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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Worthy of the Master, 22 Mar 2002
By A Customer
There are many books, good and bad, about Alfred Hitchcock. Yet few have been as insightful, entertaining, or daring as Steven DeRosa's Writing with Hitchcock, which boldly sings the praises of one of Hitch's collaborators. One of the many talented individuals upon whom the master relied for their own skills. In this fine book, the unsung hero is scriptwriter John Michael Hayes, responsible for the scripts of Rear Window, To Catch a Thief, The Trouble with Harry and the 1955 remake of The Man Who Knew Too Much. DeRosa contends that these four films and Hayes' contributions to them left an indelible mark on Hitchcock, and the evidence is persuasive. The author's style is neither heavily academic, nor is it ever merely gossipy. Rather DeRosa lifts the material so that readers looking for an analytical text of the films will be satisfied, as will those interested in knowing what motivated the filmmakers. Anyone looking for both will be doubly pleased. Although Writing with Hitchcock is aimed at giving Hayes his due credit, DeRosa does not use this as an opportunity to denigrate Hitchcock, but to draw attention to his skills as a director. Efforts to credit Hitchcock with everything have made it easy to overlook the one area in which he truly rose above his peers - his ability to direct his actors, his production team, and his audience. Although this is clearly DeRosa's Valentine to the Hitchcock-Hayes collaboration, he does not avoid discussing some sensitive issues, and questions some of the career decisions of the pair. A book worthy of the partnership that inspired it.
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