Me and Hitch

Me and Hitch is a memoir detailing the professional relationship between screenwriter Evan Hunter and legendary director Alfred Hitchcock during their collaborations in the early 1960s. The book chronicles their work together from their first meeting in 1959 through 1963, with particular focus on their experiences making The Birds. Hunter provides an insider's view of Hitchcock's creative process and working methods, sharing firsthand accounts of their script development sessions and production meetings. The narrative traces how their initial business partnership evolved into a friendship built on mutual artistic respect. The book covers both their successful collaboration on The Birds and their subsequent work on Marnie, offering insights into the complex dynamics between writer and director in Hollywood filmmaking. Hunter's account includes personal anecdotes and conversations that reveal the personalities behind these iconic films. This memoir examines themes of artistic collaboration, the challenges of adapting material for the screen, and the sometimes fragile balance between creative vision and professional relationships in the film industry.

Readers consider this a brief but engaging look at Hitchcock through Hunter's personal experiences working with him on The Birds screenplay. Most reviews come from Hitchcock fans seeking behind-the-scenes insights into the director's methods. Readers appreciated: - Hunter's straightforward, unvarnished account - The glimpse into Hitchcock's working style and personality - Details about The Birds' script development process Main criticisms: - Too short at only 45 pages - Limited scope covering just one film collaboration - Price high for the length Ratings: Goodreads: 3.6/5 (89 ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (11 reviews) Notable reader comments: "A quick read but offers good insight into working with Hitch" - Goodreads reviewer "Feels more like a long magazine article than a book" - Amazon reviewer "Worth reading for Hitchcock completists but too expensive for casual fans" - LibraryThing review

Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho by Stephen Rebello Chronicles the complete behind-the-scenes story of Psycho's creation through interviews with cast, crew, and Hitchcock himself, offering the same detailed examination of a Hitchcock production as Hunter's memoir.

Conversations with Wilder by Cameron Crowe Presents intimate discussions between filmmaker Cameron Crowe and director Billy Wilder, revealing the same type of candid insights into a master director's methods that Hunter shares about Hitchcock.

My Life in Pictures by Charles Chaplin Details the filmmaking process and creative partnerships during Hollywood's golden age from the perspective of a filmmaker who, like Hitchcock, bridged silent and sound cinema.

The Name Above the Title by Frank Capra Chronicles the relationship between directors and writers in classic Hollywood through Capra's experiences as both screenwriter and director, paralleling Hunter's insights into the creative process.

Adventures in the Screen Trade by William Goldman Examines the writer-director dynamic in Hollywood through Goldman's experiences as a screenwriter, providing similar insights into the collaborative nature of filmmaking that Hunter explores.

🎬 Prior to writing for Hitchcock, Evan Hunter was already a successful novelist under the pen name Ed McBain, famous for his 87th Precinct police procedural series. 🦅 "The Birds" was loosely based on a short story by Daphne du Maurier, but Hunter and Hitchcock completely reimagined it, moving the setting from Cornwall, England to Bodega Bay, California. 🎥 Hunter wrote eleven different endings for "The Birds" before Hitchcock settled on the famous, ambiguous conclusion with the characters driving away as birds gather ominously. 👥 During their collaboration, Hunter and Hitchcock would meet frequently at Chasen's restaurant in Beverly Hills, where Hitchcock would meticulously explain his vision using restaurant items as props. 📚 The manuscript for "Me and Hitch" was completed in 1980 but wasn't published until 1997, long after Hitchcock's death in 1980 and just three years before Hunter's own passing in 2005.