Alfred Hitchcock
His later movies, perhaps Mr. & Mrs. Smith, may be how you know of him. Some people are aware of who he is because of his spoof films, like High Anxiety. You owe a great debt to Alfred Hitchcock whenever you watch a dramatic movie.
Alfred Hitchcock first found work as a draftsman and a designer of advertisements. Silent films were a useful avenue for him to exploit his skill and interest in movies, and he, thus, enjoyed success designing title cards for those films.
Before becoming a director, Alfred Hitchcock was a writer of silent films such as Dangerous Lies in Great Britain and Germany. In 1925, he made his mark with the film, The Pleasure Garden, where he finally got the chance to act as director. He continued directing other silent movies. It was immediately evident he was skilled at story telling with unique camera work.
Sadly, many of his earlier films no longer exist in complete form or in any form.
Sound made it possible for him to enrich his film making. Many of his earlier films were produced in Britain. His success with these early ‘talkies’ gave him the resources to perfect his art.
The current generation of filmgoers may know Alfred Hitchcock better for the remakes of his films than the original works. Many of his later films have been remade into blockbusters.
If you get the chance to watch one of Hitchcock’s films, be sure to watch for him. He often made cameo appearances of some type in his films. Here are a few examples:
- Blackmail made in 1929 where he is seen being bothered by a small boy as he reads a book in the subway
- Under Capricorn made in 1949 where he is seen one of three men on the steps of Government House
- Rope made in 1948 where he is seen a man walking along street (holding a newspaper) after the opening credits
- The 39 Steps made in 1935 where he is seen tossing some litter while Robert Donat and Lucie Mannheim run from the theater
