Beginning this Thursday, October 27th, I will be returning to the JCC In Manhattan, where I will begin teaching a six week course on the films directed by the Master of Suspense, Alfred Hitchcock, during what can be considered, his golden period: the 1950’s.
It is the decade when Hitchcock became an director, who while still contracted to Hollywood studios, became more independent in his filmmaking decisions: production, casting, script.
We begin this series with Strangers On A Train, starring Farley Granger and Robert Walker. A story of criss-cross murders. As we continue, we enter the period of Grace Kelly (Hitchcock directed her in three films, including one we will discuss and view, Rear Window. Hitchcock decided to remake The Man Who Knew Too Much-his first version was in 1934-now, he had Technicolor, Vista Vision, James Stewart, Doris Day, and a hit song-Que Sera, Sera. Other films in this course will include The Wrong Man, and two Hitchcock masterpieces, Vertigo (1958) and North By Northwest (1959).
This is a period in Hitchcock’s career, which included many films which are now considered his best work. This is also the period in which he collaborated with the great Bernard Herrmann.
Thus, Hitch will be a temporary inhabitant of the JCC In Manhattan, on Thursdays, during the next six weeks.