Alfred Hitchcock is regarded as one of the most influential filmmakers in history, having revolutionized the industry with his groundbreaking techniques that continue to shape cinema today. Hitchcock combines compelling storytelling with innovative filming methods to create masterpieces such as Rear Window, Psycho, and Vertigo. Despite never winning an Oscar, Hitchcock changed how movies were told, created, and viewed.
Alfred Hitchcock was undoubtedly a genius, popularizing many of the genres, plots, and filmmaking methods used by today's most well-respected filmmakers. Hitchcock created over fifty films and was referred to as the “master of suspense.” His unique directorial style and bold subject choices made him a pioneer in the industry. Getting his start in silent filmmaking, he understood the importance of visual storytelling. He continuously evolved over the years, willing to push the boundaries and explore topics others would shy away from.
9 Master of Suspense
Alfred Hitchcock was known as the "Master of Suspense" for his ability to create captivating films that invoked feelings of anxiety in viewers. He understood the importance of anticipation and building tension and would employ various techniques to create uneasiness. One such technique was "mise-en-scene", which is a French term that refers to the "staging" of a film. Through camera angles, lighting, and the positioning of props and people, Hitchcock was able to convey emotion and add extra meaning to a scene. Hitchcock had such an influence on thrillers, that the term "Hitchcockian" is used to describe those that emulate the suspense in Hitchcock films.
8 Exploring Themes of Surveillance and Voyeurism
Surveillance is a term everyone is familiar with in the age of modern technology and social media. Hitchcock was ahead of his time, making voyeurism and surveillance common themes in his films. The 1954 mystery thriller, Rear Window, tells the story of a photographer who witnesses a murder while spying on his neighbors from his window. In his 1960 horror classic, Psycho, Norman Bates is seen spying on Marion through a peephole in the motel wall. The theme of surveillance and voyeurism has been seen in many films, such as The Truman Show, American Beauty, and Panic Room.
7 The Vertigo Effect (The Dolly Zoom)
Alfred Hitchcock popularized the use of the Dolly Zoom Effect, which is often referred to as "The Vertigo Effect," because he first used it in his 1958 film Vertigo. The Vertigo Effect is a cinematic visual effect that uses a dolly zoom to create disorientation through distorting perspective. The effect creates a shot in which the foreground remains the same while the background either grows or shrinks. As the name suggests, the filming technique creates a dizzying sensation for viewers. Many iconic filmmakers have used the Vertigo Effect, and it has been used in films such as Jaws, Poltergeist, The Mask, and The Matrix.
6 Movie Theater Showtimes
Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho changed movie theaters by introducing a new rule that is still followed today. Before the release of Psycho, moviegoers were free to arrive at the theater at any time, often walking into a movie halfway through. Hitchcock wanted to ensure audiences were watching his film from beginning to end, so he announced through ments that late issions would be prohibited. Psycho became the first ever film in U.S. history to enforce this rule. Most theaters still adhere to the rule of not selling film tickets after thirty minutes past Showtime.
5 Popularization of the term “MacGuffin”
The term "MacGuffin" refers to an instrument in the plot of a film that moves the story forward and can be an object, a person, or an event. Alfred Hitchcock popularized "MacGuffin" with his 1935 thriller, The 39 Steps. The movie follows a man in London who becomes embroiled in an international spy ring that wants to steal confidential information from the government. In this case, the military secrets are the example of a MacGuffin, serving as a plot device to advance the story. Some examples of significant MacGuffins in films include the ring in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, the briefcase in Pulp Fiction, and Private Ryan in Saving Private Ryan.
4 Experimenting with 3D
Alfred Hitchcock was one of the first to ever experiment with 3D in films, as seen in his mystery thriller Dial M for Murder. The film's climax contains a 3D scene in which Margot Wendice reaches out to the audience to clutch a pair of scissors. Although this was the only prominent example of 3D in the film, Hitchcock showcased his genius in a more subtle way. The film takes place in a small London apartment, and he does an incredible job of ensuring that viewers experience the setting from every possible angle. He makes audiences feel as if they are in the room, which is the ultimate 3D experience.
3 Master of Editing
Alfred Hitchcock was a master of editing and cutting film. One technique he mastered was the "point of view" shot that allowed audiences to see the film through a character's eyes. In Rear Window, Hitchcock ensures that his POV shot remains aligned with Stewart's eye line. In Psycho, the shower scene is a perfect example of Hitchcock’s master editing. The quick cutting in the shower scene gave audiences the illusion of having witnessed a graphic murder despite never the actual stabbings never being shown. Through quick edits, Hitchcock made a scene appear much more graphic than it actually was.
2 The Impact of Musical Scores
Alfred Hitchcock understood the importance of using musical scores in film to convey emotion and build suspense. Hitchcock collaborated with composers such as Bernard Herrmann (Psycho, Vertigo, North by Northwest) to create some of the most iconic soundtracks in film history. Bernard Hermann's musical score in Psycho, in particular, greatly influenced the horror genre. Music accompanying murders in horror films became standard after the release of Psycho, and most legendary horror films would be difficult to picture without the iconic slasher soundtracks playing in the background.
1 Director Cameos in Films
Alfred Hitchcock created the trend of directors making appearances in their own films. Hitchcock made cameo appearances in nearly all of his films, often showing up in the background as an extra or just quickly walking past the camera. Audiences would often anticipate his appearances, and as he gained more notoriety, he began placing his cameos at the beginning of films to avoid distracting viewers from the story. Other directors who have appeared in their own films include Martin Scorsese in Taxi Driver, Quentin Tarantino in Pulp Fiction, and Francis Ford Coppola in Apocalypse Now.
