Psycho and Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock
Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock was born in the East London area of
Leytonstone on August 13, 1899. He was the youngest son of William and
Emma Whelan Hitchcock, the son of a poultry dealer and fruit importer.
He was educated at the Jesuit School called St. Ignatius College in
London.
At the young age of 16 he left to study engineering and navigation at
the University of London. Three years later he was hired as an
estimator at Henley Telegraph Company. Hitchcock began to study art in
the evenings and eventually transferred to the advertising department
at the company. When he learnt that Famous Players (Paramount) was
opening a studio in London, Hitchcock submitted a portfolio of his
work and applied for a job. He was hired as a title designer for
silent films. When the studio was taken over by a British production
company he became an assistant director. Here he gained valuable
experience in the art of filmmaking. In 1925 he met his future wife
Alma Reville, who worked at the company.
Also in 1925 Hitchcock made his first film, “The Pleasure Garden.” He
went on to make many more films. The Lodger, Blackmail, The Man Who
Knew Too Much, The 39 Steps, The Secret Agent, Sabotage, Young and
Innocent, The Lady Vanishes and the last British film he made was
Jamaica Inn in 1939. Hitchcock moved to America and began his work in
Hollywood. Here he made Rebecca, Shadow of Doubt, Spellbound,
Notorious, Rope, Lifeboat, Strangers on a Train, Dial M for Murder,
Catch a Thief, Window, Vertigo, North by Northwest, Psycho, The Birds,
Marnie, Torn Curtain and Topaz. All these can be categred as horror
fil...
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...iler, but this is not what the audience suspect when they watch the
trailer. Now we understand why Hitchcock insisted that no one would be
seated after the film had started. This was enforced by uniformed
Pinkerton guards. The audience assumed that something horrible would
happen in the first few minutes even though nothing happened.
In conclusion, Alfred Hitchcock manipulates the audience in many ways.
It is the best horror film of all time and Alfred Hitchcock will
forever be the father of suspense. It has spawned three sequels and
two remakes of the original. This shows you the popularity and quality
of the film. Psycho’s ending and spectacular shower scene has forever
ingrained itself in the mind of every filmgoer who has ever seen it.
Psycho will always be remembered for its music and unforgettable
shower scene.