This book records a marathon five-day interview conducted in 1962 between the French New Wave director François Truffaut and Alfred Hitchcock. Organized chronologically through Hitchcock’s filmography, the text investigates the technical mechanics of suspense, the use of "MacGuffins," and the psychological underpinnings of visual storytelling. Hitchcock explains his transition from silent cinema to sound, detailing how he used storyboards to dictate audience reactions. They discuss specific camera movements, the staging of the shower scene in Psycho, and the practical challenges of filming in restricted spaces like the set of Lifeboat.
Aspiring filmmakers and students of cinema read this record to understand the practical application of auteur theory. It functions as a technical manual for visual composition and narrative pacing. The reader gains a precise vocabulary for discussing film grammar and learns how to manipulate spatial relationships to create tension. By following the dialogue, the reader sees how a director translates abstract emotional states into concrete photographic choices. This text serves those who want to move beyond passive viewing toward a structural comprehension of movie construction.
Deep; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Evidence Seeker. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1966
- Language
- EN
