The introduction gives an overview of Hitchcocks long career with specialattention to the varied influences on his work themes that run through many ofhis films... » 

The introduction gives an overview of Hitchcocks long career with specialattention to the varied influences on his work themes that run through many ofhis films from the transference of guilt to the connection betweenknowledge and danger the overlooked importance of his presence within hisfilms including his famous cameo appearances and characters who represent himwithin the story his fascination with performance and the ambiguities ofillusion and reality the question of viewing him and his work through theauteur theory and other issues. Also discussed is the relationship betweenHitchcock as a serious even tormented artist and Hitchcock as a magician witha weakness for cinematic practical jokes. Six chapters then provide indepthexaminations of key films Blackmail his first talkie Shadow of a Doubt oneof his personal favourites The Wrong Man which questions the nature of guiltand innocence Vertigo arguably his most profound work Psycho his mostsavage look at the nature of evil and The Birds his last masterpiece and oneof his most widely misunderstood works. «