WELCOME! (or should we say, "Good evening . . ." Over the past fifty years, Alfred Hitchcock has been discovered and re-discovered by countless fans, film scholars, and film school students. Described as the "best director of American Cinema," Hitchcock's pictures have left countless images on our minds and souls. Thousands of books have been published and written about Hitchcock, both his life and his motion pictures. Tons of web- sites and magazines issue essays every month. But one aspect of Hitchcock's career has not been studied or analyzed as much as Psycho and North by Northwest. Beginning in the Fall of 1955, ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS premiered on national television with rave reviews, and critical acclaim. (most of the reviews complimented Hitchcock's hosting style - not the dramas themselves!) The television program became a staple in American homes, and made Alfred Hitchcock a celebrity. Hid droll British humor and macabre jokes aimed toward the sponsors asked television viewers to sit comfortably in an environment that at the time, was starting to become plagued by more advertisements and less entertainment. Thanks to PRESENTS, the series made Hitchcock a wealthy individual, and the program remained on the airwaves for ten seasons! But this also proved to backfire. The famed director found it more difficult to shoot films on location without crowds gathering. Jokes about his program ribbed him constantly. His famous "cameo appearances" in the movies had to appear during the beginning of the movies, because viewers started spending the time looking for Hitchcock, and stopped paying attention to the movies. THE ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS COMPANION is one the book you don't want to miss out. This publication documents the entire history of the television program, from the origin of the series, to the after-effects in syndication runs. This web-site is devoted to the book and the television program you've grown to love with each viewing. |
THE ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS COMPANION WRITTEN BY MARTIN GRAMS, JR. AND PATRIK WIKSTROM. |
