Film and Media: 5 Wonders from Alfred Hitchcock

We’ve all heard the phrase, ‘master of suspense’ when Alfred Hitchcock is discussed but what does that really mean? How does he stick to his statement ‘there is no terror in the bang, only in the anticipation of it’? Likewise, we often here the same few titles of his work mentioned again and again – masterful they maybe but Hitchcock’s career was long. Quite often he had worked and experimented with a theme, a particular camera shot and varying techniques long before his Hollywood career really became established. We examine a couple of these earlier films but also some of his larger budget Hollywood films which, although from the peak of his career didn’t receive much praise from critics at the time, also those which have perhaps been overshadowed by his later successes. Whilst also taking time to consider Hitchcock after Hollywood with a look at what many regard as the master’s ‘last good film’. Shadow of a Doubt (1943), Strangers on a Train (1951), Frenzy (1972), Young & Innocent (1937), To Catch a Thief (1955).