Hitchcock: Shadow of a Genius (1999) (TV)

Director:

Ted Haimes

Writer:

Ted Haimes (writer)

Release Date:

13 October 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary | Biography

Plot:

This documentary is a fascinating look at the cinematic genius of Alfred Hitchcock. Briefly covering much of his early British works...

Plot Keywords:

Character Name In Title

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Kevin Spacey	...	Narrator (voice)
Jonathan Demme	...	Himself
Alfred Hitchcock	...	Himself (archive footage)
Joseph Stefano	...	Himself
John Michael Hayes	...	Himself
Janet Leigh	...	Herself
Brian De Palma	...	Himself
Curtis Hanson	...	Himself
Patricia Hitchcock	...	Herself (as Pat Hitchcock O'Connell)
Alma Reville	...	Herself (archive footage)
Norman Lloyd	...	Himself
Herb Steinberg	...	Himself
Peter Bogdanovich	...	Himself
Robert E. Kapsis	...	Himself
Ronald Neame	...	Himself

Also Known As:

Dial H Hitchcock: The Genius Behind the Showman
Dial H for Hitchcock (Canada: English title)

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Canada:PG (Ontario)

Company:

Rocket Science Laboratories

Movie Connections:

Features Rope (1948)

Tribute to Hitch is superficial but fun...too much deja vu for me...

If you've been living under a rock for the past thirty years or so, you may not be that familiar with all things Hitchcock. But fans of the great director have seen much of this footage before--or at least similar interviews with participants in Hitchcock's films, to be vaguely familiar with most of the points accented here.

Still, it makes for delightful viewing, especially if this is your first glimpse of this Canadian-made documentary that gives one a close-up look at Hitch's quirky personality, good humor and wry wit.

There are times when it's painfully obvious that Hitchcock had all the charisma of a bump on a log or a stand-in-the-corner man at a party gathering who would rather observe than be put under the glare of a spotlight. This is especially true in some of the remarks made by those who knew him well and apparent from the many film clips, especially the home movies. Nevertheless, he seemed to rule well enough behind a camera.

The treat is hearing what famous actors/actresses and screenwriters had to say about working with him. Among the most articulate: John Michael Hayes who did the screenplay for NORTH BY NORTHWEST, Norman Lloyd, Janet Leigh, Patricia Hitchcock (his daughter), Teresa Wright, Tippi Hedren, Joseph Stefano and others.

It's clear that his wife's influence (Alma Reville) on his film-making was of utmost importance. If she didn't approve of a story, he never touched it. She was a film cutter that he met in England before he began his film career as a director and their marriage was evidently a very compatible one, according to daughter Patricia.

Most interesting aspect of the whole piece: the discussion of the quintessential Hitchcock film, PSYCHO, with some of its most chilling scenes.

Well worth watching.