Alfred hitchcock Quote by François Truffaut
““Nowadays, the work of Alfred Hitchcock is admired all over the world. Young people who are just discovering his art through the current rerelease of Rear Window and Vertigo , or through North by Northwest , may assume his prestige has always been recognized, but this is far from being the case. In the fifties and sixties, Hitchcock was at the height of his creativity and popularity. He was, of course, famous due to the publicity masterminded by producer David O. Selznick during the six or seven years of their collaboration on such films as Rebecca, Notorious, Spellbound, and The Paradine Case . His fame had spread further throughout the world via the television series Alfred Hitchcock Presents in the mid-fifties. But American and European critics made him pay for his commercial success by reviewing his work with condescension, and by belittling each new film. (...) In examining his films, it was obvious that he had given more thought to the potential of his art than any of his colleagues. It occurred to me that if he would, for the first time, agree to respond seriously to a systematic questionnaire, the resulting document might modify the American critics’ approach to Hitchcock. That is what this book is all about.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Hitchcock/Truffaut, 1967
Hitchcock’s genius was underappreciated by critics despite his commercial success, prompting a deeper analytical dialogue.
In simple terms: Critics undervalued Hitchcock’s art.
Challenge critics to engage with artistic intent.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- film studies courses
- director retrospectives
- media criticism
- public discussions
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does commercial success affect artistic credibility?
- Can systematic analysis change entrenched critical views?
Critics may still prioritize commercial metrics over artistic nuance.