Promotional Information

"Richard Allen's book is a remarkable work of synthesis, drawing on a wide range of Hitchcock scholarship that now spans half a century. But it is more than synthesis: Allen has his own original take on the elements that combine to create what he calls Hitchcock's 'unique cinematic intelligence.' Arguing that the full richness of a classic like Rear Window can only be fully grasped if the film is 'understood in the context of the entire pattern of Hitchcock's work,' Allen sets himself to tease out that entire pattern, making illuminating links between films of different periods, genres, and styles. Above all, his analysis of the films' elaborate visual aesthetic serves as a means to get to the heart of what they convey about the intricacies of human sexuality. An exhilarating read." -- Charles Barr, Washington University in St. Louis

Table of Contents

Preface Acknowledgments Part I: Narrative Form 1 Romantic Irony 2 Suspense 3 Knowledge and Sexual Difference Part II: Visual Style 4 Sexuality and Style 5 Expressionism 6 Color Design Conclusion Notes Index

About the Author

Richard Allen is professor and chair of cinema studies at New York University. He is the author of numerous essays on Hitchcock, coeditor of two anthologies, Alfred Hitchcock: Centenary Essays and Hitchcock: Past and Future, and with Sidney Gottlieb he edits the Hitchcock Annual for Wallflower Press.

Reviews

"Tough but rewarding." -- Empire (four star review) " "In-depth, insightful... Highly recommended." -- CHOICE "Comprehensive and gracefully conceived." -- Michael Richardson, Cineaste