Introducing '100 More Movies' Series #4: The Films of Alfred Hitchcock

We have now come to the Master of Suspense himself.

Sir Alfred Hitchcock is, without a shadow of a doubt, the most famous Catholic in the history of cinema. His name is synonymous with the classic Hollywood era and excellence, and with such a vast repertoire of high-quality cinema, his impact on the art form is impossible to overstate. He was able to adapt during some of cinema’s most transformative years, and with each advancement pushed the medium even further. With his Catholic principles, intuitive artistry, and capacity to spot talent, Hitchcock was able to build a persona and filmography that will forever stand the test of time and continues to be in the conversation for the greatest of all time.

Alfred Hitchcock was born in 1899, right as the moving image was being popularized. At the time, it was only a carnival attraction at the time. Hitchcock was born into a devout Catholic household and would go on to work at a publication house, where he would get his first exposure to film. Alfred would gradually study and grow closer to the industry until he began making silent films such as The Lodger (1927). However, with the invention of talkies, Hitchcock was fast to adapt and embrace this new technology. By the time he left England in 1939 for David O. Selznick and Hollywood, Alfred had made great films such as The 39 Steps (1935), Sabotage (1936), and The Lady Vanishes (1938). Each of these films is excellent in its own right and demonstrates how quickly he was able to put out high-quality content.

From 1940 on, Alfred Hitchcock would go on to direct over 20 films, with almost all of them of outstanding quality. Pre-WWII films such as Rebecca, Foreign Correspondent, Suspicion, Saboteur, and Shadow of a Doubt are all excellent pieces of filmmaking with state-of-the-art storytelling for their time. After WWII, he would continue with making high-quality quality thrilling cinema that has forever changed the art form. Mysteries like Dial M for Murder and Rope (#118) would show his capacity to make compelling stories that take place in one setting. North by Northwest (#117) would change the face of the spy thriller forever and set the tone for the next 20 years of spy films. Psycho would revolutionize the horror genre with its iconic score and the way it pushed the envelope in 1960. This is only scraping the tip of the iceberg, and all made possible through his excellent collaborations.

Alfred Hitchcock understood perhaps better than anyone how to surround himself with talent. His reputation for excellence helped attract the best of a generation, who could be argued to be the best of all time. He continuously had great casts throughout his 50-year career, and worked with now legendary stars of the silver screen on a regular basis. Jimmy Stewart, Cary Grant, Grace Kelly, Ingrid Bergman, and Thelma Ritter all never miss a beat in a Hitchcock film, and contribute so much to his already well-crafted films. Cinematographers like Robert Burks, Joseph Valentine, and Rudolph Mate consistently demonstrated in their collaborations how much of a visual storyteller Hitchcock truly was. Many, if not all, of the greatest filmmakers currently working can tell you which of his films inspired them and their favorite shot of his on the spot, and he is still studied in depth in film schools all over the world for this. His partnership with Bernard Herrmann for his film scores is the stuff of Hollywood legend. The scores of Hitchcock’s films when working with Bernard Herrmann are nothing short of spectacular. While Herrmann is the one responsible for the iconic “screeching violin” from Psycho, his scores are much more appealing to the ear and add a layer of melodic complexity that always brings out the best in Hitchcock’s films. With additional collaboration with costume designer Edith Head and famed movie poster and title card artist Saul Bass, Alfred Hitchcock had the best of the best around him during Hollywood’s Golden Age, and it’s no wonder he was able to pull off such an impressive run.

If I had to pick an author equivalent to Hitchcock, it would be Agatha Christie. Both had a knack for telling compelling and thrilling mysteries with their own slightly dark sense of humor, while also managing to maintain a clear sense of right and wrong within their stories. There are no subversive elements to his films, which each feels authentically his, to the point where he has a cameo in every single one of his films (yes, he started that). There is no mistaking an Agatha Christie novel or when someone is trying to emulate it, just as there is no mistaking a Hitchcock film. His personality, which was quite popular at the time, was well known to the point of caricature, which he lovingly embraced. Alfred Hitchcock is one of the best-documented filmmakers in history, giving countless interviews, masterclasses, hosting his own murder mystery TV show, and offering guest appearances whenever he could. Yet within this well-publicized master of suspense, the small Catholic boy never truly left. Being a practicing Catholic his whole life, each of his films, to one degree or another, has a spiritual aspect to it. Some of them are extremely upfront about this, such as I Confess (#13) or The Wrong Man (#120). Others are more subtle and hint towards a spiritual struggle within the main conflict, such as Strangers on a Train or Suspicion. In any Hitchcock film, there is always thematic value to be found and nothing that will put the soul in jeopardy.

This is what makes this a particularly difficult segment for us at 100 Movies, as all of Hitchcock’s films are edifying. We practically have a line of people wanting to write on as many of his films as possible. It’s not about choosing “What could we recommend?” but rather “How can we possibly limit this to just 5 films?”. Of the over 20 films I have personally seen of his, I would recommend all of them. This is why I will go so far as to say we at 100 Movies would recommend practically ALL Hitchcock films (at least up through The Birds). Some may not be as good as others from a qualitative standpoint, but even if there is a taboo topic, you can trust that Hitchcock approaches it from a respectful, Catholic perspective. Not many other directors can offer this peace of mind to a Catholic audience, but it took one of our own to give it. His films may challenge us, but never at the expense of belief. They serve to entertain and help us be more confident in what is right and wrong, as opposed to inverting right and wrong like the modern world. This element, on its own, would make his work essential.

Sir Alfred Hitchcock’s place on the Mount Rushmore of filmmaking is one of the few things the film world can universally agree on. His outstanding track record of high-quality cinema is perhaps unmatched by any other and is perfectly accessible for anyone wanting to get into or get someone else into film. His filmography is just as enjoyable for longtime enthusiasts as it is for newcomers, and is beloved around the world. His films offer us insight into what entertaining art can be, without any of the moral baggage that we have become used to in the modern era. With all this being said, we at 100 Movies present a small sampling from the exceptional filmography of The Master of Suspense himself: Sir Alfred Hitchcock.