Psycho and Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock

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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.

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