An Authorative Account of a Fascinating Life - Rated 
Brought up as a grocer's son in London, Alfred Hitchcock was one of the great film directors. He understood the demands of the audience and how to translate this through the visual language of the cinema. His initial films were silent thrillers made in London in the 1920s, at times taking the role of both producer and director. After successes such as The 39 Steps and Sabaotage, he moved to America. His early years in America were challenging as he sought to establish his reputation in spite of finding himself a pawn in the studio system.
Through the 1950s, he made a number of iconic and celebrated films which carried the trademark features that were seen as distinctive of his style.
Following his death in 1980, his reputation has been questioned through the publication of salacious biographies and articles which make the mistake of confusing the work with the man himself and which have questioned his relationships with the series of blonde stars who were involved in his most famous works.
In this book, distinguished film biographer Patrick McGilligan provides a sane and wise biography of the man himself, a critical interpretation of his work and working methods and argues for the critical recognition that seems to have been denied Hitchcock. He describes Hitchcock's exacting planning of his every shot and his careful writing and redrafting of scripts, often working with his beloved wife Alma. He is also able to explore Hitchock's great enthusiasm for his work, his love of food and travel and his affection for many of the stars he worked with.
This is an important addition to the many books written about Hitchcock that encourages the reader to go back to his films again and to review Hitchcock's work and achievement.
An excellent piece of cake - Rated
With 39 (spooky!) Hitchcock books currently on my bookshalf you could call me a bit of Hitchcock fan. This book is an extensive journey through the great man's film career. Unlike other books, it concentrates more on the man and the story of him doing his job, rather than a critique of his work. It is an excellent read, the best Hitchcock book on my shelf.
at last...a definitive book - Rated
I have waited years for a definitive biography of my favourite director, and here it is.
I actually stumbled upon this book when it was brand new, and didn't even know about its publication.
To my utter delight, this biography is thoroughly researched and detailed throughout.
The actual text is approximately 700 pages along with 32 pages of photographs,immense discussion about Hitchcock's life and films and a list of other published volumes concerning either the man himself or his films.
Previously, I had in my possession a biography entitled "Dark Side of Genius," published in 1982.This volume has its own merits; entertaining, well-illustrated but the author is rather biased towards the subject of the book.
If you require a detailed, balanced and enjoyable account of one of the best directors in the business, then look no further.
The best there is - Rated
I have read a number of books on Hitch, but this is currently the best one out there. McGilligan deserves great credit for the huge amount of work that has gone into this. Excellently researched, and covering his life and films equally well, the volume is both informative and very readable. If you have read the film guides and biographies and want more, this is the book to get!
Superb - Whether You're Interested In Hitchcock, or Film - Rated
With this book, McGilligan has managed to do for Hitchcock what Peter Guralnick did for Elvis with 'Last Train From Memphis'. The author has reconnected a legend with his true art, cutting through the empehera of celebrity which has attempted to obscure Hitchcock's true value. This book is a masterwork, and on each page, on every line, you can sense the authority of the writer, earned through long and evidently painstaking research. This is the best film book I've read to date - and sets a new standard for the genre.
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