Hitchcock and the Censors
We have SIX Books to Give Away this month
John Billheimer meticulously catalogs the filmmaker’s battles with the censors, both mischievous and profound, in fantastically readable fashion.”― Eddie Muller, Film Noir Foundation founder, and TCM Host
It’s time for our next book giveaway contest! CMH is very happy to announce that we will be giving away SIX COPIES of Hitchcock and the Censors by John Billheimer, courtesy of University Press of Kentucky, from now through July 13.
In order to qualify to win one of these prizes via this contest giveaway, you must complete the below entry task by Saturday, July 13 at 9PM EST. However, the sooner you enter, the better chance you have of winning, because we will pick a winner on six different days within the contest period, via random drawings, as listed below… So if you don’t win the first week that you enter, you will still be eligible to win during the following weeks until the contest is over.
- June 8: One Winner
- June 15: One Winner
- June 22: One Winner
- June 29: One Winner
- July 6: One Winner
- July 13: One Winner
We will announce each week’s winner on Twitter @ClassicMovieHub, the day after each winner is picked at 9PM EST — for example, we will announce our first week’s winner on Sunday June 9 at 9PM EST on Twitter. And, please note that you don’t have to have a Twitter account to enter; just see below for the details…
…..
And now on to the contest!
ENTRY TASK (2-parts) to be completed by Saturday, July 13 at 9PM EST — BUT remember, the sooner you enter, the more chances you have to win…
1) Answer the below question via the comment section at the bottom of this blog post
2) Then TWEET (not DM) the following message*:
Just entered to win the “Hitchcock and the Censors” #BookGiveaway courtesy of @KentuckyPress & @ClassicMovieHub
THE QUESTION:
Why do you love most about Hitchcock and/or his films?
*If you do not have a Twitter account, you can still enter the contest by simply answering the above question via the comment section at the bottom of this blog — BUT PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU ADD THIS VERBIAGE TO YOUR ANSWER: I do not have a Twitter account, so I am posting here to enter but cannot tweet the message.
NOTE: if for any reason you encounter a problem commenting here on this blog, please feel free to tweet or DM us, or send an email to clas…@gmail.com and we will be happy to create the entry for you.
ALSO: Please allow us 48 hours to approve your comments. Sorry about that, but we are being overwhelmed with spam, and must sort through 100s of comments…
About the Book: In Hitchcock and the Censors, author John Billheimer traces the forces that led to the Production Code and describes Hitchcock’s interactions with code officials on a film-by-film basis as he fought to protect his creations, bargaining with code reviewers and sidestepping censorship to produce a lifetime of memorable films. Despite the often-arbitrary decisions of the code board, Hitchcock still managed to push the boundaries of sex and violence permitted in films by charming―and occasionally tricking―the censors and by swapping off bits ofdialogue, plot points, and individual shots (some of which had been deliberately inserted as trading chips) to protect cherished scenes and images. By examining Hitchcock’s priorities in dealing with the censors, this work highlights the director’s theories of suspense as well as his magician-like touch when negotiating with code officials.
Click here for the full contest rules.
Please note that only Continental United States (excluding Alaska, Hawaii, and the territory of Puerto Rico) entrants are eligible.
And — BlogHub members ARE eligible to win if they live within the Continental United States (as noted above).
Good Luck!
And if you can’t wait to win the book, you can purchase the on amazon by clicking here:
…..
–Annmarie Gatti for Classic Movie Hub
,
I LOVE Hitchcock films because there is always that twist and turn that you never expected. He was the Master of Suspense!
I love Hitchcock and his movies as they have a sense of being timeless. All these years later I still enjoy his movies as they always tried to push the envelope in terms of cinematography, acting, background score.
I love the characters in Hitchcock films. They are specific and true. Their behavior and actions speak volumes underneath the superb dialogue that is always found in his films.
What I love most about Hitchcock’s films is that they are suspenseful and crafted so well. Also that even though they are old films they still hold up when watching them. Rear Window was the first film that I saw of his and I was hooked to watch many more of them. I love his choices for actors and overall he was the master at making interesting well paced and exciting films too.
I love Hitchcock films because they’re classic film noir…..they explore all aspects of human nature, including the dark side everyone has.
I am a huge Hitchcock fan. Huge. One of the many things I like most about him, as a director, is his vision. He visualized every shot, just like animated movies are storyboarded, before shooting. He was able to see the entire film in his mind before the very first call for ‘action.’ That is a rare and true talent. Granted, it could make him a bit unwavering in what ended up on screen (not really adaptable to other’s notes/ideas) and actors were ‘cattle’ in his words and not creative partners, but looking at his body of work, not sure one could really fault him. With a wide range of films from Psycho to North by Northwest to Strangers on a Train, from silent to talkies, from filming in England to Hollywood, he was able to make it all…and see it long before any of us could.
I love the suspense he’s able to convey to the audience!
Twitter: @_baroquebeauty_
I do not have a Twitter account, so I am posting here to enter but cannot tweet the message
I love Hitchcock and his films for many reasons, all of which come down to some combination of beauty and complexity. The stories are twisted, in both classic and unexpectedly personal ways, as are the metaphors, imagery, staging. Indeed every aspect of these movies bears the stamp of Hitchcock’s inner life elevated to universal human fear and hope.
I have loved Hitch’s films my whole life!
Sabouteur knocked me out a s a kid! The camera work and the atmosphere oh my!
The litany of amazing films is beyond amazing…The Trouble with Harry, Marnie, Rope, Strangers on a train…The casting is so good…while the “Cool Blondes” get so much notoriety…the other players are amazing as well. Connery in Marnie, Bob Cummings in Saboteur, Uncle Charlie Joseph Cotten in Shadow of a Doubt (perhaps my favorite! Edmund Gwenn in “The Trouble with Harry.The great Lombard is Mr. and Mrs. Smith paired with the wonderful Robert Montgomery! Life doesn’t have enough free time to watch them all as frequently as I’d like to. And then there is the brief appearances by Hitch himself. The post war intrigue of NXNW, and Landau & Masonas well. All so great.
I love Hitchcock’s work so much I’ve been teaching him at the college level for over a decade. There are many reasons to love his work, but his consummate mastery of the craft of filmmaking and the art of storytelling is the widest and most encompassing reason…
Hitchcock consistently created well-thought-out, meticulously planned films that delved into the human psyche like no other director. He made so many great films, it’s hard to narrow it down to “his best,” but my favorites include the groundbreaking masterpiece Psycho, North by Northwest, Rebecca, and the underrated Marnie. But it is Vertigo that stands atop the list of the best films ever made by any director. Since he always expressed a fascination with sexual obsession in nearly all of his films to some degree, I can’t wait to read more about Hitch’s battles with Hollywood’s censors!
(@sage_dude)
I’ve no great theory about Hitchcock, but anyone who’s got enough history of “getting over on the man” to have a book assembled about it has my attention! and working in a library just enhances that, Banned Books Week and such..
I saw my first two Hitchcock movies when I was only 10 years old; The Birds and Rope. What made me fall in love with and be so intrigued in his movies was that they leave you questioning what happens next. The twists and turns that he throws in are also another thing that I love so much about his films. His casting choices were the absolute best as well, including the likes of Jimmy Stewart, Cary Grant, Anthony Perkins and Grace Kelly (to name a few).
I love Hitchcock films for the suspense, the brilliant storylines, the masterful cinematography, and the humor.
I just read a book about Hitchcock and have come to realize how talented he was. It was interesting his time in Advertising. I gained a greater appreciation for all Actors, Directors and Producers. Television and making movies is hard work!
What I love most about Hitchcock’s films is the beauty that he brought in his films even though they were suspenseful. Grace Kelly’s elegance in Rear Window and To Catch a Thief, the cinematography of Rebecca, the image of the Statue of Liberty in Saboteur and the images by Dali in Spellbound.
I love the timeless quality of Hitchcock’s films. I also love the fact that they stand up to repeated viewing. It doesn’t matter how many times I have seen one of his films before I am always up for watching them again.
I love Hitchcock’s films because each one is the work of a master story teller. No matter how many times I have seen a film, I am immersed in the story as if I am seeing for the first time. I love the way he incorporated psychology and suspense in his films. I love that he was able to progress from silent films to sound to color using film advancements to enhance his storytelling. My favorite Hitchcock films are Spellbound, Suspicion, Notorious, North by Northwest and To Catch a Thief.
What I love most about Hitchcock’s films is every one of them is a masterclass in filmmaking. Also, I learn something new every time I rewatch one. To achieve what he was able to all those years ago is astounding!
I love the twist to the stories. He does it the best.
I love Hitch’s ability to tell a story with style- hes a very visual film maker and no detail on screen is to be missed! Its traits like that which brought suspense to the next level
Twitter- @flapperdame16
Hitchcock’s provocative thriller films and shows were crafted with quality intrigue, classy dialogue and characters, stunning wardrobe and posh locales all over the world. They were and still are addictive to watch!
I love the element of suspense in all of his movies and his choice of actors and actresses
Suspense and camera Angles!
I love the great humor in his films as well as in his presentation, such as in a trailer he fashioned for a re-release of “Psycho” (undoubtedly my favorite Hitchcock film). For those with the 2-disc set it’s in the special features. I also love his persistence in seeing his visions through. He knew exactly what he wanted to see in his films. The scores are fantastic, too, especially in “Psycho”, “Vertigo” and “North by Northwest”. All the actors were perfect for the roles they played, there’s no imagining who else might have played Marion Crane, or Grace Kelly’s part in “Rear Window”, or Kim Novak’s part in “Vertigo”, although I’d heard Vera Miles was up for it before becoming pregnant.
Besides his incredible taste in scripts, Hitchcock has such a brilliant use with the camera. He knows how to build suspense and tension in the slowest of camera pans and tilts. It’s always a joy watching a Hitchcock film.
I’m going to be honest, I adore the cameos. His movies are of course fantastic examples of whodunnits, crime thrillers, and even eerie social commentary, but my favorite part since I was a child was watching for his little appearances – a little easter egg within the larger plot and mystery.
I love Hitchcock films because as many times as you watch them (and I have watched them many times!) there is almost always something you didn’t notice before, some small detail in the scenes or dialogue that relates to the story or has you saying ‘oh that makes sense’.
Hitchcock was such an artist and was able to create tension in such a dynamic fashion. I knew of his genius from a young age and grew up absolutely adoring his films.
I love Hitchcock movies because all is never what it seems.
When I was younger I watched Rear Window & remember being terrified as Grace Kelly sneaked around the apartment while the killer loomed nearby. To this day that scene is my favorite in any Hitchcock film & still makes my heart race! When I was a little older I watched Strangers on a Train & was transfixed by the interplay between Guy & Bruno. It was so odd, but strangely logical…see, Hitchcock has always been able to twist me up. He is the puppet master!!
Hitchcock’s films speak to all of us because we can all project ourselves into his characters, wondering what *we* would do in the characters’ situations, whether as “the wrong man falsely accused,” the observer of a crime, or some other Hitchcock set-up. The levels of tension and suspense are almost unbearable, yet – even knowing the outcomes – we revisit these films again and again for a reason: they’re spectacular!
What I love most about Hitchcock was his ability to make you care so deeply about the people who find themselves in the most unfortunate situations–Tippi Hedren making the mistake of opening that bedroom door, finding the room filled with “The Birds.” Or Janet Leigh, taking a shower in a motel room, unaware of the “Psycho” lurking near. Normal people in abnormal circumstances…Hitch always made it work.
I do not have a Twitter account, so I am posting here to enter but cannot tweet the message.
I love Hitchcock films because each one shows his meticulous attention to detail in every scene. Hitchcock used storyboards to frame every scene of every movie. His perspectives, long shots, closeups and slow crawls (later known as Mickey Rooneys) were as finely crafted as any piece of jewelry.
What I love about a Hitchcock film: Really, what is there not to like? I’m a super big fan of classic mystery and thriller movies, and I must say Hitchcock gave the best of those films. The movie Rope I found most interesting since it it filmed in one setting the whole time. Very few movies are filmed that way. Like all his films, it’s such an engaging movie, none of his films are the least bit boring or seem to drag on. It would be a real honor to win this book; to learn and expand my knowledge about him and the films would be wonderful!
I love that Hitchcock never lost sight of his audience. You watch a Hitchcock movie and you never feel like he’s simply making the film for himself; he remembers that you’re there and wants to be sure you’re following the way he wants you to. My favorite is North By Northwest, his film with the most humor in it (sorry, The Trouble With Harry), because he’s working with making the audience laugh but never skimps on the suspense.
Hitchcock films do not fail to be investigated or analyzed constantly and with fresh insights. This makes his films, and the collaborators who helped, great case studies for exploring early, classical, and contemporary cinema in terms of how style or technique came to be. They are full of substance and do not seem to be waining anytime soon.
I love the twist at the end of his movies.
Currently, I’m loving the relationship between Hitchcock and film noir. Hitch gets his own category, for the most part, though some of his films fit the noir bill. It’s the combination of psychological thriller and the overturning of the romantic, happy everyday middle-class world that I enjoy most. And I’m very interested in his relationship with censorship.
I love Hitchcock because of his influence on future filmmakers. Noir and mystery saw a revival through his films like vertigo and north by northwest while psycho helped create the slasher genre.
What I like most about Hitchcock’s movies is the element of surprise. You think you know the story is going, then bam! He throws a wild but complete plausible twist into it.
I love Hitchcock movies better than any other, I could watch them 24 hrs. Every day and never be unsatisfied! I believe he was the Best Director ever. His suspense making never fails to thrill me!!
I love Hitchcock’s films for the masterful way he incorporates suspense with character, usually character first and then comes the thrills. In Psycho and North by Northwest among others, he flawlessly combined them so that you felt and rooted for the characters (Even Norman Bates) and the major obstacles they had to encounter.
Hitchcock said suspense is telling the audience what will happen the making them watch it unfold. That kind of storytelling requires more skill than just shock or complicated twists and turns and it is rare to see it…even though Hitch gave everyone the formula.
I love Hitchcock films for the obvious reasons-suspense, interesting stories, plot twists, and humor. I also love his films because of Hitchcock himself. Everything I learn about him makes his movies that much more interesting.
I do not have a Twitter account, so I am posting here to enter but cannot tweet the message.
Alfred Hitchcock weaved the best mystery and suspense movies. I enjoy comparing the 1934 and 1956 versions of THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH….so much to analyze!!
I do not have a Twitter account, so I am posting here to enter but cannot tweet the message.
More than any other director I know of, Hitchcock has (to borrow a line from Wallace Stevens) a mind of winter. He views the world with a very cold eye, discerning peril in the least likely places. His is a singular, unsettling vision.
Hitchcock was such a master at building tension in his films. I can remember watching them literally on the edge of my seat. I don’t think there’s been anyone like him since. Thanks!
The incredible amount of detail in every aspect of his films – dialogue, costumes, acting, sound, visuals, props, the balance of humor and suspense – draws me to Hitchcock. You can watch his films multiple times (even the same film multiple times in a row) and find something new that you previously missed. That level of detail gives his films a consistent level of quality from the silents to his last films that few other filmmakers maintained.