It's Only a Movie: Alfred Hitchcock A Personal Biography

By Charlotte Chandler

IT'S ONLY A MOVIE is as close to an autobiography by Alfred Hitchcock that you could ever have. Drawn from years of interviews with her subject, his friends and the actors who worked with him on such classics as THE BIRDS, PSYCHO and REAR VIEW WINDOW, Charlotte Chandler has created a rich, complex, affectionate and honest picture of the man and his milieu. This is Hitchcock in his own voice and through the eyes of those who knew him better than anyone could.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK
• Release date: Dec 9, 2008
• ISBN: 9781847397096

Charlotte Chandler

Charlotte Chandler is the author of several biographies of actors and directors, including Groucho Marx, Federico Fellini, Billy Wilder, Alfred Hitchcock, Bette Davis, Ingrid Bergman, Joan Crawford, and Mae West, all of whom she interviewed extensively. She is a member of the board of the Film Society of Lincoln Center and lives in New York City.

Reviews for It's Only a Movie

[lsh63 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This biography is a great look into the life of genius director Alfred Hitchcock. I have recently become a fan of the series Alfred Hitchcock Presents on DVD and am hooked on them. I also count his movies Shadow of a Doubt, Notorius and Psycho as some of my favorites.Some of the actors Mr. Hitchcock worked with accused him of being aloof and not giving direction, but he countered with saying that the actor was chosen because they supposedly knew what to do. He was fond of practical jokes and appreciated a good laugh. The title of this book says it all:It's Only a Movie- don't sweat the small stuff! A very good book, although I would have loved to have read more about his life with his beloved and respected collaborator, his wife Alma.

[doingdewey · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It’s Only a Movie is a very comprehensive biography, covering Hitchcock’s career from his beginnings as a title designer through the final movie he was never able to complete. Even the plots of his movies are included. Mostly though, this was an intimate portrait of the man, told through quotes from him and those who knew him.

At first I was afraid the prevalence of quotes in this book would mean an absence of facts. Instead, there were enough facts and stories outside the quotes that I felt like I got a full picture of the Hitchcocks’ lives. The quotes also provided a broad, unbiased view of a man whose character seems to be somewhat controversial. The movie descriptions, on the other hand, should either have been done better or left out. They often sounded silly and I felt that crucial plot points were missing from many.

Fortunately, the many quotes were well-integrated into the rest of the book (or it might be more accurate to say that the rest of the book was well-integrated into the quotes!). I can’t know if it captured Hitchcock’s character accurately, but he certainly came across as an interesting and eccentric person. Although I can’t point to what might be missing, this felt like a lighter read than what I was looking for. It was, however, very enjoyable and I liked how much the book conveyed Hitchcock’s unique personality.

This review first published on Doing Dewey.

[theravenking · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Eine unterhaltsame und kurzweilige Biografie. Charlotte Chandler war mit Hitchcock befreundet, und sie zeigt uns den Menschen hinter den Filmen. Die dunklen Seiten seiner Persönlichkeit werden hier zwar ausgespart, seine (angeblichen) Konflikte mit Stars wie Kim Novak oder Tippi Hedren werden gar nicht erwähnt, aber die Autorin schreibt so humorvoll und charmant, das das nicht weiter ins Gewicht fällt.Sie zeichnet ein liebevolles Porträt des großen Regisseurs, der hier einfach als netter und bescheidener Mensch herüberkommt.Für Hitcock-Fans ein Muss, für alle anderen ein guter Überblick über sein Schaffen.

[thecrow2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The life of one of the greatest director through stories about his films. Interesting but could be more deeper and detailed. The hungarian translation is disastrous....

[jonesli · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This biography is a great look into the life of genius director Alfred Hitchcock. I have recently become a fan of the series Alfred Hitchcock Presents on DVD and am hooked on them. I also count his movies Shadow of a Doubt, Notorius and Psycho as some of my favorites.Some of the actors Mr. Hitchcock worked with accused him of being aloof and not giving direction, but he countered with saying that the actor was chosen because they supposedly knew what to do. He was fond of practical jokes and appreciated a good laugh. The title of this book says it all:It's Only a Movie- don't sweat the small stuff! A very good book, although I would have loved to have read more about his life with his beloved and respected collaborator, his wife Alma.

[danajean_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Charlotte Chandler gives us a look at the professional and private life of legendary director Alfred Hitchcock. Although I found the writing to be a bit jerky and shallow at times, hinting at things without really telling us the details, I do believe this was a fair representation of the life and times of Hitch. His reputation of being a difficult man to get to know is true, but it was more due to his shy nature and insecurities about himself. Many felt he was snooty and cold, but, if you were his friend and he felt comfortable with you, you were in--until you disappointed him. There was no room for mistakes in this friendship; and there was no apologizing and making things right. He would cut someone off at the slightest hint of disloyalty. I find this sad and arrogant, because, after all, his friends were human, walking on eggshells to keep a hold of his very delicate attentions.He was definitely an innovator in his day; creative and enthusiastic. Always very intuitive to the needs of his movies--not so much the actors, or so they felt. His early training in the movie industry allowed him to approach films in a very unique way. In hindsight, I think he played somewhat of a psychologist and sociologist--he toyed with his actors using mind games to bring out just what he needed in their performance. Maybe being a little cold so an actor would be insecure and bring that into their character because the character needed to be insecure. I think he definitely was a student of human behavior and enjoyed manipulating people. He was very good at it.We get to hear about all his movies. The hits. The flops. His thoughts; the actors thoughts. The new techniques he incorporated to bring his vision to the screen. I found the look at studio life interesting. Especially the fact that studios "owned" their actors and many negotiations happened to be able to use an actor or actress that was contracted to another studio or director. We barely scratch the surface of his private life. As it should be I guess. But I would have liked to have read more about his relationship with his wife Alma, apparently the major influence in his life. Touted in the book as his rock, she oftentimes came off as a mealy little woman, almost like he controlled her. I just got a hint of that and didn't care for the thought. Anyway, I would have liked to have heard more from her point of view.I cried at the end of this book. He loved making movies. He loved being creative and the studio stood behind him 100%, going on with plans for his next movie, all the while knowing it would never get made but yet, still doling out money for research and assistants because he was so beloved. It was crushing when he finally had to admit that he could not go on.I would recommend this book. Although, I think it is more an appetizer to a more in-depth look at the man. I would seek out another book on Hitchcock to hopefully complement what I learned in this one.

[whicker_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A deeper look into the life of a film icon. This biography incorporates the views of many people who were connected with Hitchcock. Diving both into his personal and professional lives, Chandler allows a well-rounded picture of the man to emerge. Moves fairly well throughout.