Alfred Hitchcock

Master of Suspense, had a pleasantly surprising sense of humor. Love almost everything he made and this includes some of his early works, and I mean early, early, He directed some good Silent pictures, if you have the patience to watch them. His reputation is well earned.

What can I say? He has made some of the most suspenseful films of all time as well as some of my favorites. Two thumbs up!

A genius, and that fact that he he directed escapist, frilly movies counts for nothing. He brought a substance to them far above the generally trivial plot. This guy is proof that one can make entertainment, but add a depth to it that most hacks couldn't manage. His grasp of narrative is unsurpassed, his sense of drama and sense of humour are unmatched, and he seemed able to get the best out of some pretty mediocre actors.

Hitch leaves me in awe at times with the brilliance of his mind. Quite simply put, he was the master. With such thought provoking films that you sometimes have to see several times to get the full effect. Very easily one of the top 3 directors of all time.

He was peerless in his area. The many copycats show his power and talent.  At least thirty people rated him a "1."  I would love to analyze their psychic problems, but then Lawrence would ban me from the site!

Notwithstanding one's usual preference is cinema, no one can dispute the influence of Alfred Hitchcock. This director was so prolific over such a long period of time (i.e. silent films to the 1970's) and worked with the leading on-screen talent of his day (e.g. Grace Kelly, Jimmy Stewart, and Cary Grant). Other reviewers have noted some of Hitchcock's landmark films (e.g. "Dial M For Murder", "Psycho", "North By Northwest", and "Rear Window"), the plots of which have become part of the mythology of modern Western culture (i.e. the common human experience). Part of the reason for this is that Hitchcock was so spot on in portraying the flawed human condition using techniques that contemporary directors continue to emulate. Alfred Hitchcock was born August 13, 1899 in London and died of a heart attack on April 29, 1980 in Los Angeles.

A great story teller with the most wicked sense of humour ever. He fell on formula a bit but still produced an incredible collection of movies.

One of the greatest film directors of our time. Better than Kubrick.

Hitch was incredible- North by Northwest, The Birds, Vertigo- what more could anyone ask?

The 2nd greatest director ever.

Hitchcock was a master of his craft.He was way ahead of his time and influenced many who came after him.

A fascinating director that has films, for the most part, can be watched over and over. I think its a shame that the films have aspects that date them. A lot of set pieces and special effects are laughable now and keep a lot of young viewers from seeing the true genius of his work. There is no better story teller in the history of cinema that reached so many.

Alfred Hitchcock rocks.

Alfred Hitchcock and I would say Orson Welles are two of cinema's most impressive, influential, important and unforgettable directors. Hitchcock film's are classics and his style and technique are still emulated today. Take Psycho, his most famous film, a movie that still shocks today. The movie works because Hitchock did go for cheap gratuitous violence to scare the audience. It's the unexpected, it's the sudden impact that jolts you. Hitchcock made so many memorable movies and he was the master of suspense. His movies had great, unforgettable characters, intrigue, danger, humor, and a twist. My personal favorites are Dial M For Murder starring Ray Milland, Grace Kelly, Bob Cummings and John Williams. Ray Milland plans to have his wife murdered when he finds out she's been unfaithful. However she kills her attacker, and things take a twist from there. Ray Milland is devilishly sly. John Williams is superb as the Chief Inspector. The next film I would recommend would be Str... Read more

Wow. Hitchcock. He is an Amazing director who's movies have influenced, and scared people for years. He has come up with many techniquies that have contributed to the movie industry still to this day. Im sure he'd be happy to see how his condributions to the buissness are at use today.

This man should be #1 in directors. What a master. Loved his movies and TV shows.

Yes, he treated actors like sh#$. Yes, he had a serious issues with women and treated them far worse. . .but make no mistake- he was the master. REAR WINDOW, PSYCHO, and ROPE are my favorites. . .just a tremendous director.

A lot of people would name The Birds, Psycho, or Vertigo as their favorite Hitchcock movie, but I love Rebecca. I don't look on him very fondly because of the way he treated Tippi Hedren when she wouldn't accept his romantic advances, but as a director, he's a legend.

No one else in the mystery or horror genres even comes close. The thing I like most about Hitchcock is that he hardly ever actually showed a lot of blood and guts--he would lead you to the edge, and leave a little something to the imagination. We could use more of his kind of ingenuity and creativity in present-day Hollywood.

One of the all time greatest movie directors.

Being a fan of the "AH Presents" series I was really enthusiastic about seing his movies for the first time. But what a letdown were they: "Vertigo", "Rear Window", "The Man who Knew too much", "The trouble with Harry", "Rope", "Charade", "Notorius" (yes, I really saw them all). Very boring stuff. Let's elaborate: anybody actually understands Vertigo the first time though??....not to say James Stewart's perfomances in several of his movies (I can't say if it's either overacted or fake)..the director appearing in the middle of the story (his "signature")... the fake set choices (Vertigo, Harry, The man who)...the genres (all of his movies were just about suspense). I didn't even saw any reviews then for a more unbias point of view but ¡hey! what I'm talking about!!! ..objectivity??? ...it's all about emmotion that matters.....Psycho, that was a good movie, but one out of too many.....

He evoked suspense and even shock without depicting graphic violence or using any other cheap tactic. Too bad we have nobody else like him.

He was unique: he could keep you in suspense throughout a movie without having to resort to gratuitious violence. I despise violence. But I love intelligent suspense. I also loved Hitchcock's bland comical remarks here & there, and his little cameo performances in his own movies; and of course, the way he shot little barbs at his own sponsors.

The supreme entertainer and artist,beloved by critics and public alike.If i have a warmer affection for Mizoguchi and Renoir(neither on this list,as yet!),there's no denying his #1 position is valid.Much more than a master of suspense and manipulator of audience emotions,Hitchcock developed an ever richer visual style,allied to greater psychological depth and control of the cinematic medium - often astounding camerawork,colour,editing,pacing,location..-for his own inimitably witty,thrilling,voyeuristic,rule-bending purposes.North by North West(a majestic adventure),Vertigo(wonderfully,ravishingly enigmatic),Rear Window,The 39 Steps(his British gem),Psycho,The Birds,Notorious, Marnie(grossly underrated),The Lady Vanishes,Rebecca,Shadow of a Doubt,Strangers on a Train;all acknowledged masterpieces from a true original!

Alfred Hitchcock is pretty much the reason why I love movies. He is the reason I want to go into movies myself, he is a true artist and he is most definately a first-class showman. No words of mine can do this man justice for what he has done for the film industry.

His horror movies are American classics. I saw a great biographical film on him in Disney World, Florida and there was this awesome feature: you wore these goggles for "The Birds" and it made it seem like a bunch of birds were flying right at you. It was really cool.

Best american film director of all times. tons of good movies such as rear window and north by northwest. on the interesting side didnt ave a belly button!

A true perfectionist. He knew exactly what he wanted and wouldn't settle for less. Movies like "The Birds" and "Vertigo" are truly timeless. I don't think anybody has matched Hitchcock's sense of suspense since his prime.

Everything that has ever mattered in motion pictures has owed atleast some influence to Alfred Hitchcock. It is very rare to discover a man who could both make very complex movies and still know what his audience wants. I think Steve Spielberg is the only other, but as good as he is, Hitchcock is many times more skilled at the craft. Hitchcock is my inspiration to go ahead and make movies myself. Films like VERTIGO, REAR WINDOW, NORTH BY NORTHWEST, PSYCHO & NOTORIOUS hold a unique place in film history. You cannot classify them as horror nor can you classify them as suspense films, because basically, Hitchcock owns that genre of film! They are simply Hitchcock films, it's as simple as that.

So many talented artists seem to "flower" briefly and then fade away. But Hitchcock had considerable staying power. His early British hits - "The Thirty-Nine Steps", "The Lady Vanishes" - were then followed by his American classics - "Notorious", "Shadow Of A Doubt" and so on, leading to the later period- "North By Northwest", "Psycho". His inventiveness and skill remained active for so many years.

THE MASTER OF SUSPENCE! Truely, the greatest director and showman of our times. This man was a marvel. His work is absolute art and has proven to stand the test of time. No director has ever, I repeat, ever been able to match this mans talent,style,simplicity and capability to draw an audience in completly. Suspence is dead these days. Mr.Hitchcock, as far as I am concerned, mastered the art of suspence. He knew how to keep everyone in the theater on edge. Alfred Hitchcock is a pure and completly astonishing genius. Some directors have tried, some have completly ripped off (I'm not going to name names,...Cough,cough,Van Sant,Cough.)but no one will ever out do the original. HE IS AND WILL ALWAYS BE THE MAN!

YEAH!!

A great director. He knew how to do a suspense movie.and he did not have to go for the blood and gore either. Rear Window, Psycho, North by Northwest.all classics. He had a way of keeping the audience drawn into his movies,You could not always predict what would happen in his movies, like the shower scene in Psycho.or the end of Psycho. for example.{if someone has never seen Psycho I would not want to give any spoilers} I would say he was one of the best directors around.

Two words: horror genius. Okay, more than two words- he proved that it does not take graphic violence and a bunch of drunk teenagers at a party with a guy in a mask to make a scary movie. "Psycho" is chilling... and that's just one of his amazing works!

Alfred Hitchcock has created some extremly great and exciting movies, and even though he has had a few failures, he should be #1 on this list. He does extremly well and takes the time with his movies.

Some of Hitchcock's movies actually bore me, but I can't deny that he is one of the most innovative directors of our time. His use of camera angles and filming techniques revolutionized the film industry. He definitely captured horror without the blood and guts and captivated his audience. Hitchcock films are timeless classics that will be enjoyed for years to come.

I love "Psycho", I really do! :-)

Ah, Hitch! Who hasn’t he either influenced or scared nearly to death at one time or another over the past 50 years? Oh, he’s had his critics for sure. But, hey, guess what!? The movies are still running and still being viewed and enjoyed by wide-eyed movie lovers of all generations. Nobody was more adept at blending the macabre with black humor and psychological terror than Hitchcock. If we could check back 100 years from now, I’m sure we would still be able to discuss the strangeness of Norman Bates with just about anyone we’d find on the streets.