Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock He was born on August 13, 1899 in Leytonstone, London and was one of the most prominent directors of suspense and horror films.
Son of William Y Emma, who strictly raised their child in a religious and family environment, Alfred He acquired a very shy and timid personality throughout his childhood, these characteristics he maintained until the day of his death.
Hitchcock he attended his first years at school Saint Ignatius College, but in 1915, after the death of his father, he dropped out of school and began working as an engineer at the Hanley Telegraph Company. From a very young age he showed his love for reading, always declaring that he was a fervent admirer of Charles dickens and of Edgar Allan Poe. After watching the movie “The birth of a nation” from David wark griffith, he became an unconditional lover of cinema.
This was one of the reasons that made Hitchcock start participating as an editor, artistic director and screenwriter in different films of those who would later become your colleagues: Donald crisp Y Hugh ford. It was then that he met Alma Reville, who would be his wife in 1926. On July 7, 1928 this happy marriage had a girl named Patricia, who would later participate as an actress in the film “Strangers on a train“(Strangers on a train).
In 1923, he was in charge of filming the short called “Number 13Despite that, the production of the same had to be stopped and the film would be in the inkwell.
In 1925, Alfred Hitchcock he shot his first feature film called “The garden of joy“, filmed entirely in Munich, so this would be considered a German-British co-production.
Four years later, the English director directed the first talkies film in England, entitled: “The London Girl“. During the filming of it, he received a surprise visit from his Royal Highness Isabel, Duchess of York.
After the success of his films, Hitchcock begins with a stage of hard work, in which he shoots several films such as “Murder!“(1930),”The Man Who Knew Too Much“(1934) and”The 39 Steps“(1935). The latter made the director a standard of the new British cinema.
In 1939, the English director moved to the United States with his family, where he made his adaptation of the novel by Daphne du maurier “Rebeca“(1940). This film nominated for Hitchcock as a candidate to win the Oscar, although the award was given to his colleague John ford for his movie “The Grapes of Wrath“.
In the decade of the 40’s, a stage of new projects begins, among which the films stand out “Foreign Correspondent“,”Suspicion“(1941),”The rope“(1946) and”Chained“(1946). In 1944, the director partnered with Sidney Berstein, with whom he founded the production company “Transatlantic Pictures“.
Then he directed new movies like “Rear window“(1954),”Perfect Crime“(1954),”Catch a thief“(1955) and”False guilty“(1957). It was at this time that Hitchcock started with his new project: “Alfred Hitchcock Presents“, a series in which different short stories in the vein of his films were shown.
In 1959, one of the director’s most prestigious films was shot, under the name of “with death on his heels“The following year he directs.”Psychosis“, which was a revolution in horror cinema after the scene of the murder of Janet leigh in the shower.
Years later, being already considered one of the greatest directors in history, Alfred Hitchcock wheel “Birds“,”Marnie the thief“,”Torn curtain“,”Topaz” Y “Frenzy“, which featured innovative cinematographic techniques. Despite this, after incorporating scenes that were somewhat aggressive for the culture of the time, the studios Universal Pictures the project was denied.
In 1968, he received a Honorary Oscar, the Irving Thalberg Memorial Award and began to be considered as “The master of suspense.”
In 1979, the queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom awarded him the title of Sir. A year later the famous director passed away at his home in Los Angeles at the age of 80.
Undoubtedly, Alfred Hitchcock He has left an innumerable legacy in hundreds of directors after him and he will always be considered one of the most important filmmakers in history.