Product Description
Known worldwide as the master of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock (1899-1980) had an incredible directing career that spanned five decades and more than fifty films. He earned numerous awards, inspired countless publications and festivals, and spawned a new era in suspense cinema.

This spectacular pop-up pays tribute to the great filmmaker and features seven of his most influential films: Saboteur, Vertigo, Psycho, The Birds, Marnie, Torn Curtain, and Frenzy. With stunning three-dimensional paper engineering by Kees Moerbeek highlighting pivotal moments and Hitchcock's cameo in each film, Alfred Hitchcock: The Master of Suspense will be treasured by fans and film lovers alike for years to come. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Great gift for the Alfred Hitchcock fan that has everything!
I purchased this book for my brother who, likeme, loves Alfred Hitchcock.He absolutely loved it!When I opened it for the first time, I almost didn't want to wrap it up and give it as a gift.The pages are beautifully done, I especially like the Illustration for Vertigo.It's definitely a nice conversation piece for your living room table.

Great but short Hitchcock pop-up Book
This is an oversized book (~12"x12") that sets some of Alfred Hitchcock's suspense movies to pop up. There are seven 2-page spreads, each one covering a different movie (chronologically): Saboteur, Vertigo, Psycho, The Birds, Marnie, Torn Curtain, and Frenzy.

Each spread contains a full-spread pop up, the title in its original font, a brief synopsis of the movie and a behind-the-sense fact, and (fan will love this!) a flip-the-flap revealing the still-photo scene and description of when Hitchcock made his cameo in the movie.

Kees Moerbeek uses images from the movie to create a moving montage. They fill the spread. Often retrofitting existing classics, whether they be illustration or movie stills, can be difficult and limiting. The paper-engineering style here doesn't fly up from the book like other contemporary pop-up books you may know (Sabuda, Reinhart). These pop ups do encompass the entire spread and use the multiple planes created very effectively. Using images from key scenes, Moerbeek transports you "into" the movie. An especially impressive feat when you consider he had 12"x24" to summarize an entire movie.

I think this book captures the feel of Hitchcock's movies. Little touches by Moerbeek mirror how Hitchcock worked -- like using reflective material in a deep fold on the Marnie spread to show a childhood flashback. In order to catch all the details, read the book from above looking down and from the bottom looking at the pop ups.

For the most part, my pages open and close smoothly. My main complaint is that it only covers seven movies. I would have loved it to go on, certainly covering North by Northwest! A minor complaint is that I wish the birds popped more menacingly in their spread.

I think the book will mostly appeal to Hitchcock fans.

*SPOILER ALERT* SUMMARY OF SCENES DEPICTED IN POP UPS
Saboteur-Statue of Liberty torch
Vertigo-Mission tower stairwell
Psycho-The house on the hill and the shower scene
The Birds-School/birds and gas station fire
Marnie-Breaking window and grabbing for money
Torn Curtain-Killing the commie
Frenzy-Strangulation

AWESOME
I am a collector of pop up books and this one is unbelievable.Not for little ones, however.

Something different for Hitchcock fans.

I have always had a fascination for Pop-Up books.This book combines two things;Hitchcock nostalgia,and Pop-Up book Paper Engineering.As to Hitchcock nostalgia,it gives us seven Pop-Up scenes for famous suspense movies;Saboteur,Vertigo,Psycho,The Birds,Marnie,Torn Curtain,and Frenzy.When opened, we get a large scene of approximately 20" X14",with most having a depth of 3 or 4 inches.Differing from most Pop-Up books ,this one uses actual photographic scenes from the movies, rather than drawings to create the displays.Each scene is supplied with some basic text of explanation.Each scene also provides an insert of the scene where Hitchcock made his cameo appearance. Pop-Up books can contain some very fascinating ,ingenious,and intricate paper engineering displays;using many types of materials,including even strings,pull-tabs producing motion,etc.What we get here is just rather ordinary and not near the greatness in the world of Pop-Up Art as Hitchcock's work is in the world of Suspense Movies. The quality of construction is always important with Pop-Up books.The cover ,and the hinge (being cloth) ,with silvery images is very good.The folds and unfolding parts making up the scenes are not as well constructed ;and my copy is already showing damages,after only a few ,though careful openings. In the scene of "Torn Curtain",the arm holding the dagger has already become loose and fallen out,and be darned if I can figure how it should be put back.I note that another reviever commented on similar shortcomings;and I certainly concur.
I am sure Hitchcock fans may want to add this book to their collection of nostalgia;but it is unlikely to provide much more than a few minutes of perusal for most,even fans;and certainly less than enthusastic response from connoisseurs of the art of Pop-Up book Paper Engineering.

Seven Suspensfull Scenes
Seven of Alfred Hitchcock's most famous films are brought to life by Kees Moerbeek's complex paper engineering.Each of seven spreads is a large montage of scenes from the film and includes a brief synopsis of the plot.You may also lift a flap and view the scene in which Hitchcock has placed himself in the movie, something he did in almost every film he made.This is a must-have for any Hitchcock fan, and for pop-up collectors as well ... Read more

Product Description

From a couple racing across the top of Mount Rushmore to a woman's final shower at an isolated motel, no other filmmaker has given movie fans more unforgettable images or heart-pounding thrills than Alfred Hitchcock. Now you can share in the Master of Suspense's inspiration and development -- his entire creative process -- in Hitchcock's Notebooks.

With the complete cooperation of the Hitchcock estate and access to the director's notebooks, journals, and archives, Dan Auiler takes you from the very beginnings of story creation to the master's final touches during post-production and publicity. Actual production notes from Hitchcock's masterpieces join detailed interviews with key production personnel, including writers, actors and actresses, and Hitchcock's personal assistant of more than thirty years.

Mirroring the director's working methods to give you the actual feel of his process, and highlighted by nearly nearly one hundred photographs and illustrations, this is the definitive guide into the mind of a cinematic legend.Amazon.com Review
Dan Auiler is undoubtedly the luckiest Alfred Hitchcock devotee alive. With the permission of the director's family, he sifted through the Hitchcock archives at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to create a multifaceted portrait of the artist at work. If this book has a fault, it's that the sheer mass of information makes it a little hard to digest; but taken in small doses, its richness becomes a virtue, offering unique insights into the complicated processes that led to some of the greatest movies ever made.

Auiler divides the creative act into three parts: "Building the Screenplay," "Preparing the Visual," and "Putting It All Together." In each section he provides documents, including memos, script excerpts, sketches, and storyboards from a selection of films. Most interesting are those relating to Kaleidoscope a project from the late '60s that, Auiler contends, would have been a groundbreaking film had the studio not forced Hitchcock to abandon it. This collection also gives full credit to Alma Reville, the director's wife and lifelong collaborator, and her influence on the development of Hitchcock's style is evident throughout. Other gems include a transcript of discussions between Hitchcock and Tippi Hedren about her character in The Birds and a set of production stills from an early, lost movie, The Mountain Eagle.

There's an enormous amount to take in, but what quickly emerges is a sense of Hitchcock's meticulous approach to crafting a film. He frequently sent script treatments to other writers and filmmakers, asking for their critical comments, and Auiler reproduces several of these correspondences, including François Truffaut's detailed analysis of Kaleidoscope. At the other end of the creative journey the book closes with the script for an unproduced Spellbound trailer in which Hitchcock playfully evokes the magic of movies: "That screen up there is like a mind ... we here in Hollywood can make anything happen there." Hitchcock's Notebooks is a testament to the powerful vision and sheer hard work that lay behind that magic. --Simon Leake ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Interesting
There were many interesting elements in this book, but at a whole not as informative or useful as I might have hoped.Maybe a good book for a Hitchcock collector who is trying to find everything out about Hitchcock...

What Was Hitch Thinking?...This Book Will Tell You....
This review refers to "Hitchcock's Notebooks..An Authorized and Illustrated Look Inside the Creative Mind Of Alfred Hitchcock" by Dan Auiler....

The title of this book says it all. It is exactly that. A look into the creative mind of "The Master"..Alfred Hitchcock.
Although geared largely toward the aspiring film maker, it is also a wonderful treasure for film buffs and huge fans(like myself).

Each chapter gives detailed information and documents on Hitch's genius at the making of his films. Not just the blockbusters, but all of them.(Even the ones that never saw an audience.) From the First chapter, "Beginnings", where you may see many photographs of the young director working on the set of his earliest completed work "The Mountain Eagle" which has disappeared and is one of the world's most sought after films, through the last chapter "Fade Out". which describes his marketing techniques(i.e. not letting anyone in the theatre after "Psycho" had started) once the films were wrapped up, you will find that Mr.Auiler has done extensive research and enlightens us on Hitch's methods.

Very detailed accounts of scripts from "Rebecca", "The Paradine Case" and Suspicion" may be found in the chapter entitled "Building The Screenplay", correspondance, notes, and letters in Hitch's own handwriting in refrence to "Shadow of a Doubt" may also be found here. This is a very technical chapter, but Auiler gives an easy understanding of the production processes used.

In "Preparing the Visual" you'll find lots of sketches, drawings, and Hitch's famous story boards for movies like "Lifeboat", "North by Northwest" and "Vertigo" are shown as well. In "Production Gallery" there are many stills of Hitch and the actors on the sets of works going as far back as "The Farmer's Wife" and "Number 17"(an experimental film, which was never completed), the "Thirty Nine Steps", Sabatoge","Strangers on a Train" and much more.

Auiler fills this 559 page book with fascinating facts and memorabia that any Film buff would love. There are eventaped conversations(in which Hitch does almost all the talking), one with Tippy Hedron on exactly how he wants her to act in "The Birds" among them.

I loved it and could not put it down!.....enjoy....Laurie

also recommended:
Inside Oscar, 10th Anniversary Edition
The Movies: A Picture Quiz Book
Rebels on the Backlot Six Maverick Direc

Sorry, Brian from NYC - I have to differ!
It's obvious HE didn't appreciate the reality of this book. Sure, there are a lot of memos, telegrams, and transcripts of conversations - but it gives an inside look into the life of Hitchcock. Life and character are made up and discovered through little things like this. Sure, I agree that some of the side-by-side script and plot comparisons were a bit dull. But I read this entire book, so it can't have been THAT bad. The writing concerning Shadow of a Doubt is a bit hard to decipher, but who wants to read if there's no challenge to it? That chickenscratch masks some excellent writing.

As for the films discussed not being the classics Brian from NYC referred to, I get tired of hearing about Rear Window, Psycho, Vertigo exclusively. There is a wealth of information and books on those films - and I want to know about them all. So I was glad that this book dealt more with the less-discussed films. And I am a great fan of Marnie, so I read and re-read all that was said about Marnie.

This book isn't for someone looking for a fast-moving read. "The Art of Alfred Hitchcock" by Donald Spoto is an excellent one to begin with - not "Hitchcock's Notebooks". Save this one until you know you like Hitchcock enough to appreciate it.

Misleading and, frankly, kinda dull
EDIT: I guess this deserves two stars rather than one; after all you can't get this stuff anywhere else.I was feeling a bit shirty when I gave it one star.Now, on with the review! - - -

First of all let it be known that the so-called "notebooks" of the title are a fiction. The title implies that during the making of his greatest films Sir Alfred sat down, licked the end of his pencil, and committed to paper all his magic in black and white for the indy filmmakers of posterity to read and emulate.

Well, sadly, there are no long lost secret "notebooks". The creative genius of Hitchcock, much like the plans in The 39 Steps, resided in that little man's head.

What we have instead is distressingly prosaic, and not very educational at all. We get memos, telegrams, more memos, lengthy side by side script draft comparisons, transcripts of conversations, still more memos, and a few storyboards that can be found elsewhere.

And if, upon hearing the name Hitchcock, you think of titles like Psycho, Vertigo, Rear Window, Rebecca, Notorious, and North by Northwest, then prepare to be disappointed. They aren't discussed. Instead we're referred to the author's other books for the first two films and the Criterion laserdisks for the rest. (Laserdisks! Do they even make those anymore? Thanks for nothing, guys.)

We do get a gobsmackingly large amount of stuff about Marnie, though.

But wait, there's more:

We get a thrilling exchange of telegrams discussing whether or not Suspicion is a boring title for a film. (Hitch says yes, his producer says no, then Hitch says yes again, and his producer repeats no. How's that for a look into the mind of a genius?)

We get lengthy memos from people like Hume Cronyn talking about how scene 423 of a second draft of a script that we never have seen nor never will see needs to be revised in some unspecified way.

We learn that the character development in The Birds was a little below par. There's a series of four or five lengthy letters, all saying the same thing, and capped off with this brilliant editorial comment from our learned author: "Of course, the consistent complaint here is the weakness in the character development, something that was never worked out." Thanks, Professor.

We get fuzzy reproductions of the blueprints for the bookshop in Vertigo, should you want to build one of your own.

We get twenty pages of reproduced letters in Hitchcock's illegible handwriting discussing whether or not 3-D is a good idea. At least that's all I could make out.

We get the first draft treatment of Shadow of a Doubt in Thornton Wilder's handwriting. Alas, it too is illegible.

We get pages and pages and pages and pages of material about Marnie. It seems that half the damn book is about Marnie.

We get not one, not two, but three letters from some guy named Otis Guernsey telling Hitch he's welcome to use his germ of an idea for North By Northwest.

We get not just the film-related parts of letters, but the whole blessed thing: paragraph after paragraph of "How's Alma?" and "Drop by the next time you're in town" and letterheads for the Herald Tribune, all taking up valuable space.

We read a memo asking that the dialogue for The Birds needs to be punched up "on pages 6-10, 27-29, 37, 40, 48, 49, 50, 53, 54, 65, 74, 132, 188, and 194."

And so on. Basically, the book seems to have been assembled by dipping at random into Hitchcock's old file cabinets, running every other scrap of paper through a scanner, then presenting the whole pile sans comment. There's a definite rummage sale vibe about the whole thing - the very occasional gem amid lots and lots and LOTS of hooey.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, this one's for the completist.

Anyone who would like to get an insight into the creative thought processes of Hitchcock would be best served by the Truffaut interview book.

As for the rest of you, well, I hope you liked Marnie.

THE MASTER OF SUSPENCE AND CINEMA
"Hitchcock's Notebooks" is a fascinatining book from page one right up to the end. The book goes to great depth and detail concerning Hitch's involvement with his films (giving examples from some of the more popular ones.
It's very interesting for me, a Screenwriter (especially the chapter titled "PREPARING THE SCREENPLAY"). In it, are treatments (outlines for screenplays), both script and scene revisions (hand-written and typed). This wonderful book even talks a little about Alma, Hitch's wife -- a screenwriter.
So if you are as big a fan of Hitchcock as I am, don't just watch his movies, read this book. It's as close as you or I will ever get to learning about "The Master of Suspence" at work. ... Read more

Product Description

Alfred Hitchcock is arguably the most famous director to have ever made a film. Almost single-handedly he turned the suspense thriller into one of the most popular film genres of all time, while his Psycho updated the horror film and inspired two generations of directors to imitate and adapt this most Hitchcockian of movies. Yet while much scholarly and popular attention has focused on the director's oeuvre, until now there has been no extensive study of how Alfred Hitchcock's films and methods have affected and transformed the history of the film medium.

In this book, thirteen original essays by leading film scholars reveal the richness and variety of Alfred Hitchcock's legacy as they trace his shaping influence on particular films, filmmakers, genres, and even on film criticism. Some essays concentrate on films that imitate Hitchcock in diverse ways, including the movies of Brian de Palma and thrillers such as True Lies, The Silence of the Lambs, and Dead Again. Other essays look at genres that have been influenced by Hitchcock's work, including the 1970s paranoid thriller, the Italian giallo film, and the post-Psycho horror film. The remaining essays investigate developments within film culture and academic film study, including the enthusiasm of French New Wave filmmakers for Hitchcock's work, his influence on the filmic representation of violence in the post-studio Hollywood era, and the ways in which his films have become central texts for film theorists.

Product Description
"Fascinating . . . probes an even darker side of Hitchcock." –Newsday

It is remarkable how infrequently, over a period of more than fifty years, Alfred Hitchcock spoke about the legendary actresses he directed–including Ingrid Bergman, Kim Novak, and Grace Kelly. But his leading ladies greatly enriched his films, and many of them achieved international stardom precisely because of their work for Hitchcock.

Rich with new material, anecdotes, and never-before-told personal observations, this explosive portrait details Hitchcock’s outbursts of cruelty, the shocking humor, and the odd amalgam of adoration and contempt that characterized Hitchcock’s obsessive relationships with women–and that also, paradoxically, fed his genius.

Spellbound by Beauty offers important insights into the life of a brilliant and tortured artist, and pays tribute to the memorable actresses who gave so much to his films.

"[Spoto] informs Spellbound by Beauty with his profound knowledge of his subject, years of sound reporting, highly polished prose, and sensible analysis."
—Richmond Times-Dispatch

"Expert insights into Hitchcock’s films."
—Oregonian (Portland)

"You will never look at a Hitchcock movie the same."
—Tampa Tribune
... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Follow the Money
My problem with this book has been pointed out in earlier reviews: Spoto befriended, extensively interviewed and wrote a glowing book on Hitchcock while the man was alive. Once Hitchcock was dead, Spoto began to go for the dark side. If digging for dirt was part of his agenda, Spoto should've had the courage to publish it in Hitchcock's lifetime. Otherwise it's just slimy behavior - and makes one question not only his integrity but also the veracity of what he's written.

The book expresses a barely disguised derogatory attitude toward Hitchcock in general. His deprecating attitude toward Alma Reville Hitchcock and dismisiveness of Pat Hitchcock O'Connell's memories is offensive. I imagine Spoto was careful to be obsequious with all the Hitchcocks during Hitch's lifetime.

I would be the last to say that the abusive treatment of actors/actresses/anyone by film directors should be tolerated, and I'm no one's apologist, but I detest these vultures who wait till the gifted and famous die before they fly in to pick their bones. For profit.

Some of Spoto's other interesting subjects: "Diana - The Last Year," "Rebel: The Life and Legend of James Dean," "Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis: A Life"...oh, don't worry, he didn't miss Marilyn Monroe! Obviously, Spoto's main "biographical" focus is dead super-icons, quickest way to make buck, I'll bet...and apparently Spoto figured going back to the Hitchcock well one more might mean more easy money...

Moth to a Flame
Spoto is being thrown to the lions for daring to write a third book about Alfred Hitchcock.But also the implication is that he (or Tippi Hedren) is lying about Hitchcock's obsession with her.

Nick Anez, for example, tells us to read the Tony Moral book about the making of Marnie to correct Spoto's lies.But he is not being completely forthright either, for certainly the Moral book shows us a Hitchcock riddled with flaws, doubts and neuroses, it is not a book in which Hitch comes off a saint.

As a few reviewers have pointed out, SPELLBOUND BY BEAUTY is worth reading if only for the interviews with the lesser known stars.Spoto's picture of Alida Valli is particularly compelling, and its interest does not depend on shock value; Valli made few criticisms of Hitchcock; on the contrary, she reports him to have been the most helpful and caring of directors, lavishing hours and hours on helping her through her first American production.I don't think that Spoto is obsessed with destroying Hitchcock as some have said.If he had been, why include the testimony of Alida Valli--testimony none of the approved critics and biographers of Hitchcock bothered to obtain?

Still, the book is far from perfect and maybe there is something to the adage about going to the well one too many timss.

A Quick Read but Not Much New
Donald Spoto is probably the best authority on Alfred Hitchcock, and this marks his third book on this most mystifying of film directors.It was an entertaining read, but didn't offer much new insight that hasn't been dealt with by the author's excellent earlier biography, "The Dark Side of Genius," which I highly recommend.

Hitchcock's relationships with his famous "blonde stars", namely Madeleine Carroll, Ingrid Bergman, Grace Kelly, Kim Novak, Vera Miles and Tippi Hedren are dealt with in detail; but Hitchcock fans already know about these famous obsessions.I was hoping to learn more of his relationships with his other famous leading ladies, especially Doris Day, Julie Andrews and Shirley MacLaine: each of which are mentioned mostly in passing.Why exactly did Hitch dislike Julie Andrews so much?The statement is made but never explained, with the passing exception that he perhaps thought she was overpayed for her appearance in "Torn Curtain".There is also no information on how he got such a riveting performance out of Doris Day in "The Man Who Knew Too Much."It seems unlikely that he offered absolutely no direction to her, but that appears to be what inexplicably happened.

His sometimes irrational aversion to his other leading ladies must have been as deep as the obsessions with his other famous stars, but there doesn't seem to be much of an attempt to explain the emotional rationale for these aversions beyond a generalized pose that he considered actors as "cattle."But this excuse falls very short... he certainly never considered Bergman, Kelly or Hedren as cattle.Perhaps there are no historical records to explain them.

Again, this an entertaining book, but doesn't reveal much that is new.

Mediocre Rehash of Past Quotes and Revisionist Hitchcock History
This mediocre work seems like another way for Donald Spoto to make money off Alfred Hitchcock--only this time the author isn't praising the director but ripping him apart. It's like a bad doctoral dissertation that was thrown together by a know-it-all student who fills it with warped subjectivity.

The book takes old interview clips and selections from other books, then supposedly pieces together a movie-by-movie analysis of Hitchcock and his female leads. But much of the book has nothing to do with women (just more tired retreads of Hitchcock history) and the analysis is so totally lop-sided that after awhile you have to laugh at the way the author puts words in the director's mouth.

He spends long sections on inconsequential films (often going many pages without addressing the women in the films) and then gives two minor pages to North by Northwest, including only three paragraphs on the female lead of that great film! Psycho only gets a whole four pages!How could this guy skip past a couple of major Hitchcock pieces involving women while devoting more space to Stage Fright or Under Capricorn? And it seems a third of the book is devoted to Ingrid Bergman --who was an important actress but she was in only four Hitchcock films. There is no balance to the book and in the end it doesn't fully address all of the major films.

It's filled with gossip and hearsay, especially about sex (which there is none).The author calls Hitch a liar over quotes from movies made 60 years ago (how would Spoto know?).The writer constantly has to find a sexual angle and ultimately, even though he denies it in the forward, the book ends up being revisionist history by a man who appears to be out to get the famed director.

If the reader knows nothing about Hitchcock then maybe this could be mediocre introductory academic overview of the director's work--but any fan that finds the premise of Hitchcock's treatment of women intriguing will be deeply disappointed in the execution on paper.

Spoto's examples seem almost silly in these libertine times
The dust jacket of Donald Spoto's SPELLBOUND BY BEAUTY: Alfred Hitchcock and His Leading Ladies depicts what appears to be a composite shot of the famous director and one of his typical blond starlets. He sits in a director's chair (i.e., the place of honor from which one literally calls the shots), while she poses on a bare object that could be construed as a crude bed. One of her hands is held to her chest in a gesture of what? Surprise? Defense?

Spoto would have us read all sorts of dire meaning into this illustration as a way of introduction to his premise: that the late, great director abused his female stars, subjecting them to mental and, at times, physical humiliation. Such a theory is not original. Hitchcock had long been accused of boorish treatment against his actors, male and female. The question is why. Was this a power game? Perhaps a motivational tool to draw out the best from his performers?

The author of THE DARK SIDE OF GENIUS: The Life of Alfred Hitchcock (1983), Spoto takes a film-by-film examination of Hitchcock's relationship with his starlets. In The 39 Steps, for example, the director asserts his authority by handcuffing Madeleine Carroll to co-star Robert Donat and pretending he cannot find the key to set her free. In other cases, he subjects his film women --- Ingrid Bergman, Marlene Dietrich, Vera Miles, Tippi Hedren, Janet Leigh, Doris Day, Kim Novak, Eva Marie Saint and Grace Kelly, to name but a few --- to unflattering makeup and costumes, or treats them roughly via their scene work (drenched by faux rainstorms, dragged through rocky terrain, and other menacing situations). Many of the actors would later complain about such treatment and how it brought them to tears or to seek refuge in the offices of studio producers who were basically powerless against the renowned "Hitch."

Spoto picks his anecdotes carefully to "prove" his thesis. Take these comments by Hume Cronyn, who appeared in the 1944 classic Lifeboat:

"We were always falling in and out of water.... We were covered with crude oil, and when we finished a scene there might be an hour or so of waiting time for a new camera setup. We were soaking wet, there were wind fans and water-spraying machines, and then we waited under hot lights, were soaked again --- and as a result, all of us in the cast came down with colds and sore throats, and some even got sicker."

Whatever happened to suffering for your art?

But Spoto is inconsistent in such assertions. In the preface, he tries to explain the "need" for another book (by him) of Hitchcock, writing that the director "rarely had anything to say about his male stars." So why, then, the issue that "Many of his leading ladies, on the other hand, achieved international stardom precisely because of their Hitchcock roles....That he maintained an insistent silence abut the quality of their performances is a curiosity that cannot be ignored"? What's good for the gander...

Spoto, who has written the biographies of such Hollywood luminaries as Audrey Hepburn, James Dean, Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe, Laurence Olivier and others, offers sexual innuendo at every opportunity, describing many of Hitchcock's female characters with employing sexual blackmail, predatory behavior and other qualities unbecoming a proper lady. There's a lot of repressed sexuality going on throughout his portfolio, it seems. Perhaps, as Spoto would have us believe, it stems from Hitchcock's relationships with the women in his life, including his mother, wife and daughter.

Spoto's examples seem almost silly in these libertine times. Hitchcock's teasing and jokes both practical and dirty might be considered a form of sexual harassment, but in retrospect they hardly seem like casting couch accusations or salary kickbacks.

--- Reviewed by Ron Kaplan ... Read more

Product Description
The three investigators take on two mysteries: the disappearance of an ancient jeweled Japanese belt from a museum exhibit and the strange antics of a group of gnomes around an elderly woman's house. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Great reading for boys
I loved these books as a kid. I recently bought several just for a trip down memory lane and some super-easy reading. Still holds up after all these years. Definitely great for boys ages 11 to 13.

All you can ask for in a juvenile mystery
The Three Investigator series have that necessary attribute that all good juvenile books have - the ability to be enjoyed by adults. The mystery in this book is quite good.

This is #5 in the series. Interestingly, #2 through #5 have each featured a boy tied to the plot of different nationalities - #2, Mexico, #3, Egypt, #4, China, and #5, Japan. One wonders if the streak will continue in #6?

These books can't really hold up when compared to the current Harry Potter or Twilight series but they have a charm all their own. They are dated somewhat, but not horribly. If you know a child who likes to read you might point him in the direction of these books.

I always wanted to be Jupiter!
This is the best juvenile seried there is. I only owned 4 books as a kid, but I read them over and over and over. Now I am trying to buy the rest of them and some are out of print! Oh that I had bought them wheni could (especially since they used to be $$$). I tried to pick up (being a girl) the babysitter's club, but that just didn't do it for me. They were so shallow and predictable. The three investigators series are quality literature, which is rare nowadays. PLEASE reprint all the out-of-print titles. Judging from others comments, many people would buy them! It would be a shame to let these go because there isnt the same calibur of books to replace them! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Very good book
This is a really good book, I reccommend you check it out at your local library. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

The Complete Films of Alfred Hitchcock
This is a perfectly respectable entry in the Citadel Press "Complete Films of..." series.If you love Hitchcock films (I do) this is a basic bedrock reference element in your film-book collection.It is not "original" and does not contain any spectacular insights (if you want an entertaining Hitchcock analysis, see, e.g.,Camille Paglia on The Birds).However, it does have kind of a nice balance in that the authors acknowledge that The Master can make a mistake once in a while (Torn Curtain? Stage Fright?), unlike some super-reverential, adoring authors who will praise anything The Master does (did).I give this four stars instead of five because it is workmanlike but not brilliant.

A great book for new fans and veterans alike!
For any new Hitchcock fan or even a veteran fan for that matter, The Complete Films of Alfred Hitchcock is a must have book that provides much insight to the movies of Alfred Hitchcock.

The book is very organized, set up in chronilogical order, ranging from 1922-1976.It is also divided up into eras; The Early Years, Becoming the Master of Suspense, The Selznick Years, The Technicolor, Vista-Vision and 3-D Years, The Television Interlude, and the Mature Years.Every movie that Alfred Hitchcock made is in this book ranging from his silent era to Family Plot.The information provided on all movies includes the title, year it was released, cast, summary, and behind-the scenes details and pictures (all black and white) from that film (each film averaging 5-6 pages).The Complete Films of Alfred Hitchcock also includes his televisions series, Alfred Hitchcock Presents and The Alfred Hitchcock Hour. The book concludes with a list of all awards and honors that were given to Hitchcock for his most creative work, and a list of every cameo appearance he made in his films.

This book does not come from an ameteur film buff.The Complete Films of Alfred Hitchcock is co-authored by Robert A. Harris, one of the two men responsible for restoring Hitchcock's Vertigo and Rear Window to the most prestine condition, so he is very informed about Hitchcock and his films.

Now, if you want more information on Alfred Hitchcock himself such as his life and family, then this should be used as a supplemental, as his biography is very brief in this book.But if you are interested in the art of Hitchcock and want to find out all the movies he made, then this book is for you.This book is easy to read, not overwhelming. It is one that can and will be read over and over again. The illustrations and insight help you to better understand Hitchcock's style and motives throughout his film career.

A great book!
Este é um grande livro para os fãs de Hitchcock. Traz todos os filmes realizados pelo diretor, além de muitas fotos e curiosidades sobre os filmes eseriados que o Hitchcock realizou. Vale a pena. Imperdível paraque gosta de A.Hitchcock e do genero suspense. ... Read more

Product Description
Drawn from the pages of Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, this collection of more than thirty stories features the talents of Lawrence Block, Rob Kanter, Patricia Moyes, Chet Williamson, Taylor McCafferty, and George Chesbro. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Wow...wonderful collection of stories.
"The Time Between" by J.A. Paul is magnificent. What an imagination she has. Just wonderful. My favorite of the lot.

Fantastic is Right
This book is filled with wonderful little tales with a little twist. Many of the stories are very subtle.You may even have to re-read a couple of them if you didn't pay close attention the first time.If you loveHitchcock, you will LOVE this book.Don't miss it. ... Read more

Product Description
Missing: One fabulous, jewel-encrusted belt, once owned by the ancient emperors of Japan. The Three Investigators are ready to jump into action, but officials at the Peterson Museum turn them away for being too young. Then a strange twist of fate brings Jupe, Pete, and Bob on the case, and the boys are soon surrounded by master criminals--who will stop at nothing to hold on to their stolen fortune! Is the priceless belt lost for good, or will the Three Investigators be able to save the day? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Satisified customer
Item shiped in a timely manner and arrived in the described condition. Would use this seller again.

Get you kids to read these books... They'll love them.
If you're looking for a series to make your kids think without knowing that they are... this one is for them.Very well written series that will increase their vocabulary in leaps and bounds while thoroughly entertaining them and keeping them on the edge of their seats the whole time.

for the young but good for older
It is refreshing to read a book that does that can be read by all. It was very intriguing and was written quite well.

Gnomes!
This book is the fifth in the series."The Mystery of the Green Ghost" precedes this book, and "The Mystery of Skeleton Island" follows.As we learned in previous books, the Three Investigators are Jupiter Jones, Pete Crenshaw and Bob Andrews.Jupiter is the intelligent, sometimes inadvertently arrogant member of the group.Pete Crenshaw is typically the muscle of the group.Pete is usually quite fearless.Bob Andrews, who began the series with a broken leg, works at the library and handles records and research for the group.Bob's cast is off now but his leg is still weak.

The three boys are visiting a museum when crooks stage a daring heist.The adults on the scene react as adults typically do when Jupiter Jones offers their services, and the boys leave the police to solve the mystery.Fortunately, Alfred Hitchcock has another friend with a mystery to solve.His friend is an older lady who wrote many books about gnomes in the past.However, her gnome stories appear to be coming to life.The Three Investigators soon learn that, gulp, the gnomes are real!Thus begins another unusual mystery that will lead the boys into twists and turns and some of the most dangerous situations the boys have encountered.

This story was a good read, but is a bit weaker than previous books in the series.There are two main problems.First, there are two separate mysteries and the connection between the two seemed a bit contrived.Second, Jupiter Jones not only made a mistake or two, but he made several mistakes, and rather than giving Jupiter a bit of humility, the mistakes contributed to the feeling that the Three Investigators were bumbling about more than they were investigating.

I always recommend starting with the first book in this series, "The Secret of Terror Castle," and I make that recommendation even stronger in the case of this book.You will gain a much better impression of the Three Investigators by starting at the beginning rather than with this book.

Quite a few children's mystery book series have become classics.Most people are familiar with Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, and Tom Swift.Even the Boxcar Children are relatively well-known.However, Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators are well-written books that offer an intelligent, interesting and more contemporary alternative to many of the earlier classic series.Many people recall the earlier series well, but the Three Investigators series, which Robert Arthur wrote and debuted in 1964, has, for now, largely been overshadowed by the other series and generally forgotten.Fortunately, all of these books are available either from Amazon or from other internet sources.

Enjoy!

As a child, parent and grandparent!
Each Christmas, Santa would deliver one book to me, one to my sister!We would read them promptly to share and re-read at our leisure!As a parent, my daughter had the opportunity to read them... but Babysitter Club and Amelia Bedelia were more to her liking.As a grandmom, I am re-purhcasing this series for my grandchildren.My sister ended up with the series for her three boys!
These books probably got my love for reading started.I encourage promoting these books - good stories and no need to "pre-read" for safety!These are "good" - period! ... Read more

Product Description
Alfred Hitchcock's style was unmistakable, and his films more than ever are revered the world over. Any list of the greatest films of all time is sure to include titles like Psycho, Dial M for Murder, Vertigo, and North by Northwest.

In this lavishly produced book, Wolff and Nourmand have collected all the best promotional art--including posters, lobby cards, and other promotional materials--of Hitchcock's entire career, including material so rare that the copy photographed for this book is the only one known to have survived. Among the treasures displayed: an American poster for Woman to Woman, the 1923 film for which Hitchcock wrote the screenplay and served as assistant director and art director; a poster for the first film he directed, The Pleasure Garden of 1925; and material from classic films like Strangers on a Train and To Catch a Thief. Hitchcock Poster Art provides a fascinating look at the international scope of the master's influence and appeal.Amazon.com Review
The 100th anniversary of Alfred Hitchcock's birth broughtabout numerous retrospectives of his career, but Hitchcock PosterArt is perhaps the most fitting tribute for such a master ofvisual images. This stunning compilation contains posters for each ofHitchcock's films--even one from an early silent for which Hitchcockserved as screenwriter and assistant director. The collection isincredibly thorough, including posters from foreign releases, lobbycards, and cover art from movie tie-in novels. The art itself issplashy and gorgeous, but this title is far more than eye candy. Whata delight to track the evolution of film posters themselves overHitchcock's 50-plus-year career, and to witness the stylisticdifferences between countries--the posters from Poland aredisturbingly stark, especially in contrast to the colorful work fromJapan. Another fascinating visual progression is how Hitchcock's imagewas used as his career unfolded, whether looming over the charactersin Marnie or slyly inserting an L into Strang[l]ers on aTrain. Hitchcock fans and movie lovers of all stripes will relishthis celebration of a true film genius. --Ali Davis ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

three stars
the poster art is a nice blend of american and foreign and nicely captures the evolution of the medium, but the accompanying text is seriously worthless, consisting of synopses for each film written in the worst middle-school syntax and replete with glaring typographical errors.it would have been nice to read some informative blurbs about the poster art itself, and about how hitchcock, a master or self-publicity, advertised his pictures more broadly.the cover shot on the book is from the buzz-generating psycho campaign, yet the text accompanying the psycho posters mentions nothing of the policy of excluding tardy movie-goers from the picture so as to maximize the experience.the interested reader may find a broader collection of images online, although without the crisp clarity of the photographs in this book.three stars primarily because of the disappointing text.

if you like alfred hitchcock you will love this book
You have to have this book it tells so much about alfred hitchcocks movies ...

A very colourful, neato kind of book
I enjoyed looking at this book - I got it from the library. It's got many posters and lobby cards from Hitchcock's works, all in colour. And it's not just the same ones you see everywhere. This has posters from other countries too. Some of them are really WEIRD. Especially the Polish ones. But interesting. I think you should give this book a try if you like Hitchcock.

Buy it while you can!
A great tribute to Hitchcock's centennial, featuring not only movie posters, but also book and magazine covers, lobby cards and album (soundtrack) covers from 1925 to 1976. Here's a list of my favorites: Life(1963), Cahier du Cinema (1980), Strangers on a Trains, US (1951), To Catcha Thief, Italian (1955), The Trouble with Harry, Japanese (1955) and TheBirds, Polish (1963).

A lively, visual homage to a master of mystery and suspense
What a treat!From a leading collector of Hitchcockiana comes a centennial celebration of the master's work through pithy reflections on all Hitchcock's work complemented by posters and other memorabilia that inthemselves reflect the evolution of poster art through the century.Onefeels cheated by the crisp and witty commentary on the master's films--thecommentary leaves you wanting much more. ... Read more

Product Description
An old trunk involves the three investigators with dangerous criminals seeking a cache of stolen money. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A pretty mystery book for kids
Three kids in a junk yard and a talking skull make for an interesting
cut on mystery and magic. There seem to be at least 25 in this series
so that they remind one of the 30's Nancy Drew mysteries.
I think there is enough action and suspense to keep a young reader interested.

Great pace, really draws you in!
I first read this book about seventeen years ago.As a young child, I was drawn into it immediately and was unable to put it down.The plot line was enjoyable and I found the fast pace and action preferable to all other juvenile mysteries.Within a year, I had read the entire Three Investigators mystery series twice and continued to read them as they came out.Now that I have a young son of my own, I re-read the Mystery of the Talking Skull and quickly discovered that it is still a great book!I recommend it for any child and any parent... it's just too bad they've gotten so hard to find!

Mystery of the Talking Skull was a good Suspenseful book....
This was a great book. I liked it so very much. A quick review of the plot. The teens that we all know and love, Jupiter Jones and his Friends Bob Andrews and Pete Crenshaw buy a strange trunk at a auction. Needless to say the mysterious trunk brings them action and suspense to the reader: A. an $100 offer for the trunk. B. visits to Gypsies, the police station, and other places, C. A capture by a gang, and a slick spy on to them. The whole thing dissolves into a funny yet satisfying ending. This is a Heavily Recommended Book. What a great mystery this is. Read if you like any kind of mysteries. The 3 Investigator stories do a great job of combining aspects of a great mystery book. Mike Lee (A heavy mystery reader) ... Read more

Product Description
Renowned as the "Master of Suspense", Alfred Hitchcock is one of the most popular directors of the 20th century. Over the course of more than 50 feature films and numerous other projects, Hitchcock is often seen to have revolutionized the suspense thiller genre and pushed the psychological thriller to its limits. This encyclopedia covers the director's career, and examines films such as "Vertigo", "The Birds" and "Psycho". Over 1200 entries explore each of Hitchcock's films in detail, his television directing efforts, key members of his casts and crew and inspirations for his films. Also covered are the various sudios and production companies with which Hitchcock worked, major schools of critical thought with regard to his films and recurring themes and motifs that defined his signature style. ... Read more

Product Description
When an eccentric local artist disappears suddenly, the three investigators look into the matter. ... Read more

Product Description
This book analyzes 68 works directed by Hitchcock¥including notable silents, all of his films from the early 1930s on, the two French propaganda shorts from WWII, and episodes of his television program¥assessing his development as an artist. Each analysis is supplemented by key film facts, trivia, awards, a guide to his cameos, and a listing of available DVD releases. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Spend A Year With The Master Of Suspense
The authors won't steer you wrong with their book on the movies of Alfred Hitchcock. If it's worth watching, even for just being able to say you've seen them all, they are reviewed here. I am a completist/collector so I appreciated this volume to add to my enjoyment and understanding of Alfred Hitchcock's work. An entertaining read and highly recommended.

Invites readers to spend a year with the director's best works to appreciate his development
A YEAR OF HITCHCOCK is arranged into 52 chronological chapters and invites readers to spend a year with the director's best works to appreciate his development. Each film is considered in light of Hitchcock's career and themes central to his work, offering a focus on the range of his famous and lesser-publicized films and providing a key analysis perfect for any college-level film library serious about Hitchcock's films.

Entertaining approach to Hitchcock
This book is pitched at a reader whose interest is deeper than the casual film viewer, but who has not yet become determined to seek out immersive reference to Hitchcock's career.

It adopts the interesting approach of dealing with (usually) one film a week throughout a full year, with the expectation that the reader will also view that film and read and consider the material presented, thus gaining a fuller appreciation of the part that week's item plays in the development of Hitchcock's career. There are some omissions, and some non-cinema material is included, and the rationale for these exclusions and inclusions is explained.

The writing style is pleasingly informal, but all the main bases are touched on, and it is easy for the reader to follow the main elements of Hitchcock's career even without watching the films as he goes along.

The book is very attractively presented, with just enough photographs to relieve pages of text, but not so many as to make it a picture book rather than text.It is more of a discourse than a reference book, but each chapter is briefly summarised at the end together with themes etc. covered in that particular pieces: together with appendices this might make it a useful first port of call for anyone looking for light reference material on Hitchcock.

Above anything else, it is an enjoyable and informative book, easy to read, from authors McDevitt and San Juan (who clearly know their subject), and I hope to see more from them in future.

... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

a fun read, intruiging
this collection of essays reveals some juicy tidbits about Hitchcock and was at best thought provoking and at worst interesting. I did not always agree with the essays, but they made me think about the H. opus in a new light. Even non-specialists and those who are new to the field of philosophy will enjoy this book; it is very readable ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A Bit Too Confusing, this one.
I found this book a little confusing, and it did not ring true in a lot of areas.For example, picturing Alfred Hitchcock as a devil-may-care spy for England.The relish that he displayed when faced with murder and kidnapping is certainly not the picture that I have of him in my mind.This book is quite different than The Dorothy Parker Murder Case which is the only other book of Baxt's that I've read so far. This was a spy story set just before the beginning of the Second World War.Maybe my assessment of the book has been tainted by the fact that I just finished reading Eric Ambler's "A Coffin for Dimitrios" - a spy story set about the same time as this one was."Coffin" was a masterpiece, and this one just seemed a little inane.It is still quite funny in spots, and Hitch had a great sense of humour, and that shows up over and over in the book.Not bad for a romp.

A Bit Too Confusing, this one.
I found this book a little confusing, and it did not ring true in a lot of areas.For example, picturing Alfred Hitchcock as a devil-may-care spy for England.The relish that he displayed when faced with murder and kidnapping is certainly not the picture that I have of him in my mind.This book is quite different than The Dorothy Parker Murder Case which is the only other book of Baxt's that I've read so far. This was a spy story set just before the beginning of the Second World War.Maybe my assessment of the book has been tainted by the fact that I just finished reading Eric Ambler's "A Coffin for Dimitrios" - a spy story set about the same time as this one was."Coffin" was a masterpiece, and this one just seemed a little inane.It is still quite funny in spots, and Hitch had a great sense of humour, and that shows up over and over in the book.Not bad for a romp.

Close, But No Cigar...
George Baxt has carved out an interesting niche in the mystery world, from the gay-themed Pharaoh Love series to the Celebrity series, which takes names like Dorothy Parker, Humphrey Bogart, Bette Davis and, of course, Alfred Hitchcock, and weaves them into mystery plots as amateur detectives.

Because I like fictional versions of real people in my books, I was bound to come across Baxt at some point. For the most part, I can say I'm glad I did. His mysteries are usually entertaining and very funny, which works with an original character, like Pharaoh Love, or even with a character like Dorothy Parker, who you expect to be funny.

But here we have Alfred Hitchcock, who had a wicked on-set sense of humor. But Baxt's portrayal here seems false somehow - Hitch and his wife Alma become embroiled in a plot that seems to come directly from one of Hitchcock's movies. It's complex and wry and gives one the impression that everyone knows what's going on but the hero (a staple of several of Hitch's spy movies). Many people die throughout the story and Alma & Hitch giggle through it all as though they were Nick and Nora Charles. But that isn't the problem.

I'm okay with humorous mysteries. I'm okay with detectives who laugh in the face of death. But I'm afraid I wasn't prepared for Alfred Hitchcock laughing in the face of death. I suspect this is a failing of my own, but I didn't get the feeling that the characters were well-researched or portrayed effectively.

One thing I did like was the "Dain Curse"-like plotting that stretched the story over several years. ... Read more