Hitchcock, Alfred

Entry updated 12 September 2022. Tagged: Editor, Film, TV.

(1899-1980) UK-born Cinema director and producer whose career began in the silent-movie era in 1920 and who achieved global fame as the "Master of Suspense" – dramatic tension achieved through innovative framing and editing, with such trademark devices as camera movements designed to lure viewers into complicity with the viewpoint of the lens. His first successful films were thrillers made in Britain, notably The 39 Steps (1935), based on John Buchan's popular novel The Thirty-Nine Steps (July-September 1915 Blackwood's Magazine as by H d V; 1915); this introduced the characteristic Hitchcockian McGuffin (his term), here a set of stolen plans, that drives the chase-adventure plot. He moved to Hollywood in 1939, and many notable productions followed. These include the psychological thriller Vertigo (1958), which without actually edging into the fantastic uses a disorienting "dolly zoom" perspective-distortion effect for the protagonist's acrophobia attacks. The most famous Hitchcock film is Psycho (1960), based on Robert Bloch's Psycho (1959) and somewhat overshadowing that author's career; again there is no actual element of Fantastika in the story of a cross-dressing serial murderer, but the in-your-face dramatic effectiveness of Hitchcock's presentation made a significant impact and was hugely influential on later Horror cinema. His film of greatest genre relevance is The Birds (1963), scripted by Evan Hunter from Daphne du Maurier's short The Birds (October 1952 Good Housekeeping; 1996 chap). Its vision of ordinary birds which become inexplicably hostile conveys a lasting disquiet. Hitchcock won many film awards, though never the Academy Award (Oscar) for best director; he was knighted in 1980, the year of his death.

He is credited as editor of a great many Anthologies of crime, suspense, horror and supernatural fiction, beginning with Suspense Stories Collected by Alfred Hitchcock (anth 1945) and occasionally featuring sf; these were invariably ghost-edited – though not all editors are known – and almost all have ghostwritten "Hitchcock" introductions. As an example, My Favorites in Suspense (anth 1959), ghost-edited by Patricia O'Connell, includes Daphne du Maurier's The Birds plus fantastic tales by Anthony Boucher, John Dickson Carr and H G Wells. From 1955 to 1965 Hitchcock hosted and was executive producer of the Television anthology series Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955-1962), latterly The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962-1965), aired alternately on CBS and NBC and presenting stories in similar vein to the above-cited anthologies – both adaptations of existing tales and original teleplays. Henry Slesar wrote 24 segments for this series; there was a posthumous revival as Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1985-1986; 1987-1989). Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine (1956-current) is a Digest-sized crime and detection magazine, a sister publication to the older Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine (see Ellery Queen) and from 1977 to 1992 of Asimov's Science Fiction; this makes licensed use of the Hitchcock name, though he had zero editorial involvement.

The corpulent figure of Hitchcock in later life became an Icon of popular culture, aided by his portentous television and movie-trailer presence, and his gimmick of cameo appearances in his own films. Many paperback anthology covers show him in comic-horrific situations that echo his fondness for gallows humour; Josh Kirby painted several of these for British editions. He is Parodied with considerable affection in The Ecstasy Business (1967), Richard Condon's Hollywood roman á clef, as superstar director Albert McCobb, the subject of French critical hagiographies with titles like La Danse McCobb. Mel Brooks's comedy thriller High Anxiety (1977) parodies not only Hitchcock's camera and other techniques but many specific scenes, including farcical homages to Psycho, The Birds and Vertigo. Few directors have a style sufficiently distinctive to permit such spoofing. [DRL]

see also: The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr; John P Fulton; Robert Hichens; La Jetée; George Langelaan; Jack Trevor Story.

Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock

born Leytonstone, Essex: 13 August 1899

died Bel Air, California: 29 April 1980

works as "editor"

series

Alfred Hitchcock's Anthology

Alfred Hitchcock's Tales to Keep You Spellbound (New York: Davis Publications, 1976) edited by Eleanor Sullivan [anth: Anthology #1: hb/]
- Alfred Hitchcock's Book of Horror Stories: Book 8 (London: Coronet, 1988) [anth: cut vt of the above; first 15 of 30 stories: pb/]
- Alfred Hitchcock's Book of Horror Stories: Book 9 (London: Coronet, 1989) [anth: differently cut vt of the above; second 15 of 30 stories: pb/]
Alfred Hitchcock's Tales to Take Your Breath Away (New York: Davis Publications, 1976) edited by Eleanor Sullivan [anth: Anthology #2: hb/]
- Alfred Hitchcock's Book of Horror Stories: Book 2 (London: Coronet, 1984) [anth: cut vt of the above: pb/]
- Alfred Hitchcock's Book of Horror Stories: Book 3 (London: Coronet, 1984) [anth: differently cut vt of the above: pb/]
Alfred Hitchcock's Tales to Make Your Blood Run Cold (New York: Davis Publications, 1978) edited by Eleanor Sullivan [anth: Anthology #3: hb/]
- Alfred Hitchcock's Book of Horror Stories: Book 4 (London: Coronet, 1985) [anth: cut vt of the above: pb/]
- Alfred Hitchcock's Book of Horror Stories: Book 5 (London: Coronet, 1986) [anth: differently cut vt of the above: pb/]
Alfred Hitchcock's Tales to Scare You Stiff (New York: Davis Publications, 1978) edited by Eleanor Sullivan [anth: Anthology #4: hb/]
Alfred Hitchcock's Tales to Send Chills Down Your Spine (New York: Davis Publications, 1978) edited by Eleanor Sullivan [anth: Anthology #5: hb/]
Alfred Hitchcock's Tales to Be Read with Caution (New York: Davis Publications, 1979) edited by Eleanor Sullivan [anth: Anthology #6: hb/]
Alfred Hitchcock's Tales to Fill You with Fear and Trembling (New York: Davis Publications, 1980) edited by Eleanor Sullivan [anth: Anthology #7: hb/]
Alfred Hitchcock's Tales to Be Make Your Teeth Chatter (New York: Davis Publications, 1980) edited by Eleanor Sullivan [anth: Anthology #8: hb/]
Alfred Hitchcock's Tales to Make Your Hair Stand on End (New York: Davis Publications, 1981) edited by Eleanor Sullivan [anth: Anthology #9: hb/]
Alfred Hitchcock's Tales to Make You Weak in the Knees (New York: Davis Publications, 1981) edited by Eleanor Sullivan [anth: Anthology #10: hb/]
Alfred Hitchcock's Tales to Make You Quake & Quiver (New York: Davis Publications, 1981) edited by Cathleen Jordan [anth: Anthology #11: hb/]
Alfred Hitchcock's Your Share of Fear: 19 Short Stories of Crime, Ghosts and Beyond (New York: Davis Publications, 1982) edited by Cathleen Jordan [anth: Anthology #12: hb/]
Alfred Hitchcock's Death-Reach (New York: The Dial Press, 1982) edited by Cathleen Jordan [anth: Anthology #13: hb/]
Alfred Hitchcock's Fatal Attractions (New York: The Dial Press, 1983) edited by Elana Lore [anth: Anthology #14: hb/]
Alfred Hitchcock's Borrowers of the Night (New York: The Dial Press, 1983) edited by Cathleen Jordan [anth: Anthology #15: hb/]
Alfred Hitchcock's A Choice of Evils (New York: The Dial Press, 1983) edited by Elana Lore [anth: Anthology #16: hb/]
Alfred Hitchcock's Mortal Errors (New York: The Dial Press, 1983) edited by Cathleen Jordan [anth: Anthology #17: hb/]
Alfred Hitchcock's Crime Watch (New York: The Dial Press, 1984) edited by Cathleen Jordan [anth: Anthology #18: hb/]
Alfred Hitchcock's Grave Suspicions (New York: The Dial Press, 1984) edited by Cathleen Jordan [anth: Anthology #19: hb/]
Alfred Hitchcock's No Harm Undone (New York: Davis Publications, 1984) edited by Cathleen Jordan [anth: Anthology #20: pb/]
Alfred Hitchcock's Words of Prey (New York: Davis Publications, 1986) edited by Cathleen Jordan [anth: Anthology #21: pb/]
Alfred Hitchcock's A Mystery By the Tale (New York: Davis Publications, 1986) edited by Cathleen Jordan [anth: Anthology #22: pb/]
Alfred Hitchcock's A Brief Darkness (New York: Davis Publications, 1987) edited by Cathleen Jordan [anth: Anthology #23: pb/]
Alfred Hitchcock's The Shadow of Silence (New York: Davis Publications, 1987) edited by Cathleen Jordan [anth: Anthology #24: pb/]
Alfred Hitchcock's Most Wanted: The First Lineup (New York: Davis Publications, 1988) edited by Cathleen Jordan [anth: Anthology #25: pb/]
Alfred Hitchcock's Shrouds and Pockets (New York: Davis Publications, 1988) edited by Cathleen Jordan [anth: Anthology #26: pb/]
Alfred Hitchcock's Murder & Other Mishaps (New York: Davis Publications, 1989) edited by Cathleen Jordan [anth: Anthology #27: pb/]

individual titles as "editor"

Known ghost editors are listed; others remain unidentified.

Suspense Stories Collected by Alfred Hitchcock (New York: Dell Mapback, 1945) [anth: pb/David Konuro]
- Suspense Stories (New York: Dell, 1946) [anth: vt of the above: pb/]
- 14 Suspense Stories to Play Russian Roulette By (New York: Dell, 1969) [anth: exp vt of the above with 1 added story: pb/]
Bar the Doors: Terror Stories (New York: Dell Mapback, 1946) edited by Don Ward [anth: pb/Gerald Gregg]
- Bar the Doors: 13 Great Tales of Terror (New York: Dell, 1962) [anth: vt of the above: pb/]
Alfred Hitchcock's Fireside Book of Suspense Stories (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1947) [anth: 11 stories from Suspense Stories Collected by Alfred Hitchcock plus 16 more: hb/]
Hold Your Breath: Suspense Stories (New York: Dell Mapback, 1947) [anth: pb/]
- Hold Your Breath: Stories to Turn in Your Grave By (New York: Dell, 1963) [anth: vt of the above: pb/]
Fear and Trembling: Shivery Stories (New York: Dell Mapback, 1948) [anth: pb/Gerald Gregg]
Suspense Stories (New York: Dell Mapback, 1949) [anth: pb/]
- A Baker's Dozen of Suspense Stories (New York: Dell, 1963) [anth: vt of the above: pb/]
Stories They Wouldn't Let Me Do on TV (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1957) edited by Robert Arthur [anth: hb/]
- 12 Stories They Wouldn't Let Me Do on TV (New York: Dell, 1958) [anth: cut vt of the above; first 12 stories: pb/]
  - Stories They Wouldn't Let Me Do on TV, Part One (London: Pan, 1960) [anth: vt of the above: pb/]
- 13 More Stories They Wouldn't Let Me Do on TV (New York: Dell, 1958) [anth: cut vt of the above; remaining 13 stories: pb/]
  - Stories They Wouldn't Let Me Do on TV, Part Two (London: Pan, 1960) [anth: vt of the above: pb/]
My Favorites in Suspense (New York: Random House, 1959) edited by Patricia O'Connell [anth: hb/]
- 14 of My Favorites in Suspense (New York: Dell, 1960) [anth: cut vt of the above; 14 of the 22 stories: pb/]
- More of My Favorites in Suspense (New York: Dell, 1961) [anth: cut vt of the above; 7 of the 22 stories: pb/]
- My Favourites in Suspense, Part One (London: Pan, 1962) [anth: cut vt of the above; 12 of the 22 stories: pb/]
- My Favourites in Suspense, Part Two (London: Pan, 1962) [anth: cut vt of the above; 10 of the 22 stories: pb/Glenn Steward]
- Don't Look a Gift-Shark in the Mouth (New York: Dell, 1976) [anth: cut vt of the above; 7 of the 22 stories: pb/]
Alfred Hitchcock's Haunted Houseful (New York: Random House, 1961) edited by Muriel Fuller [anth: illus/Fred Banbery: hb/]
Stories for Late at Night (New York: Random House, 1961) edited by Robert Arthur [anth: hb/]
- 12 Stories for Late at Night (New York: Dell, 1961) [anth: cut vt of the above; 12 of the 24 stories: pb/]
- More Stories for Late at Night (New York: Dell, 1961) [anth: cut vt of the above; 11 of the 24 stories: pb/]
Alfred Hitchcock's Ghostly Gallery: Eleven Spooky Stories for Young People (New York: Random House, 1962) edited by Robert Arthur [anth: illus/Barry Wilkinson: hb/]
A Hangman's Dozen (New York: Dell, 1962) [anth: pb/]
16 Skeletons from My Closet (New York: Dell, 1963) [anth: pb/]
Alfred Hitchcock's Solve-Them-Yourself Mysteries (New York: Random House, 1963) edited by Robert Arthur [anth: illus/Fred Banbery: hb/]
Stories My Mother Never Told Me (New York: Random House, 1963) edited by Robert Arthur [anth: hb/]
- Stories My Mother Never Told Me (New York: Dell, 1965) [anth: cut version of the above with 13 of 28 stories: pb/Fred Banbery]
- More Stories My Mother Never Told Me (New York: Dell, 1965) [anth: cut vt of the above with 14 of 28 stories: pb/]
Once Upon a Dreadful Time (New York: Dell, 1964) [anth: pb/]
Alfred Hitchcock's Monster Museum (New York: Random House, 1965) edited by Robert Arthur [anth: illus/Earl E Mayan: hb/]
Anti-Social Register (New York: Dell, 1965) [anth: pb/]
Stories Not for the Nervous (New York: Random House, 1965) edited by Robert Arthur [anth: hb/]
- Stories Not for the Nervous (New York: Dell, 1966) [anth: cut version of the above; first 13 of 24 stories: pb/]
  - Stories Not for the Nervous: Part One (London: Pan, 1968) [vt of the above: pb/Glenn Steward]
- More Stories Not for the Nervous (New York: Dell, 1967) [anth: differently cut vt of the above; remaining 11 of 24 stories: pb/]
  - Stories Not for the Nervous: Part Two (London: Pan, 1969) [vt of the above: pb/Glenn Steward]
Witches' Brew (New York: Dell, 1965) edited by Henry Veit [anth: different contents from the 1975 title below: pb/]
Alfred Hitchcock's Sinister Spies (New York: Random House, 1966) edited by Robert Arthur [anth: illus/Paul Spina: hb/]
Guaranteed Rest in Peace, and Other Macabre Tales (London: Four Square, 1966) edited by Peter Haining [anth: pb/]
Noose Report (New York: Dell, 1966) [anth: pb/]
Alfred Hitchcock's Spellbinders in Suspense (New York: Random House, 1967) edited by Robert Arthur [anth: illus/hb/Harold Isen]
Anyone for Murder? (London: Four Square, 1967) edited by Peter Haining [anth: pb/Josh Kirby]
Behind the Locked Door, and Other Strange Tales (London: Four Square, 1967) edited by Peter Haining [anth: pb/Josh Kirby]
This Day's Evil, and Other Tales of Suspense (London: Four Square, 1967) edited by Peter Haining [anth: pb/Philippe Halsman]
Games Killers Play (New York: Dell, 1967) [anth: pb/Fred Banbery]
Hard Day at the Scaffold (New York: Dell, 1967) [anth: pb/]
The Late Unlamented, and Other Tales of Evil (London: Four Square, 1967) edited by Peter Haining [anth: pb/Josh Kirby]
Meet Death at Night, and Other Tales of Terror (London: Four Square, 1967) edited by Peter Haining [anth: pb/Josh Kirby]
Stories that Scared Even Me (New York: Random House, 1967) edited by Robert Arthur [anth: the Library of Congress incorrectly gives co-editorial credit to Thomas M Disch: hb/]
- Stories that Scared Even Me (New York: Rinehart, 1967) [anth: 18 of 25 stories from the above plus a different short novel selection: hb/]
- Scream Along with Me: Tales from Stories that Scared Even Me (New York: Dell, 1970) [anth: cut vt of the above with 18 of 25 stories: pb/]
  - Stories that Scared Even Me, Part One (London: Pan, 1970) [anth: vt of the above: pb/]
- Slay Ride: More Tales that Scared Even Me (New York: Dell, 1970) [anth: cut vt of the above with 8 of the 25 stories: pb/]
  - Stories that Scared Even Me, Book 2 (London: Pan, 1971) [anth: vt of the above: pb/]
Coffin Corner (New York: Dell, 1968) [anth: pb/]
The Graveyard Man (London: Four Square, 1968) edited by Peter Haining [anth: pb/Josh Kirby]
Skull Session (New York: Dell, 1968) [anth: pb/]
Alfred Hitchcock's Daring Detectives (New York: Random House, 1969) edited by Robert Arthur [anth: illus/Arthur Shilstone: hb/]
Death Bag (New York: Dell, 1969) [anth: pb/]
Get Me to the Wake on Time (New York: Dell, 1969) [anth: pb/]
Happiness Is a Warm Corpse (New York: Dell, 1969) [anth: pb/]
A Month of Mystery (New York: Random House, 1969) edited by Robert Arthur [anth: hb/]
- Dates with Death: Tales from A Month of Mystery (New York: Dell, 1969) [anth: cut vt of the above with 15 of the 31 stories: pb/]
  - A Month of Mystery, Book 1 (London: Pan, 1972) [anth: vt of the above: pb/]
- Terror Time: Tales from A Month of Mystery (New York: Dell, 1969) [anth: differently cut vt of the above: pb/]
  - A Month of Mystery, Book 2 (London: Pan, 1973) [anth: vt of the above: pb/]
Murders I Fell in Love With (New York: Dell, 1969) [anth: pb/]
Murders on the Half-Skull (New York: Dell, 1969) [anth: pb/]
Down By the Old Bloodstream (New York: Dell, 1971) [anth: pb/]
I Am Curious (Bloody) (New York: Dell, 1971) [anth: pb/]
Rolling Gravestones (New York: Dell, 1971) [anth: pb/]
Stories to Stay Awake By (New York: Random House, 1971) edited by Robert Arthur [anth: hb/]
- Stories to Stay Awake By (New York: Dell, 1973) [anth: cut version of the above with 17 of the 35 stories: pb/]
- More Stories to Stay Awake By (New York: Dell, 1973) [anth: differently cut vt of the above: pb/]
This One Will Kill You (New York: Dell, 1971) edited by Peter Haining [anth: pb/]
The Best of Fiends (New York: Dell, 1972) [anth: pb/]
- The Best of Fiends: Fourteen Stories (London: Tandem, 1975) [anth: vt of the above: pb/]
Death Can Be Beautiful (New York: Dell, 1972) [anth: pb/]
Happy Deathday! (New York: Dell, 1972) [anth: pb/]
A Hearse of a Different Color (New York: Dell, 1972) [anth: pb/]
Death-Mate (New York: Dell, 1973) [anth: pb/]
Let It All Bleed Out (New York: Dell, 1973) [anth: pb/]
Stories to Be Read with the Lights On (New York: Random House, 1973) edited by Harold Q Masur [anth: illus/Robert Shore: hb/]
- Stories to Be Read with the Lights On, Book 1 (London: Pan, 1976) [anth: cut vt of the above: pb/Josh Kirby]
- Stories to Be Read with the Lights On, Book 2 (London: Pan, 1976) [anth: differently cut vt of the above: pb/Josh Kirby]
Supernatural Tales of Terror and Suspense (New York: Random House, 1973) edited by Henry Veit [anth: illus/Robert Shore: hb/]
Behind the Death Ball (New York: Dell, 1974) [anth: pb/]
Bleeding Hearts (New York: Dell, 1974) [anth: pb/]
Boys and Ghouls Together (New York: Dell, 1974) [anth: pb/]
Coffin Break (New York: Dell, 1974) [anth: pb/]
Grave Business (New York: Dell, 1975) [anth: pb/]
Murderers' Row (New York: Dell, 1975) [anth: pb/]
Murder Racquet (New York: Dell, 1975) [anth: pb/]
Speak of the Devil (New York: Dell, 1975) [anth: pb/]
Stories to Be Read with the Door Locked (New York: Random House, 1975) [anth: hb/photographic]
- Stories to Be Read with the Door Locked, Volume I (New York: Dell, 1977) [anth: cut vt of the above: first half minus introduction: pb/]
- Stories to Be Read with the Door Locked, Volume II (New York: Dell, 1977) [anth: cut vt of the above: second half: pb/]
Witches' Brew (New York: Dell, 1975) [anth: different contents from the 1965 title above: pb/]
Having a Wonderful Crime (New York: Dell, 1977) [anth: pb/]
Stories that Go Bump in the Night (New York: Random House, 1977) [anth: hb/]
- Stories That Go Bump in the Night, Book 1 (London: Coronet, 1980) [anth: cut vt of the above: pb/]
- Stories That Go Bump in the Night, Book 2 (London: Coronet, 1980) [anth: differently cut vt of the above: pb/]
Killers at Large (New York: Dell, 1978) [anth: pb/]
Murder-Go-Round (New York: Dell, 1978) [anth: pb/]
The Master's Choice (New York: Random House, 1979) edited by Harold Q Masur [anth: hb/]
- The Master's Choice, Book 1 (London: Coronet, 1981) [anth: cut vt of the above: pb/]
- The Master's Choice, Book 2 (London: Coronet, 1981) [anth: differently cut vt of the above: pb/]
Death on Arrival (New York: Dell, 1979) [anth: pb/]
Alive and Screaming (New York: Dell, 1980) [anth: pb/]
The Best of Mystery (New York: Galahad Books, 1980) edited by Harold Q Masur [anth: hb/]
Alfred Hitchcock: Tales of Terror (New York: Galahad Books, 1986) edited by Eleanor Sullivan [anth: hb/]
Portraits of Murder: 47 Short Stories Chosen by the Master of Deadly Suspense (New York: Galahad Books, 1988) edited by Eleanor Sullivan [anth: hb/]

about the filmmaker

François Truffaut. Le Cinéma Selon Hitchcock (Paris: Robert Laffont, 1966) [nonfiction: binding unknown/]
- François Truffaut. Hitchcock (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1967) [nonfiction: "with the collaboration of Helen G Scott": trans by her of the above: illus/various: hb/John + Mary Condon]
Donald Spoto. The Art of Alfred Hitchcock: Fifty Years of His Motion Pictures (London: W H Allen, 1977) [nonfiction: hb/]
Donald Spoto. The Life of Alfred Hitchcock (London: Collins, 1983) [nonfiction: hb/photographic]
Peter Ackroyd. Alfred Hitchcock (London: Chatto and Windus, 2015) [nonfiction: hb/photographic]
Edward White. The Twelve Lives of Alfred Hitchcock: An Anatomy of the Master of Suspense (New York: Norton, 2021) [hb/photographic]

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