Few filmmakers have shaped the language of suspense like Alfred Hitchcock. Across a career that spanned more than five decades, Hitchcock mastered the art of anticipation—drawing audiences into carefully constructed worlds where tension simmers just beneath the surface. His films, including Strangers on a Train, Vertigo, Notorious, To Catch a Thief, North by Northwest, and Psycho, remain as gripping today as when they first stunned audiences.
This April, the library invites you to step behind the scenes of this legendary director’s work with Alfred Hitchcock: Behind the Curtain of Suspense on April 13 at 7pm. In this engaging multimedia program, film historian Max Alvarez will explore Hitchcock’s creative process through archival materials and iconic film clips. Attendees will get a closer look at the director’s signature cameo appearances, his flair for self-promotion, and how his screenplays evolved from page to screen. The program also highlights Hitchcock’s early career in Britain’s silent film era and reveals how he used innovative “in-camera” techniques to craft unforgettable moments of suspense.
If the program sparks your curiosity, you can continue exploring Hitchcock’s life and legacy through a wide selection of books and his films available at Livingston and other BCCLS libraries. Here is a select list:
Alfred Hitchcock : All the Films : The Story Behind Every Movie, Episode, and Short by Bernard Benoliel
This is a comprehensive, chronological look at every project directed by Alfred Hitchcock across his 60-year career. Drawing on extensive research, it reveals behind-the-scenes stories—from casting and locations to collaborations with figures like Edith Head and Bernard Herrmann—while exploring classics such as Psycho and Vertigo. Packed with rare insights and vivid photos, it’s an in-depth visual guide for film fans.
Criss-Cross : The Making of Hitchcock’s Dazzling, Subversive Masterpiece- Strangers on a Train by Stephen Rebello
A behind-the-scenes look at how Alfred Hitchcock made Strangers on a Train. It highlights the production struggles, creative risks, and how the film ultimately revived Hitchcock’s career and became a classic.
The First True Hitchcock : The Making of a Filmmaker by Henry K. Miller
This origin story traces how Alfred Hitchcock made The Lodger—the film he called his first true work. Drawing on new archival research, Miller uncovers the real story behind its creation, following a pivotal year (1926–27) that shaped Hitchcock’s style. Set against a shifting transatlantic film industry, it reveals how The Lodger marked the moment Hitchcock became Hitchcock.
Hitchcock and Herrmann : The Friendship and Film Scores that Changed Cinema by Steven C. Smith
This explores the legendary 11-year partnership between director Alfred Hitchcock and composer Bernard Herrmann, whose eight films—including Vertigo, Psycho, and North by Northwest—helped redefine cinematic suspense. Drawing on decades of research and new interviews, Smith reveals the creative chemistry behind their success and the personal and professional tensions that led to their split.
Hitchcock’s Blondes: The Unforgettable Women Behind the Legendary Director’s Dark Obsession by Laurence Leamer
Offering an intimate journey into the lives of eight legendary actresses whose stories help chart the course of the enigmatic director’s career, this mesmerizing account takes a modern look at both the enduring art created by a man obsessed-and the private toll that fixation took on the women in his orbit.
In 1962 Hitchcock and Truffaut locked themselves away in Hollywood for a week to excavate the secrets behind the mise-en-scene in cinema. Based on the original recordings of this meeting, used to produce the mythical book, Hitchcock/Truffaut-this film illustrates the greatest cinema lesson of all time and plummets us into the world of the creator of Psycho, The Birds, and Vertigo. Hitchcock’s incredibly modern art is elucidated and explained by today’s leading filmmakers. Includes bonus materials.
Hitchcocktails : Lethal Libations Inspired by the Master of Suspense by Laurence Maslon
Features over two dozen cocktail recipes inspired by iconic characters like Norman Bates and Bruno Antony, along with a look at Cary Grant’s memorable roles in films like Suspicion and North by Northwest. Maslon blends film history, trivia, and themed drink chapters to explore the connection between suspense and spirits across Hitchcock’s career.
My Name is Alfred Hitchcock DVD
A century after his first film, Alfred Hitchcock remains one of cinema’s most influential figures—but how does his work hold up today? Filmmaker Mark Cousins explores this question in a bold, imaginative way, revisiting Hitchcock’s career as if through the director’s own voice. The result is a playful, insightful journey spanning his silent films, classic mid-century masterpieces, and later works.
The Twelve Lives of Alfred Hitchcock : An Anatomy of the Master of Suspense by Edward White
This book offers a fresh take on Alfred Hitchcock, exploring the many personas that defined his life, work, and legacy. Through twelve thematic chapters, Edward White examines both the man and the myth, revealing how Hitchcock shaped—and continues to influence—modern culture far beyond cinema.
–Archana, ASA Librarian