Hitchcock/Truffaut

Hitchcock/Truffaut captures a week-long conversation between directors Alfred Hitchcock and François Truffaut at Universal Studios in 1962. The book presents their discussions about cinema, with Hitchcock analyzing his techniques and creative decisions across his entire filmography. The text features extensive interviews about Hitchcock's work from his early British films through his Hollywood career. Truffaut later updated the book after Hitchcock's death to include coverage of his final films and unrealized projects, providing a complete overview of the director's career. The book emerged from Truffaut's desire to document Hitchcock's creative process and defend his artistic legacy against critics who dismissed him as merely a commercial filmmaker. Through detailed discussions of technique, casting, and visual storytelling, it establishes Hitchcock's influence on modern cinema and his innovation within the medium. The conversations between these two directors reveal fundamental insights about the nature of film as an art form and the relationship between technical craft and psychological impact in cinema.

Readers value this book as a detailed look into Hitchcock's filmmaking techniques and philosophy, based on 50 hours of recorded conversations between the directors. The question-and-answer format and frame-by-frame film analysis help readers understand Hitchcock's creative decisions. Likes: - Technical explanations of camera movements and editing - Behind-the-scenes stories about working with actors - Truffaut's insightful questions that draw out Hitchcock's thoughts - Inclusion of film stills and storyboards Dislikes: - Some find Truffaut too deferential to Hitchcock - The translation from French occasionally feels stiff - Limited coverage of Hitchcock's later films - Photo quality in some editions is poor Ratings: Goodreads: 4.4/5 (14,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (650+ ratings) Notable review: "Like sitting in on a masterclass between two giants of cinema. The technical details alone make it worth reading." - Goodreads reviewer

Making Movies by Sidney Lumet Director Sidney Lumet breaks down the filmmaking process through examination of his own works like Dog Day Afternoon and Network, providing technical and artistic insights comparable to Hitchcock's revelations.

Sculpting in Time by Andrei Tarkovsky Through analysis of his filmography, Tarkovsky explores his philosophy of cinema and artistic process, offering a director's perspective on film theory and creative decision-making.

Something Like An Autobiography by Akira Kurosawa Kurosawa examines his development as a filmmaker and breaks down his creative methods, sharing the technical and artistic choices behind his masterworks.

On Directing Film by David Mamet Mamet dissects the fundamentals of film direction through practical examples and detailed analysis of scene construction, covering territory similar to the Hitchcock/Truffaut discussions.

Notes on the Cinematograph by Robert Bresson Bresson's collection of observations about filmmaking technique and theory provides insight into a director's creative process and philosophical approach to cinema.

★ The book originated from a 1962 meeting in Hollywood, where Truffaut and Hitchcock spoke for over 50 hours, requiring a translator as Hitchcock didn't speak French and Truffaut's English was limited. ★ Originally published in French in 1966 under the title "Le Cinéma selon Alfred Hitchcock" (The Cinema According to Alfred Hitchcock), the book took Truffaut four years to complete. ★ The publication helped rehabilitate Hitchcock's reputation among critics who had previously dismissed him as merely a commercial filmmaker, establishing him as a serious artist. ★ This book has become required reading in many film schools worldwide and has influenced generations of filmmakers, including Martin Scorsese, Wes Anderson, and David Fincher. ★ In 2015, the book inspired a documentary film "Hitchcock/Truffaut," directed by Kent Jones, featuring interviews with contemporary directors discussing the book's impact on cinema.