Alfred Hitchcock (1899–1980)
Author of North by Northwest [1959 film]
About the Author
Alfred Hitchcock was born on August 13, 1899 in London, England. He graduated from St. Ignatius College, where he studied engineering, and took art courses at the University of London. He worked briefly as a technical calculator for a cable company, but soon decided to focus on art, becoming an show more advertising layout draftsman for a London department store. In 1920, he got a job writing and illustrating title cards for silent pictures. He rose quickly, to script writer, art director and assistant director. By 1925, he had become a director, making a melodrama called The Pleasure Garden. In 1929, he directed Blackmail, Britain's first widely successful talking feature. The other movies he directed in England included The Lodger (U.S. title, The Case of Jonathan Drew), The Man Who Knew Too Much, The 39 Steps, and The Lady Vanishes. He was approached by producer David O. Selznick about directing in the United States, and he accepted so he could take advantage of the better-equipped American studios. His first American film, Rebecca, won the Academy Award for best picture. The other movies he directed in the United States included Shadow of a Doubt, Spellbound, Rear Window, Vertigo, Psycho, The Birds, Frenzy, and Family Plot. In 1979, he was awarded the American Film Institute Life Achievement Award. In 1980, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II. He died from liver failure and heart problems on April 29, 1980 at the age of 80. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Series
Works by Alfred Hitchcock
Alfred Hitchcock's Witch's Brew: Eleven Eerie Stories About Magic, Witchcraft, and the Supernatural (1965) — Editor — 164 copies
Portraits of Murder: 47 Short Stories Chosen by the Master of Suspense (Alfred Hitchcock Mysteries) (1988) 125 copies
The Man Who Knew Too Much 36 copies
Alfred Hitchock Presents: Dates with Death - Tales from A Month of Mystery (1969) — Editor — 34 copies
Alfred Hitchcock: The Master of Suspense [10 films] — Director — 18 copies
Ultimate Hitchcock Collection 12 copies
The Hitchcock Collection (9 Movie Pack) — Director — 12 copies
Alfred Hitchcock Classics Collection: Rear Window, Vertigo, Psycho and The Birds (2020) — Director — 11 copies
Collector’s Edition: Alfred Hitchcock Thrillers: The Man Who Knew Too Much [1934 film] Secret Agent [1936 film] The… (2003) — Director — 11 copies
Nachts wenn das Licht ausgeht. Eine Sammlung der schönsten Grusel- und Mordgeschichten. (1975) 9 copies
Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps [1935 film] [and] The Man Who Knew Too Much [1934 film] — Director — 9 copies
Alfred Hitchcock Collector's Edition: The 39 Steps / The Lady Vanishes / The Man Who Knew Too Much / Sabotage — Director — 7 copies
Champagne [1928 film] 7 copies
Duistere dromen 6 copies
Alfred Hitchcock Collection: 3 Films: Dial M for Murder / North By Northwest / Strangers on a Train — Director — 6 copies
Alfred Hitchcock: Montage of Mysteries (The 39 Steps, Young and Innocent, Rich and Strange (1999) 6 copies
Angstige avonturen 6 copies
Curieuze condoleances 5 copies
Alfred Hitchcock Presents Vol. 4: Arthur, Crystal Trench, Horseplayer, Mrs Bixby and the Colonel's Coat, Bang! You're… (2001) 5 copies
Alfred Hitchcock Presents Vol 2: Revenge, Breakdown, Wet Saturday, Mr. Blanchard's Secret (2000) 5 copies
15 Hitchcock Films — Director — 5 copies
Eigenaardige excecuties 5 copies
The Hitchcock Collection 5 copies
Hitchcocktail 5 copies
Hitchcocks bästa 5 copies
Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection — Director — 5 copies
Il cerchio nella polvere 5 copies
Waltzes from Vienna [1934 film] — Director — 5 copies
Murder [and] Sabotage (Double Movie Video) — Director — 5 copies
No Apto Para Cardíacos / Alfred Hitchcock's Death Reach (V. "Summary") (V. Comentarios) (1994) 5 copies
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Season 6 4 copies
The Alfred Hitchcock Collection: The Best of Hitchcock, Vol. 2: Vertigo / The Birds / The Trouble with Harry / Frenzy /… (2013) — Director — 4 copies
Macabere mededelingen 4 copies
Alfred Hitchcock esitab : lugusid, mida ema mulle kunagi ei jutustanud : [valik põnevusjutte 4 copies
Een vreselijke vriendschap — Editor — 4 copies
Champagne (Silent) — Director — 4 copies
The Alfred Hitchcock Collection Vol. 1 (Psycho / Vertigo / Alfred Hitchcock Presents Vol. 1) (1999) 4 copies
Le formiche guerriere 4 copies
Een aangename dodenrit 4 copies
Alfred Hitchcock Collection: 13 Films — Director — 4 copies
Gruwelijk gezelschap 4 copies
Der var engang et mord 4 copies
The Alfred Hitchcock Box Set (The Ring / The Manxman / Murder! / The Skin Game / Rich and Strange) (2012) 3 copies
Alfred Hitchcock. Meine Lieblingsmorde 6. [Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Stories to Stay awake by.] (1999) 3 copies
partita con la morte 3 copies
Alfred Hitchcock Presents Vol 3: Poison, The Perfect Crime, Dip in the Pool, One More Mile to Go (2000) 3 copies
Strangers On A Train [DVD] [1951] — Director — 3 copies
Flere chok 3 copies
Psycho / The Birds (Double Feature) 3 copies
Juego Sucio 3 copies
Racconti per le ore piccole 3 copies
Alfred Hitchcock: 14 Films 3 copies
An Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Sampler 3 copies
Alfred Hitchcock presenta: cuentos que mi madre nunca me contó: Los relatos favoritos del maestro del suspense… (2020) 3 copies
Ontspannen ontzetting 3 copies
The Criterion Collection: Classic Hitchcock: The Man Who Knew Too Much / The 39 Steps / The Lady Vanishes / Foreign… — Director — 3 copies
Psico 2 copies
Hollywood Classics: Alfred Hitchcock : The 39 Steps, The Lady Vanishes, The Man Who Knew Too Much — Director — 2 copies
Hitchcocks bästa : TV-thrillers och chocknoveller i urval [ur Hitchcock's Mystery magazine]. Saml. 4 2 copies
The Early Hitchcock Collection 2 copies
The Alfred Hitchcock Classics Collection (Saboteur / Shadow of a Doubt / The Trouble with Harry / Marnie / Family Plot)… — Director — 2 copies
Alfred Hitchcock Collection (Sabotage / Man Who Knew Too Much / 39 Steps / Lady Vanishes / Young and Innocent / Number… — Director — 2 copies
Truffaut, Hitchcock 2 copies
Hitchcocks bästa : TV-thrillers och chocknoveller i urval [ur Hitchcock's Mystery magazine]. Saml. 2 2 copies
Blackmail [1929 film] / Murder! [1930 film] — Director — 2 copies
Wrong Men & Notorious Women: Five Hitchcock Thrillers, 1935-1946 (The 39 Steps / The Lady Vanishes / Rebecca /… (2003) — Director — 2 copies
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: S1-5 2 copies
Alfred Hitchcock : Masterpiece Collection [15 Discs] — Director — 2 copies
I Confess. Premium Collection.. 2 copies
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Season 7 2 copies
Secret Agent - Digitally Remastered 2 copies
Alfred Hitchcock's Fireside Book of Suspense — Editor — 2 copies
Een spelletje met de dood 2 copies
Mai uccidere per amore 2 copies
Sei piccole bare 2 copies
Carrossel do crime 2 copies
Histórias Que Nunca Esqueci 2 copies
Silence, on tue ! 2 copies
Aventure Malgache 2 copies
Hitchcock - The British Years 2 copies
Il giorno della paura 2 copies
Hollywood Screen Legends (A Place in the Sun / Roman Holiday / To Catch a Thief) — Director — 2 copies
Fear (Anthology 12) 2 copies
10 Movie Mystery Pack — Director — 2 copies
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour: The Complete First Season — Director — 2 copies
Alfred Hitchcock. Meine Lieblingsmorde 2. [Alfred Hitchcock Presents a Month of Crime.] (1977) 2 copies
Hayalet 2 copies
Hollywood Icons 4 Film Collection: James Stewart — Director — 2 copies
Noc Doc Qua Thu Dien Tu 1 copy
Falai no Mal 1 copy
Assassinos à solta 1 copy
El Poder de la 8imagen 1 copy
This Days Evil 1 copy
Revenge 1 copy
Alfred Hitchcock: 12 Classic Full Length Movies — Director — 1 copy
Hortlak 1 copy
Hitchcock Collection, The 1 copy
Vampir 1 copy
Viver e Saber Viver 1 copy
Alfred Hitchcock Collection [8 Movies] — Director — 1 copy
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour 1 copy
Unexplained Mysteries 1 copy
Yamyam 1 copy
The Mystery 1 copy
The Fighting Generation 1 copy
Coffret Alfred Hitchcock 2 DVD : Les Premières oeuvres 1932/1940 : A l'est de Shangaï / Numéro… 1 copy
Rikkauden huuma 1 copy
L'omicidio fa buon sangue 1 copy
The Master's Choice book two 1 copy
Stories not for the Nervious 1 copy
Avventura Malgascia 1 copy
Suspense sobrenatural 1 copy
Murder and Other Mishaps 1 copy
Aventure Malgache 1 copy
Spellbound 1 copy
Man Who Knew Too Much [DVD] 1 copy
Hitchcock Classic Collection: 9 Movies — Director — 1 copy
Moje najmilšie strašidlá 1 copy
The Cheney Vase 1 copy
A Talk With Hitchcock [DVD] 1 copy
A Morte Pode Ser Bela 1 copy
Histórias para Ler no Escuro 1 copy
Hold Your Breath 1 copy
Matrimonio original 1 copy
Vreselijke vriendschap 1 copy
Sospecha 1 copy
Jamaica Inn / Easy Virtue 1 copy
Deixem Sangrar 1 copy
Alfred Hitchcock: The Legend Begins, Disc 2 (Rich and Strange, The 39 Steps, Secret Agent, Champagne, Blackmail) — Director — 1 copy
los mas famosos detectives 1 copy
Alfred Hitchcock-The Legend Begins: Young and Innocent — Director — 1 copy
Alfred Hitchcock-The Legend Begins: Skin Game, The — Director — 1 copy
Il caso vertigo 1 copy
Alfred Hitchcock-The Legend Begins: Sabotage — Director — 1 copy
Alfred Hitchcock-The Legend Begins: Man Who Knew Too Much, The — Director — 1 copy
The Margaret Lockwood Collection - The Lady Vanishes | Love Story — Director — 1 copy
[No title] 1 copy
The Woman in Green / Young & Innocent / The Man Who Knew Too Much — Director — 1 copy
Forbudt for br̜n 1 copy
The Ring / Champagne 1 copy
Hitchcock, Alfred : Eiskalt 1 copy
3 Films: Drama — Director — 1 copy
Champagne [1928 film] — Director — 1 copy
Incidente en la esquina 1 copy
Un chapuzon en el mar 1 copy
HISTORIAS PARA MORIRSE 1 copy
CRIMENES SELECTOS 1 copy
PASION POR EL CRIMEN 1 copy
LAS PALABRAS DE LA VICTIMA 1 copy
DEJA CORRER LA SANGRE 1 copy
SESION DE CALAVERAS 1 copy
Alfred Hitchcock. Portraits of Murder 47 Short Stories Chosen By the Master of Deadly Suspense — Editor — 1 copy
Die drei ??? und der Superwal /Die drei ??? und das Gold der Wikinger /Die drei ??? und der Phantomsee (Ullstein… (1994) 1 copy
Alfred Hitchcocks Kriminalmagazin - Neue Kriminalstories mit Pfiff und Pointe - Band 69 (1974) 1 copy
MISTERIO DEL RELOJ CHILLON 1 copy
Music To Be Murdered By 1 copy
Alfred Hitchcock's Mysteries 1 copy
The Filth and the Fury 1 copy
Alfred Hitchcock, The Masterpiece Collection, Disc 13-15: Frenzy / Family Plot / bonus features 1 copy
Alfred Hitchcock, The Masterpiece Collection, Disc 9-12: The Birds / Marnie / Torn Curtain / Topaz 1 copy
Trouble With Harry 1 copy
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Revenge [1955 TV episode] — Director — 1 copy
A Woman Alone [VHS] 1 copy
Downhill [and] The Man Who Knew Too Much — Director — 1 copy
Jännityskertomuksia 1 copy
African Queen, Rebecca, Suspicion — Director — 1 copy
13 histórias de arrepiar 1 copy
Gruselkabinett 1 copy
Ve Papağan Fıstık Dedi 1 copy
The Man Who New Too Much (Box Set) — Director — 1 copy
The Lady Vanishes / Sabotage 1 copy
Double Feature: The Man Who Knew Too Much [1934 film] [and] Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon [1942 film] — Director — 1 copy
Ultima autopsia 1 copy
Parlando del diavolo 1 copy
Diavolo in agguato 1 copy
Meine Schreckensstunden 1 copy
Nuevas Historias Para Leer a Plena Luz / Stories To Be Read With The Lights On (V. "Summary") (1985) 1 copy
Fjorten godnathistorier 1 copy
Drom Soft Kaere Laeser 1 copy
Strašidlá najstrašnejšie 1 copy
Original Old-Time Radio Adaptations of the Movies Directed by Alfred Hitchcock: I Confess, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Rebecca (2002) 1 copy
Alfred Hitchcock. Meine Lieblingsmorde 5. [Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Stories to Stay awake by.] 1 copy
Alfred Hitchcock. Meine Lieblingsmorde 4. [Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Stories to Stay awake by.] 1 copy
Hitchcocks bästa under 10 år 1 copy
Xeque-Mate 1 copy
Un assassino nelle tenebre 1 copy
Alfred Hitchcock Prasentiert: Geschichten, bei denen es sogar mir graust (Heyne Krimi, Kriminalgeschichten) (1967) 1 copy
Alfred Hitchcock ja kolme etsivää. 22 : 3 etsivää ja tanssiva paholainen / Alfred Hitchcockin… 1 copy
Przedstawia 1 copy
33 storie del brivido 1 copy
Cuentos para la madrugada 1 copy
Misteri Naga Batuk 1 copy
Murder! / The Lodger — Director — 1 copy
Words of Prey 1 copy
Cuentos para la madrugada 1 copy
Random Hitchcock films — Director — 1 copy
Participe el terror 1 copy
Hitchcock esittää 1 copy
Complotto Di Famiglia 1 copy
Jaque y...mate 1 copy
El misteri de la mòmia 1 copy
UNA STRANA EREDITA' 1 copy
Juno & The Paycock/Blackmail 1 copy
The Alfred Hitchcock Collection: The Lady Vanishes, The 39 Steps, Jamaica Inn, Easy Virtue — Director — 1 copy
Country Girl / Dial M for Murder / Tamarind Seed — Director — 1 copy
Alfred Hitchcock Presents (20 Episodes) - 5-DVD Box Set ( The Perfect Crime / The Case of Mr. Pelham / Mr. Blanchard's… (2017) 1 copy
Movie Classics: Alfred Hitchcock: Collector’s Edition: Sabotage, The 39 Steps, The Man Who Knew Too Much, Murder!,… — Director — 1 copy
Hitchcocks bästa : TV-thrillers och chocknoveller i urval [ur Hitchcock's Mystery magazine].Saml. 7 1 copy
La Taverne de la Jamaique 1 copy
UNA FLOR EN LA TUMBA 1 copy
Adventure Malgache 1 copy
Bon Voyage 1 copy
The Manxman ; The farmer's wife — Director — 1 copy
The Alfred Hitchcock Collection: Sabotage, Blackmail, Number 17, The 39 Steps, Young & Innocent, The Man Who Knew Too… — Director — 1 copy
Kadınlar - Komşunun Karısı 1 copy
Alfred Hitchcock Collection: Number 17, The Man Who Knew Too Much, The Lodger — Director — 1 copy
The Alfred Hitchcock Collection: Blackmail, The Lady Vanishes, Rich and Strange — Director — 1 copy
The Alfred Hitchcock Collection: Sabotage, The Lady Vanishes, The Man Who Knew Too Much — Director — 1 copy
Knuder på dødens reb 1 copy
Kriminalstories 1 copy
Special Edition: Alfred Hitchcock: The Lady Vanishes, Secret Agent, The Man Who Knew Too Much, The 39 Steps — Director — 1 copy
Histórias do Além-túmulo 1 copy
Falso culpable 1 copy
Double Feature: Alfred Hitchcock: The Man Who Knew Too Much [and] The Lady Vanishes — Director — 1 copy
Ruchlose Vergnugen 1 copy
Histórias Mal-Assombradas 1 copy
The Case of Mr. Pelham 1 copy
Breakdown 1 copy
Alfred Hitchcock - Les Années Selznick [Édition Coffret Ultra Collector - Blu-ray Livre] (2017) 1 copy
Io ti salverò 1 copy
Escape the Golden Cicada — Author — 1 copy
2 Feature Films: Mr. Moto's Last Warning [and] The Man Who Knew Too Much — Director — 1 copy
Jännityskertouksia no 8 1 copy
Jännityskertomuksia 4 1 copy
Jännityskertomuksia 3 1 copy
Hollywood Screen Sirens: 3 DVD Box Set — Director — 1 copy
BHAYANKAR RAHASYA GALPA 1 copy
Associated Works
Alfred Hitchcock and The Three Investigators in The Secret of the Haunted Mirror (1975) — Introduction — 392 copies
Alfred Hitchcock and The Three Investigators in The Mystery of the Shrinking House (1972) — Introduction — 380 copies
McSweeney's Issue 45 (McSweeney's Quarterly Concern): Hitchcock and Bradbury Fistfight in Heaven (2013) — Contributor — 99 copies
Historias Para Leer Con Sangre Fria / Tales To Make Your Blood Run Cold (V. "Summary") (1983) 7 copies
Die drei ??? - CD: Hitchcock, Alfred, Bd.16 : Die drei Fragezeichen und der Zauberspiegel (1980) 6 copies
Die drei Fragezeichen. Geisterstunde. ( Ab 12 J.). Der grüne Geist / Der Teufelsberg / Die Geisterinsel (1994) 3 copies
78/52, la escena que cambió el cine — Contributor — 2 copies
Alfred Hitchcock, Vol. V : I Confess (Radio Broadcast 1953) Cary Grant (Radio Spirts Alfred Hitchcock) (2002) 1 copy
EL HOMBRE QUE SABÍA DEMASIADO (1934) / EL EXTRAÑO (1946) / LA BURLA DEL DIABLO (1953) — Director, some editions — 1 copy
Alfred Hitchcock and Alma Reville — Associated Name — 1 copy
Die drei Fragezeichen und der Fluch des Rubins. Die drei Fragezeichen und die Silbermine. (1970) 1 copy
Book of Horror Stories-7 1 copy
Alfred Hitchcocks Kriminalmagazin. Band 86. Neun Kriminalstories mit Pfiff und Pointe. (1977) 1 copy
Alfred Hitchcocks Kriminalmagazin - Neue Kriminalstories mit Pfiff und Pointe - Band 46 (1970) 1 copy
Behave Yourself! / Easy Virtue / The Admiral Was a Lady — Director — 1 copy
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Legal name
- Hitchcock, Alfred Joseph
- Other names
- HITCHCOCK, Alfred Joseph
HITCHCOCK, Alfred - Birthdate
- 1899-08-13
- Date of death
- 1980-04-29
- Burial location
- Cremated (ashes scattered at sea)
- Gender
- male
- Nationality
- UK
- Birthplace
- Leytonstone, London, England, UK
- Place of death
- Bel Air, California, USA
- Cause of death
- kidney failure
- Places of residence
- Leytonstone, London, England
London, England, UK
Scotts Valley, California, USA
Los Angeles, California, USA - Education
- Salesian College
London County Council School of Engineering and Navigation, Poplar, London
St Ignatius College, Stamford Hill, London, England, UK - Occupations
- filmmaker
film producer
screenwriter
title designer (silent films)
film director - Relationships
- Reville, Alma (wife)
- Awards and honors
- MWA Grand Master (1973)
Academy Award
Order of the British Empire (Knight Commander, 1980)
Members
Reviews
Lists
Awards
You May Also Like
Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 1,012
- Also by
- 143
- Members
- 16,825
- Popularity
- #1,334
- Rating
- 3.7
- Reviews
- 249
- ISBNs
- 1,159
- Languages
- 20
- Favorited
- 16
- Touchstones
- 122
This most enjoyable film made in Britain before Hitchcock came to Hollywood certainly deserves more accolades than it has gotten over the years. It really isn't that far behind 39 Steps, The Lady Vanishes, and Young and Innocent in either quality or entertainment. Set during the first world war, Somerset Maugham’s novel of spies sent to ferret out and eliminate another spy has romance and humor, and some real excitement in Hitchcock’s hands.
John Gielgud comes home from the war and discovers he’s been reported dead. He discovers it was intentional; his cover so he can become Ashenden, and eliminate a very dangerous spy causing the good guys a lot of trouble. While it’s deadly serious business, it gets a bit more pleasant when he discovers in Switzerland that the beautiful and elegant Elsa Carrington (Madeleine Carroll) is to pose as his wife and help him in his mission.
Hitchcock counters the more serious business with a likable Robert Young as Marvin, pursuing romance with Elsa despite her marital status. It is handled with great charm and a sense of fun. Ashenden’s other partner is General, played in an over-the-top manner by Peter Lorre. He is more comical than sinister, spending most of his time trying to romance anything in a dress, and quite upset that Ashenden has the fake wife while he has none.
Elsa falls for her pretend husband, of course, and the General’s actions brings about a crisis of conscience occurs for both she and Ashenden. But when Ashenden and General discover who the real spy is, and must pursue him because of the great danger someone is in. The train station scene and everything that follows is classic Hitchcock. While it doesn’t have quite the tension of 39 Steps, or the sheer charm of Young and Innocent, it has a blend of the two which is very enjoyable.
Perhaps because it is set during WW I it doesn't connect as much as it should for some viewers. It is quite fabulous in its own way, however, and fans of Hitchcock’s early British films will certainly find it appealing. Fans of the lovely Madeleine Carroll will be pleased to discover she is much more in the center of things from the very beginning than in 39 Steps. A real winner.… (more)