Alfred Hitchcock and Vincent Price

Master of Suspence

Alfred Hitchcock was born on August 13, 1899
in London, England. He was raised a strict
Catholic. In life he created a mystic film career
that set him apart from al other directors. He was
the Master of Suspence.

His realism was shocking, his drama intense,
and the people who played the characters in the
film never forgot his unique mannerisms.

It all started when his father died while
Hitchcock was only fourteen. He was forced to
quit school, but continued to study and read on his
own. He took evening classes, and attended
theatre and cinema performances regularly which
brought about his interest in art, writing and
direction.

He knew that people loved to be scared. So
when working with actresses and actors, he gave
them a lot of freedom. They were able to
realistically react to the circumstances they found
them in full of murder and suspence that shocked
audiences.

He had a genius mind, and even created
storyboards with mock ups of every shot in the film
before shooting.

Nine silent films and thirteen "talkies" to his
credit in the 30's, Hitchcock created his legend. In
1940 he won an Academy Award for "Rebecca in
Britain." In 1960, came the smash hit "Psycho."

He was known as a practical joker with the
ladies. After the filming of "Psycho," Hitchcock put
the dummy of 'Mother in Janet Leigh's dressing
room. Pretty effective!

The forties and fifties brought such classics as,
"Notorious," "Rear Window," and "Vertigo,".
Hitchcock created an aura of mystery around
himself. When people saw "The Birds" for the first
time, they were frightened. They screamed,
jumped and twisted out of their seats. It was one
of the most horrifying movies during that time, (if
not of all time).

He created 53 fims full of death, but as much
as he seemed to like it, he had an immence fear of
death. Even in the last moment of his life, one of
the greatest film directors of all time, was afraid of
dying. Fear, he knew it well.

Go to the video store, and check out a
Hitchcock film and see for yourself. If you look
closely, you'll actually see him. He often appeared
in the backgound. And who could forget that
famous sillouette? There's nothing more
entertaining than to watch a scary movie with lots
of popcorn, just waiting for that one scene that
will throw you out of your chair. Hitchcock knew
this best.

What do you think of when you hear these
famous movie titles, "House of Wax," "House on
Haunted Hill," "The Fly," "The Raven," The Pit and
the Pendulum," "Diary of a Madman," "Scream and
Scream Again?" Two words: Vincent Price!

Vincent was born in Nebraska on May 27 1911.
He took undergraduate degrees at Yale in 1933
and received a Masters in Art at Oxford. He
originally wanted to be an artist, but discovered
that he had no talent for that. He then began
teaching art appreciation, and was quoated as
saying that if you limit your interests, you limit
your life. Vincent also collected art.

His passion turned to the Silver Screen in 1938,
and when his first movie, "House of Wax," was
released, it was a major success. He was so
successful was a horror movie actor, that when
he would step in front of a crowd they would
actually boo him. It was the greatest of
compliments he said.

He died in 1993 after having Parkinson's Disease
and Lung Cancer, and his ashes were scattered
off the California Coast.

Story by Sandi Johnson

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