films, Patrick McGilligan's life of Hitchcock is a drama full of revelation, graced by a central love story, dark humor, and cliff-hanging suspense: a definitive portrait of the most creative, and least understood, figure in film history.

Customer Reviews (19)

COMPREHENSIVE, VERY DETAILED BUT A BIT DRY
If you are an Alfred Hitchcock fan this book is definitely a must.It provides incredible detail on each one of his movies.Much of the information has been previously published but it does provide some new information including a comprehensive step by step review of each movie's production. The book also includes details of his personal life - however these parts tended to be less detailed.

Two criticisms - I found the pre-production details of some of the movies to be too much -- tedious and dull (i.e. the convoluted succession of writers) while the actual and post production details (which would be more interesting) to be sketchier.Also lacking was the author's input - he very rarely gave his opinion.Obviously after so much research and interviewing he could have provided more insights!

Alfred Hitchcock

This 2003 biography of Alfred Hitchcock is even-tempered and respectful without being worshipful; nor does the author claim, as others have done, insight into Hitchcock's psyche. McGilligan is writing in full acknowledgment of Donald Spoto's 1983 biography and occasionally compares his own interpretation of Hitchcock to Spoto's. The focus is almost always external and fully upon Hitchcock's career. The films themselves are not discussed in great detail, as one might hope they would be, once the many details of the development of the film have been given. The book remains centered on Hitchcock and does not stray off on mini-biographical tangents concerning other interesting people for whom or with whom Hitchcock worked. The book includes a complete Filmography and a list of Television Credits as director.

Too detailed for me
An exhaustive biography on Alfred Hitchcock--his life and movies.This really didn't tell me anything I didn't know before and is WAY too detailed in his personal life.Also the author keeps taking shots at the book "The Dark Side of the Genius" by Donald Spoto (which is considered to be THE best book on Hitch). This is fairly well written but there's just far too much information which just isn't necessary.Also the insults leveled at Spotos book come across as childish and I really question how correct they are.It's OK but just too long.

Sometimes difficult, but never a monster
I always liked hearing a story my dad told of when he saw "The Birds" in the theater.A young man strutted in with *two* girls, one under each arm, and sat in front of him and my uncle.At one tense point in the movie when the hero picks up a rock, intending to throw it at some birds, the cool young man suddenly lost it, leaping up yelling "Don't do it!" while the two embarrassed girls shrank as low as possible in their seats.We would laugh at that as kids, that a grownup would get so caught up in a movie.But having recently watched it with my kids I could see how easy it was to be pulled into the frightening world of the Master of Suspense, and my kids are still talking - over a month later - of how much fun it was to watch "The Birds."

Alfred Hitchcock started in the era of silent movies.He once lamented the advent of talking pictures, saying it ruined a good story.But he was always innovating and challenging himself, whether it was through intricate camera shots or complex plot twists.He had a fascination for the dark and macabre, and appreciated stories that shocked and surprised.Such themes filled his movies, usually with a touch of his English wit and humor.And yet, there was another side to the man who frightened so many.He was a loving husband and father, was generous with friends and relatives, and loved watching plays and films, including anything by Walt Disney.And he had a soft spot for animals.

Much has been written about Alfred Hitchcock, but Patrick McGilligan's biography is an outstanding addition.He provides a balanced portrayal of the famous director, often pointing out inaccuracies in Donald Spoto's "Dark Side of Genius."But he doesn't shy away from showing Hitchcock's crude side, from the dirty jokes he often told to his penchant for pushing the limits of censorship.He tells of how difficult and demanding Hitch could be to work with, as well as the admiration and awe held by many in the business - a long list that is a veritable "who's who" of the Hollywood elite.It is a story told largely through the lens of the director's camera, and chronicles the films he made.And it's a long story - 750 pages before the notes - that took me several months to read.Yet it was interesting and compelling in spite of having only seen a few of the movies.

While my knowledge of Hitchcock was limited mostly to the scary stories collected in his name that I read as a child, I gained a much greater appreciation for his movie making genius from this book.I'm not much of a film buff but I look forward to watching more of his films, after re-reading McGilligan's account of each, of course.

Wonderfully comprehensive and objective!
This comprehensive biography of one of the most notorious film directors in history is a remarkably thorough and balanced portrayal of a complicated, brilliant man.Other biographies have been written, but seem to me to be much more biased - either unrealistically over-praising or unnecessarily scathing, depending on which mood and era of the man's life they chose to dissect.

It's so detailed that it's difficult to write a review that's not novella-length, but it follows "Hitch" from his humble beginnings as a greengrocer's son in England, a sensitive and reserved boy who somehow still had the charisma to amass an enormous network of friends and colleagues, to his domination of the American film industry.His fascination with murder and the psychology of killers began early in life, as the slightly-eccentric Hitchcock family enjoyed lively dinner discussions about famous villains of their day:Dr. Crippen, Jack the Ripper, and Adelaide Bartlett, among others.Hitchcock was also an avid reader and happily described himself as an Americophile, and when the film industry really began to blossom he was most impressed by the American studios and production techniques, which he felt were superior to what was being done in Europe at the time.After early jobs in sales for an electrical products firm, he officially entered the film business as an assistant art director.It was during this time that he met Alma Reville, the woman who would become his wife and most valued collaborator.

After success in the European movie market, Hitch was wooed by the Selznick brothers to cross the pond and contract with Warner Brothers (he would later leave them for Paramount and would ultimately finish his career at Universal), which he did with some hesitation because very few British directors had successfully crossed over into the American market.There were hits and misses - for instance, two of my very favorites, Rope and Vertigo, were considered box office failures! - but overall his success was substantial, and with Psycho, one of the top-grossing films of its day, his place in history was secured.

One of the gems of this book is the inclusion of a treasury of early short stories Hitchcock wrote for The Telegraph, as well as an extensive filmography, which alone is 100 pages long!It's also heavily sprinkled with entertaining anecdotes and references from and about the actors, writers and musicians he worked with on every film:his deep friendship with Ingrid Bergman, teaching Gregory Peck about wine, falling out with Tippi Hedren, battles with the Selznicks, collaborations with writers like John Steinbeck and Ray Bradbury, and much more.Reading all those details immediately prompted me to go out and rent a few of my favorites again, finding them even more fascinating after reading all the `inside' details.

One of the most poignant points of Hitch's life story is, perhaps, its end.By all accounts, when his health deteriorated and forced him to retire, his inability to keep doing the one thing he truly loved - make movies - killed him, quite literally.Although his physicians said he could have gone on and possibly lived many more years, he simply didn't want to.He went to bed, stopped eating or seeing friends and family (besides Alma, who was also very ill), and died shortly thereafter.I make it sound like this all happened in a matter of days when it was actually a period of a few years, but it was a steady and relatively rapid decline.In the end although all were saddened, nobody who knew him seemed too surprised.

At 800+pages it's no small investment of time, but it was a true pleasure to read and for ardent Hitchcock fans it's probably still not long enough!
... Read more

Product Description
The monumental scope of Hitchcock's work remains unsurpassed by any other movie director, past or present. Psycho, Rear Window, The Birds and Vertigo are only a few of his classics.d his superb analysis--still the Hitchcockian commentary after 15 years in print. Photographs throughout. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Great Hitchcock study
Shortly after Donald Spoto completed his book, Alfred Hitchcock read the book and then had a lunch with the author.He agreed with almost everything in the book about Spoto's scholarly approach to the movies Hitchcock directed.If you ever want to study the master's work, watch one of his movies and then read the chapter devoted to that movie (almost all of his movies are featured in this book) and you'll learn stuff you did not know.That's what makes this a good book.Now . . . Spoto did write a second book on Hitchcock, a biography, but avoid that because there is so many mistakes and many people who worked with Hitchcock personally on his movies lost friendships with other actors and technicians that it's best to avoid that book.But this one is one of the three must-reads devoted to Hitchcock.

(The other two must-reads are the Francois Traffaut 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.)

Not bad
Good book, a little long.Gives plenty of details on Hitchock's projects.Good reference book.

Better to watch the films instead
This is not a biography but rather a discussion of each of Hitchcock's films. For each film there is:
- Detailed synopsis
- Cast and Crew details
- Analysis of the film

These first two of these items can be obtained from the Internet for free and who really wants to know the details of the story anyway?
The analysis of each film is largely a waste of time as Spoto tends to over-analyse each film to the point of distraction while offering no real insights.

If you want to find out more about Hitchcock's films I would recommend McGilligan's excellent biography. This discusses each film in the context of Hitchcock's life and career and is far more illuminating.

Shallow
While this book covers all of his works, it doesn't cover any of them in any depth.Each chapter is mostly an incomplete synopsis of the plot, followed by an very abbreviated analysis.The analyses are shallow and vary greatly in their acumen.

The art or Alfred Hitchock:Fifty years of his motion pictures
Wonderful book and seller. Thank you!!
Joan ... Read more

Product Description

In a career that spanned sixty years, Alfred Hitchcock made more than fifty feature-length films and hosted his own television series, transforming the thriller genre in the twentieth century. Author Laurent Bouzereau puts this incredible canon into perspective, examining the master's life thematically: his archetypal anti-heroes; his complicated female characters; his charming villains; and something Bouzereau calls "the Hitchcock touch" -- those elements of film that are, quite simply, Hitchcockian.

With a foreword by Hitchcock's daughter, Patricia Hitchcock O'Connell, Hitchcock, Piece by Piece is packed with photographs from the family's archive, many of which have never been published before, plus removable facsimile memorabilia such as letters, memos, and snapshots, which frame the story of the director's life and work.

Customer Reviews (2)

A holiday cornucopia
If you're a big Hitchcock fan, as I am, you will love this book.(I had the pleasure of meeting Tippi Hedren a year or two ago, out at her Shambala sanctuary for big cats.)But even if you're not a Hitchcock fan already, once you leaf through the book, you will be.It's a beautifully done volume (and far too good and interesting for my coffee table).

Beautiful Hitchcock Compendium!
Have been a fan of Laurent's work since way back when he was doing laserdisc commentaries for Criterion. I was a huge fan of all his Hitchcock documentaries so naturally this book was a must-have! I must say that it is just gorgeous! A wonderful read! Also it contains many great photos and fantastic little pull-out replicas of letters, memos, postcards, costume sketches and script pages. A perfect gift for the Hitchcock fan in your life! ... Read more

Product Description
Nine short stories featuring haunted houses, by such notable authors as Elizabeth Coatsworth, Arthur Conan Doyle, and Mark Twain. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

HauntinglyIllustrated
This book was such a favorite for me and my brothers growing up in the 60's - 70's that it was literally worn to pieces. The illustrations are so creepy, without any goriness, and the stories are so well suited to stimulate the imagination of pre-teens, without causing nightmares - perhaps. I only wish that these stories could be brought to the movie screen while retaining the atmosphere of the book itself. You can't go wrong with this, it really is a classic. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (3)

ah book review
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
An Excellent collection of short stories to keep you in suspense.

Recommend to all short stories fans
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. ... Read more

Product Description
The classic, Edgar Award-winning biography, published to celebrate the centenary of Hitchcock's birth with a new introduction by the author.

This is the definitive life story of Alfred Hitchcock, the enigmatic and intensely private director of Psycho, Vertigo, Rear Window, The Birds, and more than forty other films. While setting forth every stage of Hitchcock's long life and brilliant career, Donald Spoto also explores the roots of the director's obsessions with blondes, food, murder, and idealized love-and he traces the incomparable, bizarre genius from Hitchcock's English childhood through the golden years of his career in America as one of the greatest directors in the history of filmmaking.

"Absolutely compulsory reading."-The New York Times Book Review

"A real page-turner, and as complete a picture as we are likely to get."-Variety

"The finest book about a filmmaker yet. Sensational in its revelations; at the same time, a biography of unassailable integrity. I could not put it down."-Gregory Peck ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

I can provide no explanation for the low ratings -- this is a marvelous biography
I truly cannot explain why so many are giving this book low ratings.It is a critically acclaimed, deeply researched, well written biography.Nearly every aspect of Hitchcock's life and art is discussed, ably and literately.The only thing that I can think is that some people are upset that the book also explores the more disturbing aspects of Hitchcock's life, primarily his increasing obsession in the fifties and sixties with his leading ladies.These are disturbing to read about, but the problem is not Spoto's.Hitchcock was, like many highly creative individuals, a very complex, many-sided individual.Not everything about him was admirable and his weird, disturbing fixations on some of his leading actresses, in particular Tippi Hedren, can not be blamed on Spoto.As a biographer, he would have been remiss in not reporting this aspects of Hitchcock's life.

As far as claims that the book was dull or poorly written, this says more about specific reviewers than the book itself.I found it fascinating, a real page turner, and read through it in only a few days.

I will temper my review by pointing out that this is only one of the three major biographies of Hitchcock that one wanting to know more about Hitchcock should consider reading.If you want a superb but shorter biography, you could consider John Russell Taylor's HITCH: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF ALFRED HITCHCOCK.If you are willing to read a biography much longer than Spoto's, you could consider Patrick McGilligan's outstanding ALFRED HITCHCOCK: A LIFE IN DARKNESS AND LIGHT.But the Spoto is definitely an elite biography, completely undeserving of the ill-considered low ratings some are giving this.It is meticulously researched, well-written, and hugely informative.This book will remain on the short list of the most crucial studies of the life and films of Alfred Hitchcock, and deservedly so.

Awful, boring, fragmented, and utterly lousy
The Dark Side of Genius: The Life of Alfred Hitchcock is a horribly written biography about the man himself. It is so wildly disjointed, incredibly fragmented, and surrounded by opinions, conjectures, and theories that don't collaborate well with facts. I am totally unable to follow the book because the author likes to jump around in the years of Alfred Hitchcock's life while feeding personal opinions about this or that. At the same time, there are more holes in the presentation of his background than a pound of Swiss cheese. What an awful book!

A bit of a stretch
All of us have dark side and Hitch was no exception. But some of the conclusions of this author can be a bit of a stretch. At times he finds a turkey bone and reconstructs a dinosaur from it . You may find it hard to believe this dark sided person if you have seen the interview with his granddaughter who remembers the man who calls her up after her bunny dies to invite her over to spend time with her grandparents to get over the loss of the bunny.
Or have heard Pat Hitchcock say the only trauma she had on the ride on the set of Strangers on a Train was she never got the money she was promised for getting on the ride. Take note the since Dad and Grandpa are now gone most would take the opportunityto set the record straight if he had been that dark and they haven't .
What you get fromthe Hitchcock women is a loving memory that is hard to fake in this age of reality TV.

A magnificent achievement.
This is the best biography of a person in the
entertainment field I have ever read -- and one of
the best biographies, period.Spoto shows how Hitchcock's demons were expressed in his films in a way that resonated with millions of viewers, thus transmuting the personal into the universal. At the same time Spoto provides insightful, intelligent criticism that enables the viewer to appreciate Hitchcock's films on more levels than one would have thought possible. There are few books I would call "essential," but for anyone who has the slightest interest in Alfred Hitchcock, that is exactly what this book is.

Undeservedly Excoriated
I have to disagree with those who trash this book. I've read it more than once, and find it quite good. The amateur psychoanalysis doesn't dominate the proceedings, while you do get a very well written overview of an enormous career. Readability counts! - most Hitch books are boring junk, based on some dire Lacanian theory or whatnot. Okay, so Spoto feels he must "explain" Hitch's often morbid sensibility - if you notice, Spoto is also very interested in Christian subject matter. Possibly he feels there is something naughty about Hitch flicks, and must apologize for/excuse his interest in this way. (Speaking of amateur psych...) But that wouldn't be reason enough to pan the book. It's a compelling read, and much of it seems to be accurate. I believe its trashy rep is overstated. Read it, you'll probably be won over. ... Read more

Product 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. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

"Alfred Hitchcock Presents ... The Companion ... Grams & Wikstrom (2001)"
OTR Publishing presents "THE ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS COMPANION" (Paperback), by Martin Grams Jr. & Patrik Wikstrom --- Watching my favorite show every week was something to look forward to, now with all the episodes I have in my collection -- can follow a detailed account and the complete guide to go along with my collection of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" and "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour" with my DVD collection --- Special "behind-the-scenes" look at the making of many of the episodes plus the 1980s remake series, a chapter documenting all the "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" collectibles --- Various chapters by experts include insight into the Hitchcock spoofs, comic books, the Hitchcock-produced "Dark Intruder," "Psycho," and the "Suspicion" television series -- and over 100 photos, which one reviewer complained were copies of copies -- who cares ... we can still enjoy them.

INCLUDED IN THIS BOOK:
1.Features a lengthy history of the television series, including all three pilots!
2.Features a complete broadcast log of each and every episode, with cast lists, plot descriptions, Hitch's
opening and closing remarks, and trivia and recollections from over 100 actors, writers, directors. --
Exclusive interviews with Patricia Hitchcock, Norman Lloyd, Ray Bradbury, Fess Parker, Henry Slesar,
Gordon Hessler, Hazel Court, Vincent Price, Elliott Reid, Marc Richman, Warren Stevens, Hilton A. Green,
Arthur Ross, Joseph Pevney, Ann Robinson, Sydney Pollack, Marian Seldes, Ann Robinson, Julie Adams
and many more!
3.Features the same for the remake series of the 1980s with the colorized Hitchcock openings!
4.Documents each and every LP, magnet, matchbook, hotel soap, label pin, board game and many other collectibles!
5.Features a huge list of each and every hardcover and paperback edition of the Hitchcock anthologies!
6.And anything else you have been wanting to know about 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents'!

Special footnote, -- This contains an enormous amount of material on Hitchcock's activities apart from his role as a film director --- The bulk of this book is taken up with a meticulous index of all the episodes on the various television series Hitchcock was associated with, including a detailed synopsis of the episodes --- Grams and Wikstrom have captured every little morsel of Hitch during his journey in the entertainment world --- Definitely feel this is the "Bible" and most detailed book ever written on our favorite director during his television years --- The Master of Suspense -- HITCHCOCK!

Total Page: 660 Pages ~ OTR Publishing #ISBN- 10: 0970331010 ~ (4/01/2001)

Magnificent!
I purchased THE TWILIGHT ZONE: UNLOCKING THE DOOR TO A TELEVISION CLASSIC from Amazon.com and this came recommended from Amazon. So I checked it out. If the TWILIGHT ZONE book is five stars, I give this four and a half. During the 80s I purchased a number of books about TV shows including a red hardcover book about the HITCHCOCK TV show and sadly, it lacked a lot of detail. This book makke sup for it. The detail level is extraordinary and a worthy addition to my shelf. I could nit-pick flaws if I seek them out, but with a book this big, why bother? It's wonderful!

Hitchcock comes alive
Large in size and packed with behind-the-scenes trivia regarding production for each episode. The authors made this book a fun read. History is detailed. Production numbers and cast lists are included. If you grab the British release, you'll be wondering why color is spelled colour, but the detail level is freakin' impressive.

One thing I hate is buying a book and then finding myself wanting more because the book did not answer all my questions -- and we have to continue to buy so many books on the same subject until someone finally does justice to the subject so we can liquidate the remaining books we regret buying in the first place? Thankfully, this book is the only one written on the subject and it saves me money buying false profits. The Outer Limits Companion, The Night Gallery After Hours Tour and The Twilight Zone: Unlocking the Door to a Television Classic are the only other books that dominate the "required ownership" status for all things related to the program. All of these are available on Amazon. Do not be fooled by false advertising and errors disguised as facts on fan web-sites. Books like this and the ones I listed above are your one-stop source.

The Ed Wood of TV book writers
Martin Grams, Jr. is truly the Edward D. Wood, Jr. of TV book writers. It is obvious that Grams loves classic radio and television and that he is tireless in his efforts to write books about some of the greatest series of all time. Sadly, it is also obvious that he is one of the most incompetent writers and editors to ever produce so many texts. I feel almost guilty panning his books since he so clearly enjoys writing them. However, like Ed Wood, his enthusiasm doesn't make him any more competent or talented. Take this as a warning. Save your money, folks.

Mystery TV show guide
If you werea fan of the Twilight Zones series then pick up the Alfred Hitchcock guidethat 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!! ... Read more

Product 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. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

a MUST for Hitchcock fans
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 ofinsights on such classics as "Shadow of a Doubt."His piece on"Psycho" is outrageous, claiming that it's actually a film aboutMONEY, and that money is equated with human excrement -- and he proves hiscase!(Marion flushes her calculations down the toilet; Cassidy says,"She sat there while I dumped it out"!)The introductory essayis 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 andalways monitoring his creation.)I love Hitch, I have practically everybook written about him and his work, and I can recommend this bookunreservedly. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (3)

You Could Kill Someone With This Thing
This is a frighteningly large hardcover. Co-workers asked me if I was reading a textbook. No, instead it's 63 short stories culled from years of Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine. There's some big names in here, including Ed McBain, Lawrence Block, and Hillary Waugh.

Still, it's an uneven lot, with some true clunkers. Other stories are horribly dated by modern sensibilities with references to prices that stagger the imagination more than the dirty deeds (Sixty cents for a cheeseburger? Only at White Castle...) and a few references to 'Nam and the Cold War. There's even a tale with a science fiction bent about the first manned mission to Mars, but the author has planted tongue firmly in cheek, making it one of the more enjoyable, if quirky, stories in the collection.

There's enough memorable material to make this worth the read. I'd even recommend spacing the stories out, reading a few between other, longer works to prevent burnout. Recommended to any fans of mystery in any genre. You're sure to find something of merit here, especially if you find this on the cheap in a used bookstore since I'm fairly certain it's long out of print.

lots of great little short stories
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
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. ... Read more

Product Description
The first comprehensively illustrated look at the career of Alfred Hitchcock.

In the tradition of the acclaimed The Hammer Story, it is an authoritative, film-by-film guide to 'the Master' and his work, from the early silent days of The Lodger, through his classic British period of The 39 Steps, to the Hollywood success of Rear Window, Vertigo, North by Northwest, Psycho and beyond.

Packed with hundreds of stills and posters, with many rare or unseen images, and with additional features including the director's famous cameos, this is the ultimate book for the Hitchcock fan. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Not REALLY "The Alfred Hitchcock Story"...
...more appropriately, this book should have been called "Ken Mogg Uses the Films of Alfred Hitchcock to Show Off His Erudition."Here's a very representative example from the section about "Vertigo":

Camille Paglia has a brilliant comment on "Faust", about what happens when Faust tries to materialize the spirit of his lost Helen, and it seems to apply to "Vertigo".Paglia notes that Faust retains a repressed feminine side.Accordingly, when he journeys to the supernatural realm of "the Mothers", they frustrate his attempts.In Paglia's words, "The male struggles through his sexual stages, returning to the mother even when he thinks himself most free of her."And "Vertigo's" nun, or mother-superior, is the Great Mother who has the final say yet again.

If THAT'S the kind of stuff you want to read "about" Hitchcock and his movies, you're in luck, because this book is full of it.If, on the other hand, you'd like to know why Janet Leigh had to spend a week soaking wet in order to get the famous "shower scene" in "Psycho, well, I'm afraid you're out of luck.

The book is beautifully designed with lots of pix, and there are interesting digressions dealing with things like Hitchcock's TV series, but otherwise, there is way too much socio-psychological analysis of the scripts/characters and not near enough about what Hitchcock was doing when he was making these films.

Not What I Expected
Published in Britain, Ken Mogg's assessment of Hitchcock's films is highly regarded for its breadth and depth of coverage and and balanced assessments. That is not this book. It can't possibly be. This "new edition" is a handsomely produced, beautifully illustrated, but substantively lean volume better suited for the coffee-table than the scholar's shelf. I decided to keep it, however, because (1) it was not terribly expensive and (2) is a happy reminder of the movies when I'm not actually watching them. In brief, this is a good book for what it is--but it isn't what I thought I'd be getting. Caveat emptor.

A superficial overview
This is a beautifully laid-out book, with a nice attention to page design (at least in this 2008 reissue).Unfortunately the contents is not quite up to snuff, at least not for readers who already own other reference books on Hitchcock.

As it covers chronologically his life and career, it boils down to the usual film-by-film survey, with a few short asides to assess some particular stages or periods of interest.Essays by other contributors bring more substance to the package (and justify the 2 star rating), but again they are limited in their achievements by space constraints.

Because of these, Mogg cannot elaborate on the few original thoughts or opinions he expresses.For example, he has a much higher regard for Torn Curtain than other viewers generally express and goes as far as to praise highly John Addison's score, which sounds rather banal on its own and even more so when compared to the few cues Bernard Hermann did compose before being fired.But Mogg cannot really expand beyond simply stating these and the reader is therefore left hanging because he misses out on what could have been an interestingly challenging argument, running against the generally accepted wisdom.

In all, this is a nice introductory book for people who are just beginning to explore the director' work and need a general reference books.But for those who are already well stocked on that front, it is better to look elsewhere, despite the book being reasonably priced for such a well produced object.

"Must" reading for all Hitchcock fans!
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
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 writingprocess and even a look at films he inspired. The book is beautifully laidout, yet if you are looking for close analysis then this is not what youwant.It looks at each film and talks about them, but there is no harddepth to this material - this is just a good look at the entire canon. ... Read more

Product 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. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Following in the Footsteps in the Fog
We are really enjoying Footsteps in the Fog!In fact we are planning a trip to the San Francisco Area and other places mentioned in the book. The details are just fabulous! Its going to be so easy to follow and find all of these wonderfulplaces. Hitchcock was a master movie maker and its going to be quite an adventure to go to where he made some of his best movies!

packed full of facts and photos
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
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
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!
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!!!!
... Read more

Product Description
One is ravished by the density of insights into cinematic questions...Truffaut performed a tour de force of tact in getting this ordinarily guarded man to open up as he had never done before (and never would again)...If the 1967 Hitchcock/Truffaut can now be seen as something of a classic, this revised version is even better. Phillip Lopate The New York Times Book ReviewAmazon.com Review
Any book-length interview with Alfred Hitchcock is valuable,but considering that this volume's interlocutor is FrançoisTruffaut, the conversation is remarkable indeed. Here is a rareopportunity to eavesdrop on two cinematic masters from very differentbackgrounds as they cover each of Hitch's films in succession. Thoughthis book was initially published in 1967 when Hitchcock was stillactive, Truffaut later prepared a revised edition that covered thefinal stages of his career. It's difficult to think of a moreinformative or entertaining introduction to Hitchcock's art,interests, and peculiar sense of humor. The book is a storehouse ofinsight and witticism, including the master's impressions of a classiclike Rear Window ("I was feeling very creative at thetime, the batteries were well charged"), his technical insightinto Psycho's shower scene ("the knife never touched thebody; it was all done in the [editing]"), and his ruminations onflops such as Under Capricorn ("If I were to make anotherpicture in Australia today, I'd have a policeman hop into the pocketof a kangaroo and yell 'Follow that car!'"). This is one of themost delightful film books in print. --Raphael Shargel ... Read more

Customer Reviews (30)

Master interview of film master
Perhaps the greatest interview of a filmmaker even published.Master French filmmaker/critic Francois Truffaut interviewed Master of Suspense Alfred Hitchcock for many hours in the late 1960s, covering Hitch's entire career to date.The original publication has been revised to include the Master's final films and is an absolute delight.On a personal note, I had the enormous pleasure of meeting Mr. Hitchcock himself in 1973 on the opening night of a Hitchcock festival at the Los Angeles County Art Museum.Screened that night was Hitchcock's personal print of "Rear Window," which I had the unearthly experience of watching over the top of the Master's head, as he was seated right in front of me!(As a surprise even to Hitch, Jimmy Stewart appeared at the start of the evening to introduce him!)Hitch had such a powerful aura about him that after the screening no one even approached him to shake his hand - except me.As he exited into the lobby, I called out, "Mr. Hitchcock?"The Master turned and gave me his full attention.I reached out my hand and he gave me the most firm, sincere working-class handshake I've ever experienced.I said, "Mr. Hitchcock, I just wanted to thank you for coming here tonight."The Master replied - in perfect Hitchcockian intonation - "No.Thank you."My most cherished moment ever in a theater.

Truffaut's Absorbing Interview of Hitchcock Is a Film Lover's Dream.
"Hitchcock/Truffaut" consists mainly of an interview that French filmmaker François Truffaut conducted with Alfred Hitchcock in 1962 with the help of Helen Scott, an American employee of the French Film Office in New York, who acted as a translator. The interview was 50 hours long. It took Truffaut several years to edit the material to be included in the book, which was first published in France in 1967. This is a translation of the revised edition, to which Truffaut added some of his thoughts on Hitchcock's character and his last three films after the director died. Truffaut was a great admirer of "the Master of Suspense" and was motivated to conduct this interview with publication in mind by the tendency of critics to dismiss Hitchcock's work due to its commercial success.

Well, that was the situation in the 1960s. By the 1980s, Hitchcock was worshipped in American film schools -for good reason. But François Truffaut certainly succeeded. If there was ever a doubt that Alfred Hitchcock was a brilliant filmmaker, it is dispelled by Hitchcock's analyses of his films, explication of his technique, and Truffaut's probing questions in this book. Truffaut takes Hitchcock through all 50 of his films up until "Torn Curtain", skipping only a few that Hitchcock had nothing to say about, from his first foray into the motion picture business writing titles for Famous Players-Lasky in London, though his European career and his ups and downs in Hollywood. Hitchcock's memory for detail and Truffaut's familiarity with Hitchcock's oeuvre are impressive.

In the course of speaking about individual films, Hitchcock expounds on the transition from silent films to talkies, his definition of "suspense", his view of "whodunits", problems of lighting color films, his humorous approach to serious subjects, and why he likes icy blondes, among other subjects. He was an uncommon director in his innovation and in the degree of detail in which he conceived his films. He might justifiably be called the "auteur" of many of the films he directed, even if he didn't write them, a credit I would allow very few directors. Truffaut obviously thought so too. He's an unabashed fan but not always uncritical. Truffaut doesn't hesitate to say what's wrong with "Sabotage" and "Spellbound", for example. And Hitchcock is often his own harshest critic. "Hitchcock/Truffaut" is an absorbing interview and essential reading for all aspiring filmmakers and film lovers.

Wow.
After reading this book, you will not know much more than you did about Hitchcock's personal life.They were intensely private people. But if you read the book in the first place, that isnt what you were looking for anyway.

This book is an eye opener to how he did what he did on about every film he ever made.You can actually see when you watch the films how his explanations are plausible. I recomend this to anyone who is interested in filmmaking. If you value the illusion, and are interested in keeping the awe, read it anyway, but if you want to have the mysterious edge that his films are famous for, Dont read this. It is pretty much a tell-all about what he did in his films.

Did you know in NotoriousHe placed a lightbulb in the glass of supposedly poisoned milk Cary Grant was carrying up to his wife? He wanted the milk to stand out in the shot.Also, the milk is pretty much always in the center of the screen.That is how he conveyed the feeling of dread when the viewer saw the glass of milk.

A classic reference for Hitchcock fans
For anyone who is a fan of Hitchcock, and/ or is a serious student of Hitchcock's works, this is an essential reference.

It has been quoted in many other books written about Hitchcock and his films.

One of three best Hitchcock books
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.) ... Read more

Product Description
On his 100th birthday and almost two decades after his death, Alfred Hitchcock remains the master of screen suspense. The Alfred Hitchcock Triviography and Quiz Book is a tribute to his esteemed career and his continuous eminence among critics and fans alike.The book contains a chronology of Hitchcock's achievements, little-know facts about his films and their stars, and a wide array of quizzes to test any fan's knowledge of Hitchcock's masterpieces. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Good Hitchcock trivia
This book has good Hitchcock trivia. However, it is quite restrictive in scope as it deals only with Hitchcock. For readers who are interested in other subjects too, I would recommend the book "Quizzing"

These are hard!
This book is worth it for the list of his cameos alone, but there are sixty-five other quizzes that are just as entertaining and illuminating. I can totally see someone going out and renting "Lifeboat" or anyof his other movies just to answer the always challenging and sometimesthought-provoking trivia questions. Round up your movie nerd friends andhave a ball. This may be more fun than the Kevin Bacon game. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (23)

Dated, but holds up very well
The Three Investigators series had it all over the Hardy Boys. The plots were more complex and the stories developed logically with the protagonists actions providing the main impetus instead of using the crutch of coincidence and deus ex machina.

This book is a good case in point. The plot would not be out of place in a mystery aimed at mature readers. It's that absorbing. Just like in a conventional mystery there are multiple suspects and more than one agenda being pursued. The plot has only two weaknesses. The manner in which the pearls fell into the hands of our heroes seemed a little unnatural and forced as if the author really couldn't think of anything better. And the part about how the dog didn't react to the ghost was superstitious drivel of the worst sort, completely out of place in mystery fiction.

The Three Investigators get to go further afield in this book than hitherto has been the case; a good deal of the action takes place in northern California wine country. Character growth is present; Bob and Pete get out from under Jupiter's wing for most of the book and Bob has his leg brace removed.

In short, this is great juvenile fiction. If you have a young reader you could do a lot worse than tracking these books down. The earlier editions are better but are dated; the later ones are regrettably "dumbed down" somewhat.

Chasing ghosts in old mansions and vineyards
While investigating the old Green Mansion in Rocky Beach, which is about to be torn down, Pete and Bob hear and record a ghostly scream and see the ghost of Mathias Green.When the ghost turns up in Northern California at a vineyard owned by Green's last surviving relative, Pete and Bob are summoned to visit Miss Lydia Green and help her make sense of what's going on.This is the fourth case for the Three Investigators and this time they're split up, and Pete and Bob have to rely on their own talents instead of Jupiter's incredible smarts.

This is a great series I enjoyed as a kid and now my children are enjoying it as well.Of course, Jupiter isn't left entirely out of the story, but Pete and Bob get the chance to show that they've learned a bit as well and can make some pretty smart decisions when things get dangerous.A great book with a clever mystery.

One of the greatest mystery books every written for children
A piercing scream at night in front of a spooky abandoned house, and the mystery starts!And it never lets up.A ghostly apparition, a creepy abandoned house.A hidden room.A string of mysterious pearls.A flight in the night.Dark tunnels.A mysterious ancient Chinese villain.
Alfred Hitchcock and the Mystery of the Green Ghost was the very first chapter book I ever read, at about 7 years old when the first Scholastic paperback was printed.I was enthralled, and could hardly put it down.I went on to collect many books of the same series, and found they were far superior to the more well-known Hardy Boys series, although I lost the original paperback version that had gotten me started.Decades later, I picked it up at the age of 40 when I happened to see a tattered copy in the local library, and was surprised at how well it still holds up, and ordered a copy online.
This is a top-flight adventure written for boys about 10-14 or so, but somewhat younger children can enjoy it as well, as well as adults who occasionally enjoy simpler, easy, fast paced escapist adventure.I read it to my girls who were about 8 and 10 at the time, and they were enthralled as well.If you can get hold of one, get the original Random House illustrated hard copies.The illustrations by Harry Kane are excellent, and add a lot to the story.

Spooky Green Ghost Haunts His House!
Quite a few children's mystery book series have become classics. Most people are familiar with Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, and Tom Swift. Even the Boxcar Children are relatively well-known. However, Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators were well-written books that offered an intelligent, interesting and more contemporary alternative to many of the earlier classic series. Many people recall the earlier series well, but the Three Investigators series, which Robert Arthur wrote and debuted in 1964, has, for now, largely been overshadowed by the other series and generally forgotten. Fortunately, all of these books are available either from Amazon or from other internet sources.

This book is the fourth book in the series, following "The Mystery of the Whispering Mummy" and preceding "The Mystery of the Vanishing Treasure."This mystery begins almost immediately as the Three Investigators learn that a green-colored ghost has suddenly appeared in a variety of locations, beginning with the abandoned Mathias Green mansion and ending at a vineyard in northern California.

Soon the Three Investigators find themselves tangling with a mysterious Chinese man claiming to be more than 100-years-old, along with an array of thugs.What is everyone after?They are after an incredibly valuable piece of jewelry that could mean life to the person who possesses it.Someone understands the value, because the Three Investigators are threatened with death!

I enjoyed this Three Investigators novel.There are portions of the book that are relatively easy to figure out, but there are other portions that had to await the end of the book to figure out.The addition of the mysterious Chinese man is the most bizarre event yet in this series of stories.What the Chinese man intends on doing with the jewelry is even more bizarre.This story also had a lot of complexity and subtlety that I thought the author, Robert Arthur, constructed well.

If you are looking for mystery books for children and you are looking for an alternative to the stories I listed earlier, I highly recommend the Three Investigator series.I do recommend starting with the first book in the series, which is an excellent introduction to this series.

Enjoy!

Green Ghost, PLEASE!
I only rated this book 1 star because I didnt like it, then I skipped to the end and I liked the plot a little.I could totally tell who the bad guy was.By the way I used to think of the 3 investigators like it was real!I don't think that many people would think that there was a real ghost.You TOTALLY won't get scared of this book (Ha, Ha, Ha!)!This book really disappointed me after I put down the book(I didnt read the whole thing).I was wondering if anybody could write such a bad book with these extreme characters.Trust ME don't read this book 1, it may dissappoint you.This book is a horrible book!! ... Read more

Product Description
When an eccentric local artist disappears suddenly, the three investigators look into the matter. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

This is the best young reader series that has ever existed.
When I was in third grade, I bought "Alfred Hitchcock andthe Three Investigators in the Mystery of the Flaming Footprints"solely because I liked the cover.The neon green flaming footprints "walking" up a flight of stairs intrigued me.But once I picked up the book, I was addicted for life.I bought every Three Investigators book I could lay my hands on and would not let them out of my sight - not even to loan them to my best friend.I am almost 27 years old and still have nearly every book in the series. Unfortunately, I am faced with a new dilemma: my niece loves mysteries and I want to share the Three Investigators with her, but they are out of print and I do not want to let go of my copies.They should be reprinted!!!The series was loaded with positive messages for young readers: young people can be just as smart as adults, it is good to be well-rounded, it is "cool" to be smart, it is O.K. for athletic jocks (Pete) to hang out with handicapped introverts (Bob) and overweight geniuses (Jupiter), etc. Young people need to hear these messages today more than ever before. Someone please help bring them back in print!!! I'm begging!!! ... Read more

Product Description
"It's Only a Movie is the best book ever written about my father. It really is amazing." -Patricia Hitchcock North by Northwest. Psycho. Rear Window. The Birds. Vertigo. When it comes to murder and mayhem, shock and suspense, the films of Alfred Hitchcock can not be surpassed. For this book, Charlotte Chandler interviewed Hitchcock, his wife, daughter, film crew members, and many of the stars who appeared in his films, including Kim Novak, Janet Leigh, Cary Grant, Tippi Hedren and James Stewart. Throughout the book, Chandler shares Hitchcock's wit and wisdom. When actors took themselves too seriously, he would remind them, "it's only a movie." Chandler introduces us to the real Hitchcock, a devoted family man and notorious practical joker, who made suspenseful thrillers mixed with subtle humor and tacit eroticism. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Delightful, warm and understanding.
Frankly I think this book is a delight. As someone who used to work in the film industry, I don't ever recall reading anything that gets all the best things about the movie world so right - the love and enthusiasm for the work - with precious little of the bitchiness. The sheer magic and humanity of it all is captured perfectly. As a result, I find this book strangely moving.

Que Sera, Sera
This is a breezy, gossipy, so called "personal biography." This book takes a People magazine approach to its subject, the great movie director Alfred Hitchcock.The author Charlotte Chandler seems to be a friend of the family and she seems to repeat in full every conversation she has ever been involved in that involves Hitchcock.

None of the films are really analyzed. We get long quotes from her interview subjects - learn that Paul Newman struggled with Hitchcock's aloof approach to actors, while Cary Grant was pretty comfortable with it. And we repeatedly come across minor characters like Edith Head, who designed costumes for most of Hollywood, and worked often with Hitchcock and his stars.Whenever Ms. Chandler has access to a story, she simply repeats it - nothing is ever put into context.

Ms Chandler interjects herself into the story constantly. It is like listening to someone present home movies of a trip around the world, by only discussing their own presence - "Here I am at the Taj Mahal," "That's me at Machu Pichu."

Each film is subjected to the same treatment - a few pages on how the film was made - a quick plot summary with a few anecdotes.The masterpieces of the 40s and 50s, North by Northwest, Notorious, To Catch a Thief are given the same weight as failures like Frenzy. While the book claims to be a personal biography, it actually makes little effort to getting behind the scenes of Hitchcock, the artist.

I was pretty disappointed in this, although I could see where someone looking for an overview of his films would find some value in it. Not enough meat on the bone for a serious film buff, however.

Credible Bio
Obviously, the one thing that readers of biographies have to be always concerned about is the credibility of the author. There have been so many books of notable figures written with a particular agenda in mind, other than to sincerely and simply enlighten. It's all a question of faith that any biographer is truly handing out to one unimpeachable information. Most of us never knew Alfred Hitchcock; and of course we never will. But Ms. Chandler did and she has convinced me through the quality of her writing as well as the extent of her sources that her depiction of the man is as valid and relevant that one is likely to find. Yes, she greatly admired Hitch, but she doesn't hesitate to also note, even sympathetically, the feelings and comments of those who weren't so enamored. No one is perfect. Still if there's a life to be admired, Alfred Hitchcock's certainly tops my list.
Of all the bios existing of Alfred Hitchcock, this is the best one I have ever read.

Another fine Hitchcock book!
This is the most recent of our collection of Hitchcock books (we have fourteen), and it's a good read.The Hichcocks' only child, Pat, has reputably stated that this is her personal favorite of the many books written about her famous father.

Great read
A wonderful and well-written book about the Master of Suspense. The author's access to the subject makes for a lot of interesting stories. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Excellent eerie collection
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Stories for Late at Nightis one of a number of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' short story anthologies that came out in the sixties. Like the show they were named after, these books would have stories by then current luminaries in the mystery and weird fiction field. In this book, the focus is more on creating an eerie mood or suspenseful situation than setting up mysteries for the reader to puzzle out.

There are suspense stories along with supernatural horror and some that don't fit any other category than Weird Tales. While there were a few duds (unfortunately the very first story is one of them), I get the feeling that some of my favorites would be others flops and vice-versa. I guess what I'm trying to say is that none of the stories (even ones I didn't care for) felt like filler.

Also, at an average of twelve to fifteen pages, they were just long enough to read right before bedtime (though there are two forty-ish page novellas and a one hundred and fifty page novel included in the mix). The book contains no obvious gore. Like the show and Alfred Hitchcock's movies, what violence there is occurs 'off screen' for the most part, so if you do read a story before going to sleep, at least you won't have nightmares.

There were a number of 'big names' represented (Ray Bradbury, John Collier, C.L. Moore), but I found a number of my favorite stories were from authors I was unfamiliar with (Jerome Bixby's "It's a Good Life", Will F. Jenkins' "Side Bet" and Philip MacDonald's "Our Feathered Friends"). The stories from famous authors weren't sub-par though. Ray Bradbury's "The Whole Town is Sleeping" is probably the creepiest story in the book and Henry Sleasar's "A Cry From the Penthouse" is an excellent little thriller that reminded me of Stephen King's "The Ledge" (though "A Cry From the Penthouse" is the older story).

It is an EXCELLENT collection, well worth the read, though I'm not sure of the wisdom of putting the 150 page novel The Iron Gates at the end. After all the shorts, it's weird to cap the book off with the longest tale. However, the novel was enjoyable and though it is the closest to being a traditional mystery, it still fit with the tone of the rest of the book.

Many of the books began with an introduction by Alfred himself. This one didn't. I wish it would have. I loved the collection as it was, but a word from Hitch would have just been the cherry on top.

Regardless, I enjoyed this collection immensely and have already ordered Alfred Hitchcock Presents Stories That Scared Even Me and Alfred Hitchcock Presents Stories Not for the Nervous.

Note: The hardcover and paperback are not the same. The hardcover contains 24 stories, the paperback has 12. Here's the contents of the hardcover:

Death is a Dream - Robert Arthur
It's a Good Life - Jerome Bixby
The Whole Town's Sleeping - Ray Bradbury
Lady's Man - Ruth Chatterton
Evening Primrose - John Collier
The Sound Machine - Roald Dahl
The Cocoon - John B.L. Goodwin
Vintage season - C.L. Moore (as Lawrence O'Donnell)
Pieces of Silver - Brent Halliday
The Whistling Room - William Hope Hodgson
Told for the Truth - Cyril Hume
The Ash-Tree - M.R. James
Side Bet - Will F. Jenkins
Second Night Out (a.k.a. The Black, Dead Thing) - Frank Belnap Long
Our Feathered Friends - Philip MacDonald
The Fly - George Langelaan
Back There in the Grass - Gouverneur Morris
The Mugging" (a.k.a. A Mugging at Midnight) - Edward L. Perry
Finger! Finger - Margaret Ronan
A Cry From the Penthouse - Henry Slesar
The People Next Door - Pauline C. Smith
D-Day - Robert Trout
The Man Who Liked Dickens - Evelyn Waugh
The Iron Gates - Margaret Millar

A Scary-Good Collection
The stories in this collection aren't all ghost stories, like one would expect, although some of them are. Some are also science fiction and others are murder mysteries. The common thread is, of course, that they are frightening. They didn't give me nightmares or anything, but I did find myself revisiting the tales in my mind at other times of the day.
Along with short stories, the volume also contains two novelettes and one full-length novel. Vintage Season, the first novelette, I enjoyed the most of any other tale in this book. A man rents his home to some very unusual guests, with unexpected consequences. To say any more would be to give it away. I highly recommend it.
The novel comes at the end of the book, and after reading through various short stories which can always be set aside and picked up again later, to find something which contains chapters was a bit disconcerting. Also, I thought the novel quite lengthy; the plot of which could probably have been quite a bit condensed.
Overall, however, each of the tales has merit and an actual ending. The conclusions to the stories are all very satisfying, which for me is very important. I highly recommend you spend some time checking them out (late at night). ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

some ofthe most mindboggling, gut wrenching stories ever
This book contains some of the most and absolutely fantastic stories I have ever read, and I have read a lot of stories! Get your hands on this book, and you'll never let go of it!, Thats a promise. Hitchcock surpasseshimself in this anthology. He has managed to compile the most amazingstories into a most amazing book. Every last one of these stories has agut-wrenching climax, which'll make you exclaim aloud, wohever, andwherever you are. A must-read. ... Read more

Product Description
The New York Times bestselling author who investigated the Zodiac case now uncovers a real-life mystery of murder, body doubles, and obsession

Marli Renfro was a model who played a part in one of the most iconic scenes in American movies- as Janet Leigh's nude body double in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho-only to fade into obscurity, a footnote in Hollywood history. It wasn't until 1988 that Marli Renfro made news again-raped and murdered by a serial killer with a fetish for the classic Hitchcock shocker. But as Graysmith investigated Marli's story, a nagging doubt entered his mind. What if Marli was still alive? What if another woman had been murdered in her place? And if Marli was still alive, would he ever find her?

The line between art and reality is blurred in this astonishing coda to one of the most memorable screen murders of all time, and to a real- life crime that one man was determined to solve.

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Customer Reviews (15)

"A man SHOULD have a hobby."
And, after my own borderline obsessive-compulsive heart, Mr. Graysmith's quest for the Psycho shower scene body-double struck a kindred cord.So, I must salute him for his dedication to tracking down beautiful Marli Renfro - and for his ambition to construct a mystery story out of all the disparate elements that helped to make Hitchcock's low-budget detour so memorable.

Though by no means as compelling as his Zodiac investigations, this book certainly shares the exemplary thoroughness and relentless attention to detail that proves Graysmith is a model detective.Would be a fitting final gesture if he could persist with those skills in helping Renfro collect at least some token amount from the studio for all the years of Psycho's unprecedented success.Give the shower babe her share!

Yes, this book has its deficencies, but, for the true Psycho hobbyist, there are tidbits of background information about the filming that you will not find anywhere else -so reason enough to give it a gander.

Thanks, Marli, for being so classy.And thanks, Bob, for finally unwrapping the curtain for us.

Totally Disappointing
This is a very difficult review for me to write, for I am a big fan of Robert Graysmith.His books on the Zodiac, the "Sleeping Lady" killer, the Unabomber, have all been uniformly monumental works of research and writing.All have been closely-written and substantial books.But this book is one of the weakest, meandering, insubstantial things I have ever read.I am angry that Mr. Graysmith could produce such great pieces as he has done in the past, and then utterly insult our intelligence with this.Some kind of change has come over Mr. Graysmith since his great books, and, to be quite fair, it may be attributable to the fact that he put such time, effort, and work into his noteworthy books that he has, like the detectives who worked the horrifically complex Zodiac and "Sleeping Lady" cases before, has exhausted himself with his efforts.I feel insulted by this book, but will stand by Graysmith's earlier works as truly representative of what he is capable of, and hope that in the future he regains his old form.

Don't waste your money...
In fact, don't even waste your time with this book.

I saw it in the library earlier today, and knew right away that the body-double the author was obsessed with was still alive, simply because the book contained photos from her collection!Talk about a dead giveaway.

But overall, it's just so poorly written.Yes, she's alive, but he didn't find her, she found him!She tells him where's she's been all this time (living a normal, boring life, away from Hollywood), but doesn't do so until the last three pages of the book.

The LAST THREE PAGES.

Perhaps this would've made an interesting article, but a 320 page book?

NOT.

Just an excuse
This book could have been riveting if someone else had written it.Instead the author has turned it into one long excuse to write about nude women.He uses the words nudist,nude,nudie & nudie cutie at least one thousand times. Continually gives women's measurements throughout (as though the reader cares).Actually this is a book about his own obsessions--with the main character and with breasts.Goes into long long descriptions about the shape, size & color of breasts. Also waaaaaaay too much blather about perverted old sex movies from the 60s and how wonderful High Hefner is---gag! No one cares about all that except dirty ancient men.

If you are a female reader this book will make you want to dry clean your brain. Skip this one---no suspense whatsoever, just a glimpse into the author's creepy old mind.

Absolutely Not Worth Reading
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R360BVN07MM43E Hopefully this four-minute video review will convince you that this book is absolutely not worth reading. ... Read more