Director case study: Alfred Hitchcock

Alfred Hitchcock

Alfred Hitchcock was born on August 13, 1899 and he died: April 29, 1980. Alfred Hitchock lived in England however he died as a US citizen in Los Angeles. Alfred Hitchock was a film director, who had mastered many techinques through his years within suspense, he was well-known for the thrillers which he had produced. Alfred Hitchock was one of the best British film directors this was shown through the various awards won such as two golden globes as well as eight laurel awards, there were also many others that he had won.

Alfred Hitchcock's ten most successful thriller movies were:

1. Rebecca (for this particular film he had nominated for 11 oscars)
2. Shadow Of A Doubt
3. The Lady Vanishes
4. The Trouble With Harry
5. Rope
6. The 39 Steps
7. Vertigo
8. Rear Window
9. Psycho
10. North by Northwest

Similarities

Some similarities between some of Alfred Hitchock's moves are that they all tend to include spies by adding spies into his movies it allowed him to build up the suspense. He also seemed to involve a lot of action as well as crime based themes by using these themes it would allow him to have a big build put allowing him give add tension and suspense to his film. In the films "The Lodger" and the film "Rebecca" we saw Alfred Hitchock emphasise the mysterious aspect as well as always using a female as a distraction in "The Lodger" it was a female victim however in "Rebecca" it was a shy women. A shy women build up on the suspense which is one of Alfred Hitchcock's best techniques. Most of Alfred Hitchcock movies also seem to include mysteries which are always seemed to be solved by a protagonist in the film. Alfred Hitchcock also tended to use the same structure which was the equilibrium, disruption of the equilibrium, solution, new equilibrium and and then some sort of a chase scene.

Differences

Some differences which Alfred Hitchcock shows through his films
are the family dramas, this may include the problems that the families are facing with other families or problems inside of the family. The problems could be changing constantly like inside the family Alfred Hitchock may have used a family member's death or someone within the couple having an affair showing them as un-honest. Alfred Hitchcock may also use problems in relationships this could include the antagonist and protagonist arguments or arguments inside the family. As Alfred Hitchcock was best at making psychological thrillers adding relationship problems could enhance this as these problem could start to mess with people's mind resulting in various extreme events.

Codes and coventions

Some of the main codes and conventions which has been used by Alfred Hitchock were:

• Protagonist/Antagonist

This could be them arguing or the antagonist planning something against the protagonist

• Chasing after each other

 This could be a scene containing something like the protagonist trying to get the antagonist

• Ultra-heightened expectations-

This would be building up the audience to expect one thing and seeing something totally different

• Terror amongst the audience

This would be creating the scene to be so real even the audience can feel the terror

• The aspect of suspense

This is one of the main covention which i believe is used. I believe this due to the fact throughout Alfred Hitchock's movie he build up the suspense which is usually a distraction for what happens next.