Member Review

While this biography, Alfred Hitchcock, written by Peter Ackroyd, was well-written, I didn't learn much new about the famous, late director. The author repeatedly tells us that Hitchcock was an anxious person, and his films seem to reflect the tension and fears he felt throughout his life. But I didn't think the book went far below the surface, and I didn't get a strong sense of what made Hitchcock the kind of man he was, or why he behaved (especially toward women) as he did. I also would have liked to see his best films explored in greater detail. I was surprised to read that he didn't care much about what his movies "meant." He was more interested in their visual effects on audiences. However, this would be an excellent introduction to Hitchcock, if you're never read much about him before. I think it will leave you, as it did me, wanting more.