Intro and Why I Chose to Do This

"What is drama but life with the dull bits cut out?" -Alfred Hitchcock

Good evening. If you are here, then I can safely assume you are at least vaguely interested in Hitchcock.

Alfred Hitchock, the Master of Suspense. Amazing filmmaker, director, auteur. At one time I was an aspiring director myself, and I always looked up to him. He was my inspiration for directing. The way he creates suspense, is absolutely breathtaking.

I grew up on Hitchock. I watched Alfred Hitchcock Presents and the Alfred Hitchcock Hour on TV Land and such. My dad showed me Rear Window, Vertigo, Psycho, the Rope....so many wonderful fims...so many wonderful hours spent observing his style, his wonderful technique, the way he has this power to know exactly how the audience is going to react and to manipulate that to his advantage.

2012 was a year of honoring Hitchock in a way, with two films about him coming out, Hitchcock and the Girl. So he has been on my mind lately. And, his birthday being August 13 and his first directorial work being titled the Number 13 and his affinity for superstition and suspense, I thought 2013 was a good year for me to really get in touch with my Hitchcockian side.

I will be watching 52 of Alfred Hitchock's film and blogging my thoughts about them. I will do some well known favorites, some more obscure, and several of the in between. I will be analyzing direction, cinematography, editing, writing, acting, and overall atmosphere of the films.

My intention was to start at the beginning of this year, but time got away from me, so I am having to play catchup. I will watch two this week and two next week to make up for the two weeks of January that have already flown by. First up will by Psycho, which I incidentally will have the wonderful fortune of going to see on the big screen at the Movie Tavern Thursday.

I invite you to join me on this journey of suspense and excitement as we delve into the majority of the films made by the Master of Suspense. If we try, I think we can cut out a few of those dull bits and leave just the best drama in our lives.