Born on August 13th, 1899, in a grocer's family of three children, in Eastern London, Alfred Joseph was one of the best and most famous directors of all times, and an inspirational figure for Hollywood and many generations.
His films and television programs brought the suspense genre to attention, gaining tremendous popularity during a very long and productive career.
The films directed by Hitchcock are marked by a black sense of humor, a somehow fatalistic view of the human condition, and the - sometimes - very high level of suspense, that makes them unique and to see once-in-a-lifetime.
Young Hitchcock liked nothing more than trains and travel. However, as his family did not have the financial means to go on vacation, Hitchcock read the trains, memorized the arrival times, and spent his time admiring the entry and departure of the trains from the station.
The railways and steam locomotives then became common in his films, probably an expression of his memories and experiences. (source: Wikipedia)
Hitchcock had always been an ardent admirer of Charles Dickens and Edgar Allan Poe and a lover of cinema, especially after seeing "The Birth of a Nation" by D. W. Griffith. (source: Wikipedia)
In the beginnings of his career, with few people around him, Hitchcock became an international "label" of British cinema.
Hitchcock reached Hollywood in 1939, where his first American film, Rebecca, won the Academy Award for Best Picture. He created more than 50 films, including the classics Rear Window, The 39 Steps, and Psycho. (source: biography.com)
The genre of the horror/thriller, featuring people with mental problems, hidden shadows in their past, was often of interest to Hitchcock, who explored human life and psychology like no other.
He stated that, in his childhood, his mother would make him stand for hours for something he had done, and other episodes, that later inspired him to question human nature and to bring unusual characters to the big screen.
"Psycho" (1960), is considered to be one of Alfred Hitchcock's best production and a masterpiece of worldwide cinema, preserved in the National Film Registry.
The film features the meeting between a secretary, who is hiding in an isolated motel after embezzling money from her employer, and the mad owner of the motel, as well as the events that took place after their meeting. (source: Wikipedia)
Among Hitchcock's best movies to see, critics count "The Lady Vanishes", "Notorious", "Rebecca", "North by Northwest" (all of his Cary Grant productions are a must-see), "Rear Window", "Vertigo", "The Birds", "Psycho", "The Man Who Knew Too Much", "Dial M for Murder", "39 Steps", "To Catch a Thief", "Foreign Correspondent".
His cameo appearances in his own films, as well as his interviews, film trailers, and the television program Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955-1965), made him a cultural icon. (source: biography.com)
Besides the interesting plots of his films, which explored human life between light and darkness, Hitchcock was a pioneer in camera and editing techniques.
The curiosities about him are not few.
He was famous for his bad jokes that he made especially to actors.
Because of his physical defects (he always suffered from his obesity), and his hurt sensitivity, Hitchcock was a lonely child and did not feel well at all among people.
Becoming a famous director, he demonstratively avoided any reception or party.
His main amusement was vulgar jokes and some cruelty on behalf of others ... For example, to an actress who lived in a house with central heating, Hitchcock unloaded, with false generosity, in front of the house two tons of coal; to another actress, he sent 400 smoked fish on her birthday, even though she knew the woman couldn't stand the smell of fish. (source: Wikipedia)
Alfred Hitchcock made a brief appearance in his films. His passing film appearances quickly became part of the game for Hitchcock and a challenge for the general public.
The one and only Alfred Hitchcock collected many professional awarding and recognitions, including two Golden Globes, eight Laurel Awards, and five lifetime achievement awards.
He was a five-time Academy Award nominee for Best Director and in 1940, his film Rebecca won the Oscar for Best Picture. In 1980, he received a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II. (source: www.alfredhitchcock.com)
In 1968 he received an honorary Oscar, the Irving Thalberg Memorial Award for his entire career.
The only way to understand Alfred Hitchcock's genius is to see his most famous films.
