In the 1930 detective novel the maltese falcon, a small statuette provides both the. That book, which analyzed each of hitchcocks films, often frame by frame, became a touchstone for many young directors. Hitchcocktruffaut gracefully steeps its viewers in this 21stcentury film culture, whereby a viewer might come to love hitchcocks work through a book, a documentary, or a favorite contemporary. The interview francois truffaut is obviously very knowledgeable, and a great director in his own right. Hitchcocktruffaut unspools the artistry of the master. Jeffrey has written for peter marshalls directors chair, and is currently writing a book for micheal wiese publishing. We explore hitchcocks concept of the macguffin and how it lives on in movies today. In the truffaut book iirc, hitchcock states that he deliberately did not provide a specific reason as to why the birds attack. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Definitive list of macguffins alfred hitchcock screenwriting, film.
After hitchcocks death, truffaut updated the book with a new preface and final chapter on hitchcocks later films. Welcome to the alfred hitchcock scholarsmacguffin website. In 1962, truffaut, still young and radiant with technical discovery, interviewed hitchcock about his work, using a translator. Hitchcocktruffaut dogwoof documentary distribution. Of course, francois truffauts booklength interview with hitchcock english. This book was first published in 1966 as le cinema selon hitchock by rbt. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read hitchcock.
The book s first printing was in 1967, almost a decade before hitchcock stopped making films. But despite the supposed centrality of the macguffin, a hitchcock movie is always about something else. Simon and schuster, 1967 motion picture producers and directors 256 pages. Originally coined by alfred hitchcock, this concept is one of those things thats easy to spot but difficult to explainlike, say, the nickelback fandom. That means that not only must the macguffin not change during the course of the story except. In fiction, a macguffin sometimes mcguffin is an object, device, or event that is necessary to. Alfred hitchcock liked to call it the macguffin the mysterious object in a.
Any booklength interview with alfred hitchcock is valuable, but conside. Hitchcocks singular vision is elucidated and brought vividly to life by todays leading. A definitive study of alfred hitchcock by francois truffaut. Truffautwho greatly admired hitchcocks workwas writing a book about hitchcock. The movie is a documentary about the twoweek period during which the young french filmmaker francois truffaut interviewed the older filmmaker alfred hitchcock. Rent hitchcocktruffaut 2015 starring wes anderson and olivier assayas on dvd and bluray. Hitchcocktruffaut 2015 was written and directed by kent jones. John russell taylors hitch 1978 was published in hitchcocks lifetime, and is relatively short but, like ackroyds book, is full of solid insights. My own theories are that the birds represent either the randomness of unexpected and sudden evil or natural catastrophe in our lives. The result is a portrait of one of the greatest directors the world has ever known, an allround specialist who.
Filmmakers discuss how francois truffauts 1966 book cinema according to hitchcock influenced their work. Wonderful insight, for instance on who chooses the actors not hitchcock necessarily and the problems this causes. It changed the way hitchcock was perceived, as a popular director of suspense films such as psycho and the birds and revealed. Interviewed in 1966 by francois truffaut, alfred hitchcock illustrated the term macguffin with this story. He was also a talented and soughtafter film critic in france most notably, his work for cahiers du cinema, and one of the founders of the french new wave and the auteur theory. Hitchcocks term macguffin helped him to assert that his films were in fact not what they appeared to be on the surface.
In their meetings in hitchcocks offices at universal studios, their conversations formed the basis not only of a lifelong friendship but also of truffauts 1967 book, hitchcock. Alfred hitchcock explains the plot device he called the macguffin. Alfred hitchcock explains the plot device he called the. Based on the famous series of dialogues between francois truffaut and alfred hitchcock from the 1960s, the book moves chronologically through hitchcocks films to discuss his career, techniques, and effects he achieved.
The book that gets inside alfred hitchcocks mind the. Alfred hitchcock liked to call it the macguffin the mysterious object in a spy thriller that sets the whole chain of events into motion. Written by jeffrey michael bays, an awardwinning radio producer most widely known for not from space on xm satellite radio. Represents, in an elegant collectors edition, hitchcocktruffaut. Foreign corrspondent, definition of mcguffin introduction. With wes anderson, peter bogdanovich, david fincher, bob balaban.
Here is a rare opportunity to eavesdrop on two cinematic masters from very different backgrounds as they cover each of hitchs films in succession. It might be a scottish name, taken from a story about two men in a train. A macguffin is a plot device that motivates the characters and advances the story, but has little other. The single most valuable book on film ever published thus far. Hitchcock is in the air that todays directors breathe, and hitchcocktruffaut aims to remind us of this fact. It might be a scottish name, taken from a story about two. Whats a macguffin in films and why is it called that. Provides insight into the cinematic method, the history of. Alfred hitchcock, 1966 interview with francois truffaut. Hitchcock francois truffaut, alfred hitchcock, helen g. One man says whats that package up there in the baggage rack. Though this book was initially published in 1967 when hitchcock was still active, truffaut later prepared a revised edition that covered the final stages of his career. This is the macguffin most associated with hitchcock, with his two most quintessential the memorised plans in the 39 steps and the microfilm in north by northwest coming under this category. A definitive study of alfred hitchcock revised edition by truffaut, francois isbn.
Originally coined by alfred hitchcock, based on a story where this device was used in a story set on a scottish train. Alfred hitchcock was confused by a laxative commercial. The book is the inspiration for the 2015 documentary hitchcocktruffaut. The writers toolbox faculty articles gotham writers. Every film covered with hitchcocks own views on the plotactors. In his 1962 interview with francois truffaut, hitchcock explains. Documentary film based upon hitchocktruffaut from kent jones featuring marin scorsese, wes anderson and many more. In the 1967 book hitchcock, by francois truffaut, hitchcock explained the interesting evolution of that particular macguffin and particularly how it inspired them to go from something important to nothing at all, which became a hallmark of his macguffins. Tolkein pointed out years ago, in his essay in the book tree and leaf, the fiction writer is the creator of an alternate universe that, even though it exists only on paper, must remain internally consistent if the reader is to believe in it. What is a macguffin to the man who popularized the concept. Its difficult to think of a more informative or entertaining introduction to hitchcocks art.
Based on the original recordings of this meetingused to produce the seminal book hitchcocktruffaut this film illustrates the greatest cinema lesson of all time and plunges us into the world of the creator of psycho, the birds and vertigo. Truffaut adapted the interviews into the 1966 book, hitchcocktruffaut. Macguffin the alfred hitchcock wiki the hitchcock zone. The macguffin a web site owned by hitchcock scholar and author ken mogg alfred hitchcock the director and producer alfred hitchcock popularized both the term macguffin and the technique, with his films number seventeen 1932 and the 39.