First published 2023
Laurence Leamer examines Alfred Hitchcock through the experiences of eight blonde actresses who became central to his most notable films. The author focuses on June Howard-Tripp, Madeleine Carroll, Ingrid Bergman, Grace Kelly, Janet Leigh, Kim Novak, Eva Marie Saint, and Tippi Hedren, who appeared in fourteen of the director's key works. Leamer argues these women offer the best window into understanding Hitchcock's personality, creative methods, and personal obsessions. The book traces Hitchcock's career from his British film beginnings through his American success and Hollywood peak, using the actresses' stories as the primary lens. Rather than treating these performers as supporting elements in Hitchcock's narrative, Leamer positions them as central figures whose experiences reveal the director's artistic vision and manipulative tendencies. The book explores how Hitchcock's fixation on blonde actresses shaped both his films and the women's lives, examining the personal costs of his creative process while illuminating the man behind classics like North by Northwest and Rear Window.
Genres: biography, 20th-century, non-fiction, film
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: biography, creative-process, obsession
Period: 20th-Century
336 pages · Hardcover · G.P. Putnam's Sons