1. The Perfect Murder
Hitchcock creates characters who view murder as an intellectual puzzle, and many of his characters have attempted to commit the perfect murder (a murder with no clues). Some examples of Hitchcock films that utilize this: "Strangers on a Train" (1951), "Rope" (1948), "Dial M for Murder" (1954), "Vertigo" (1958), "Shadow of a Doubt" (1943), "Suspicion" (1941).
Alfred Hitchcock said-"There is nothing quite so good as burial at sea. It is simple, tidy, and not very incriminating."
Alfred Hitchcock said-"There is nothing quite so good as burial at sea. It is simple, tidy, and not very incriminating."
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2. Macguffins
A macguffin is a detail which, by inciting curiosity and desire, drives the plot and motivates actions of the characters within the story. However, a the specific identity of a macguffin is unimportant to the plot. Hitchcock used macguffins in many of his films.
For example: In "Vertigo," Carlotta Valdes is a macguffin. You never see her and the details of her death are unimportant to the viewer. However, the story of her posessing Madeleine Elster's body is the spur of Scottie's investigation, and therefor drives the entire plot.
Another example is in "North by Northwest"- The government secrets was the macguffin because they were unknown and unimportant, but they aso drove the whole plot.
Macguffins were also used in "The Man Who Knew Too Much," "The 39 Steps," and "The Lady Vanishes."
For example: In "Vertigo," Carlotta Valdes is a macguffin. You never see her and the details of her death are unimportant to the viewer. However, the story of her posessing Madeleine Elster's body is the spur of Scottie's investigation, and therefor drives the entire plot.
Another example is in "North by Northwest"- The government secrets was the macguffin because they were unknown and unimportant, but they aso drove the whole plot.
Macguffins were also used in "The Man Who Knew Too Much," "The 39 Steps," and "The Lady Vanishes."
3. The Ordinary Person
Hitchcock often placed an ordinary character in extraordinary circumstances. The focus on an ordinary character lets the audience relate more to the action in the film. For example: In "The Man Who Knew Too Much," an ordinary man vacationing with his family gets pulled into a situation that is bigger than him, and his son is kidnapped. In "The Wrong Man," Manny, an ordinary man, is arrested for a crime he didn't commit. Other examples are in "Vertigo," "North By Northwest," and "Strangers on a Train."
4. The Wrong Man
Hitchcock often used mistaken identity as a theme in his films. In "North by Northwest" Roger is mistaken for a non-existant CIA agent. In "The Wrong Man" Henry is mistaken for a criminal. In "Vertigo" Madeleine Elster is impersonated by another woman. In "The 39 Steps" Richard is accused of murdering a spy. In "Frenzy" the protagonist is thought to be the necktie killer. In "Saboteur" Barry Crane is framed. In "Secret Agent" they kill the wrong man. Those are just a few examples of mistaken identity; there are many more.
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5. The Likeable Villain
The villain in a Hitchcock film, usually a sociopath or a criminal, often appears charming and likeable. Examples: "The 39 Steps" "The Lady Vanishes" "Notorious" "Frenzy "Shadow of a Doubt" "Strangers on a Train" "Dial M for Murder" "Family Plot" "North by Northwest." In "Psycho," Norman is emotionally vulnerable and a sympathetic character.
Alfred Hitchcock said-"The more successful the villain, the more successful the picture."
Alfred Hitchcock said-"The more successful the villain, the more successful the picture."
6. Sexuality
Hitchcock put many sexual scenes in his films, and he deals with perverse and taboo behavior. However, because of the modest conventions of his era, he sometimes had to convey sexuality in an emblematic fashion. He had methods of conveying sexuality, for example, passionate consumption of food instead of sexual passion. In "Psycho," Norman talks to Marion while stroking a dead animal with one hand and stroking his crotch with the other hand.
Alfred Hitchcock said-"I've never been very ken on women who hang their sex around their neck like baubles. I think it should be discovered. It's more interesting to discover the sex in a woman than it is to have it thrown at you, like a Marilyn Monroe or those types. To me they are rather vulgar and obvious."
Alfred Hitchcock said-"I've never been very ken on women who hang their sex around their neck like baubles. I think it should be discovered. It's more interesting to discover the sex in a woman than it is to have it thrown at you, like a Marilyn Monroe or those types. To me they are rather vulgar and obvious."
7. The Cold Blonde Woman
Alfred Hitchcock always preferred blondes. He said that the audience would be more suspicious of a brunette. These blonde characters were typically perfect, aloof, and icey with an inner fire. Hitchcock said that he used blondes because it is a tradition, and they photograph better in black and white, and because blondes are "a symbol of the heroine." Most Hitchcock films are examples of this, including "Vertigo," "Psycho," "North by Northwest," "Rear Window," and "The Birds."
Alfred Hitchcock said-"Blondes make the best victims. They're like virgin snow that shows up the bloody footprints."
Alfred Hitchcock said-"Blondes make the best victims. They're like virgin snow that shows up the bloody footprints."
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