Alfred Hitchcock Themes

Katherine Suarez
Cinematic Hist: Films 50s
Prof.Medaska
Alfred Hitchcock
Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, born on August 13, 1899, is one of the most famous and celebrated directors in film history along with other directors from his time like Stanley Kubrick or modern directors such as Steven Spielberg and James Cameron. Known as The Master of Suspense because his ability of creating shocking and suspenseful stories in his films. Hitchcock's movies captured the audience's attention and had them engaged emotionally and intellectually. He made sure that the audience was invested into the characters and most importantly, to deliver an enjoyable experience. There are common themes among Hitchcock's films, some of them being suspense, crime, false accusations
It is known to be one of Alfred Hitchcock's most adventurous films and one of his most fun. The plot is about an advertising executive, Roger Thornhill (Cary Grant), that is mistaken as United States spy named George Kaplan by foreign spys. Thornhill is kidnapped by two thugs and is taken to an estate named "Townsend" to be interrogated by Phillip Vandamm (James Mason) who continually calls Thornhill, Mr. Kaplan. Leonard (Martin Landau) attempts to have him killed by getting him drunk and having him drive down a mountain road. Thornhill manages to escape the drunk accident but unfortunately his driving got the attention of police and he was arrested for drunk driving. Thornhill's mother and the police refuse to believe that he was kidnapped. A woman says that Thornhill had too much to drink and that convinces the police that Thornhill's kidnapping story is made up. The woman tells Thornhill that Townsend is actually a United Nations diplomat. Townsend is then killed and Thornhill is wanted for the murder. Thornhill leaves to find
During the 1950s, Hitchcock had already become a household name and was creating some of his best works. Films like Dial M for Murder, Rear Window, To Catch a Thief, and North by Northwest. The 1950s became Hitchcock's most successful decade, creating ten films and having his own show. During this time, television was becoming a popular medium and Hitchcock had created his own show in 1955 called Alfred Hitchcock Presents where he was the host. The show was about a series of short stories ranging from dramas to thrillers to mysteries. The episodes lasted 25 minutes and in 1962 it was expanded to 50 minutes and the show became The Alfred Hitchcock Hour. That lasted until 1965. With Hitchcock's success in the 1950s and his television show, he became an icon in film history and one of the most revered directors in history. His style was unmatched and many have attempted to emulate it and have failed. Hitchcock's impact on the film industry and his ability to captivate an audience with suspenseful, exciting, stories have truly been felt and he has definitely earned the name of The Master of