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Product Description
Product Description
This is the first-ever illustrated biography of Alfred Hitchcock, the British filmmaker whose groundbreaking thrillers transformed the genre in the twentieth century. Published to coincide with the thirtieth anniversary of his death and the fiftieth anniversary of the release of Psycho, Hitchcock, Piece by Piece includes a foreword by his daughter, Patricia Hitchcock O'Connell. The book is packed with photographs from Hitchcock's own archive, many of which have never been published before, along with removable memorabilia, such as letters, memos, snapshots, and other documents, which frame the story of the director's life and work. In a career that spanned sixty years, Hitchcock made more than fifty feature-length films, as well as hosting his eponymous television series. Author Laurent Bouzereau puts this incredible canon into perspective, examining the master's life thematically: his archetypal anti-heroes; his complicated female characters; his charming villains; and something Bouzereau calls the Hitchcock touchA" - those elements of film that are, quite simply, Hitchcockian.
About the Author
Director and producer Laurent Bouzereau has collaborated with Martin Scorsese, Mel Brooks, Steven Spielberg and Clint Eastwood - among other Hollywood legends - on more than 60 documentaries about classic films. Also the author of Abrams' The Art of Bond, he is based in Southern California.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Artistically, this is the best Hitchcock book on my bookshelf. It is beautifully designed and contains many excellent photos not previously published and facsimilie documents that provide an interesting insight on the Hitchcock story. These include copies of birth and marriage certificates, story boards, private memos, lost scripts and letters from the censorship boards. Unfortunately, a snazzy design feature of the 10 envelopes for the inserts (some holes to part view the contents) mean that the inserts frustratingly get snagged and crumpled everytime I put them back.
Overall, this is a really good introduction book for anyone new to Hitchcock's work and good value at Amazon's (under half) price. On top of the great design, the quality of the writing is good. However, I would go to Patrick McGilligan's 'A Life in Darkness and Light' for the best overall biography and review of his work.
Overall, this is a really good introduction book for anyone new to Hitchcock's work and good value at Amazon's (under half) price. On top of the great design, the quality of the writing is good. However, I would go to Patrick McGilligan's 'A Life in Darkness and Light' for the best overall biography and review of his work.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
5 reviews
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Beautiful Hitchcock Compendium!
22 Oct 2010
Format:Hardcover
Have been a fan of Laurent's work since way back when he was doing laserdisc commentaries for Criterion. I was a huge fan of all his Hitchcock documentaries so naturally this book was a must-have! I must say that it is just gorgeous! A wonderful read! Also it contains many great photos and fantastic little pull-out replicas of letters, memos, postcards, costume sketches and script pages. A perfect gift for the Hitchcock fan in your life!
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
A New Look at Hitchcock, Piece by Piece (Abrams)
24 Nov 2010
Format:Hardcover
Guest Review by Adam Philips
In this gorgeous new book, "Hitchcock: Piece by Piece," author Laurent Bouzereau provides a new angle on The Master of Suspense. Rather than covering Hitch's biography or looking at highlights of his filmmaking career, Bouzereau sorts Hitch's works thematically into several lengthy chapters. The chapter "Wrong Men and Anti-Heroes" looks at Hitch's male protagonists; "The Hitchcock Women" examines women of every sort as they appear in Hitch's films. Patricia Hitchcock O'Connell, the master's daughter, contributes a foreword to the book that looks at her father's lasting legacy.
There's more to "Piece by Piece" than just the categorizing of Hitchcock's many motifs, though. The book features a fantastic assortment of photography, as well as pages that open up so the reader can access reproductions of storyboards, a telegram from Hitchcock to David O. Selznick, costume designs, photo albums, the proclamation of Hitch's knighthood and much more. Like previous, similar books on Bob Dylan and John Lennon, these documents provide new insight into Hitch's approach to filmmaking as well as his life.
The photography, too, takes us deep into Hitchcock's life. Many of these pictures have never been reproduced before; my favorites may be the book's opener, a formal portrait of Hitchcock from the early 1920s, looking serious and sporting a mustache, and its closer, in which a much older Hitchcock grimaces in mock pain as he plays with his dog. It's all beautifully designed, and shows Hitchcock as a master of the camera, whether he's shooting or being shot.
Books like this make a good case for another type of Hitchcock book: One of just photography, from his films and his life, in the style of the "365 Days" series of art books ? like "Piece by Piece," also published by Abrams Books.
My only quibbles with "Piece by Piece" were fact-based. In discussing "The Birds," Bouzereau both misspells Ub Iwerks' name and provides no background about this legendary animator who first brought Mickey Mouse to life; also, the author notes the impact the finale of "Strangers on a Train" had on audiences in the forties, when the movie was released in 1951.
But these are small points. "Piece by Piece" is a treasure for fans of Hitchcock and film history in general, and is very much recommended.
Reviewing 52 thrillers in 52 weeks [...], Adam Philips is blogging the bible of all things Hitchcock. From the early classics to masterpieces like "Rear Window" and "Psycho," Adam provides an intelligent, modern perspective on the most influential filmmaker of all time, encompassing television, books, live theater and other media. For updates on new content, subscribe at [...]
In this gorgeous new book, "Hitchcock: Piece by Piece," author Laurent Bouzereau provides a new angle on The Master of Suspense. Rather than covering Hitch's biography or looking at highlights of his filmmaking career, Bouzereau sorts Hitch's works thematically into several lengthy chapters. The chapter "Wrong Men and Anti-Heroes" looks at Hitch's male protagonists; "The Hitchcock Women" examines women of every sort as they appear in Hitch's films. Patricia Hitchcock O'Connell, the master's daughter, contributes a foreword to the book that looks at her father's lasting legacy.
There's more to "Piece by Piece" than just the categorizing of Hitchcock's many motifs, though. The book features a fantastic assortment of photography, as well as pages that open up so the reader can access reproductions of storyboards, a telegram from Hitchcock to David O. Selznick, costume designs, photo albums, the proclamation of Hitch's knighthood and much more. Like previous, similar books on Bob Dylan and John Lennon, these documents provide new insight into Hitch's approach to filmmaking as well as his life.
The photography, too, takes us deep into Hitchcock's life. Many of these pictures have never been reproduced before; my favorites may be the book's opener, a formal portrait of Hitchcock from the early 1920s, looking serious and sporting a mustache, and its closer, in which a much older Hitchcock grimaces in mock pain as he plays with his dog. It's all beautifully designed, and shows Hitchcock as a master of the camera, whether he's shooting or being shot.
Books like this make a good case for another type of Hitchcock book: One of just photography, from his films and his life, in the style of the "365 Days" series of art books ? like "Piece by Piece," also published by Abrams Books.
My only quibbles with "Piece by Piece" were fact-based. In discussing "The Birds," Bouzereau both misspells Ub Iwerks' name and provides no background about this legendary animator who first brought Mickey Mouse to life; also, the author notes the impact the finale of "Strangers on a Train" had on audiences in the forties, when the movie was released in 1951.
But these are small points. "Piece by Piece" is a treasure for fans of Hitchcock and film history in general, and is very much recommended.
Reviewing 52 thrillers in 52 weeks [...], Adam Philips is blogging the bible of all things Hitchcock. From the early classics to masterpieces like "Rear Window" and "Psycho," Adam provides an intelligent, modern perspective on the most influential filmmaker of all time, encompassing television, books, live theater and other media. For updates on new content, subscribe at [...]
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Fantastic and FUN
17 Nov 2010
Format:Hardcover
This is a great collection for any movie buff or Hitchcock fan (who isn't). The pictures are great and the "treats" - copies of original telegrams, scripts, letters,postcards etc, - tucked inside each chapter heading make this really fun. I am buying a bunch of them for holiday gifts, not only great reading but a great coffee table book and conversation piece.
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