Fans of the world-renowned director won’t necessarily
find anything new in Peter Ackroyd’s Alfred
Hitchcock. There is obviously a slew
of biographies written about Hitch, so to discover some fresh tidbits is often
difficult. However, Ackroyd does add flavor
to the book by adding new insight into Hitchcock's quirky personality (some would say).
From his childhood in England to his huge movie career in
the States, Hitchcock was a unique character. His constantly nervous ways made
his early years be spent in fearful isolation, so it’s interesting that he
became one of the most famous directors who ever lived. Ackroyd really plays up
Hitchcock’s quirks in all their glory, like the fact that he smashed a tea cup
every single day to remind him how frail life was. It is also interesting to
read how superstars like Grace Kelly and Cary Grant became very insecure over
his seemingly nonchalant directing style.
So while there’s nothing really new here, Ackroyd puts
together a thorough, well-written look into Hitchcock’s life that will keep fans quite engrossed.
MY RATING - 3
