If you had the chance to sit down with your professional idol, what would you ask them? In 1962 Francois Truffaut had to ask himself that question as he conducted a historic interview with Alfred Hitchcock. At the time, Hitchcock was entering the later years of his career, with only one classic still ahead of him (The Birds). Truffaut on the other hand was a young, up-and-coming filmmaker of the French New Wave, the movement of critics-turned-filmmakers largely credited with changing the perception of Hitchcock from a popular entertainer, to a cinematic master worthy of serious study and appreciation. The conversation between the men became the basis for Truffaut’s book Hitchcock/Truffaut, a fascinating study of the American master’s work and a near-biblical tome for filmmakers and enthusiasts ever since. In his new documentary director Kent Jones assembles a who’s who of modern film masters to revisit this historic conversation and reflect on the influence of Hitchcock on their own work.
Hitchcock/Truffaut feels like a Christmas gift to film lovers everywhere. Narrated by Bob Balaban, but largely steered by the recordings of Hitchcock and Truffaut (with Helen Scott working as interpreter), the film covers a broad swath of Hitchcock’s near fifty-year career, from his work in silent cinema, to his later (slightly more experimental) years. Widening the scope of Truffaut’s already extensive study, modern-day filmmakers like Martin Scorsese, Peter Bogdanovich, Richard Linklater and David Fincher provide a plethora of fascinating viewpoints on Hitchcock’s work and legacy. Though this may sound intimidating to the general audience member, the film is more of a tribute than a didactic exercise. In the spirit of Truffaut’s original interviews it offers a great stepping stone into the world of Hitchcock.
And what a fascinating world it is. Hearing Hitchcock answer questions regarding his approach to shaping a story, his troubled relationship with actors, and his ideas regarding his own psychology being put up on the screen gives one a new perspective on how we view film today. Though one gets the sense Jones is trying to steer the narrative towards the inner conflict of Hitchcock’s professional life – that between Hitchcock the artist and Hitchcock the entertainer – the sheer number of legendary filmmakers reflecting on the importance of his work renders it almost meaningless. Instead Jones’ film really soars when the voices of the titular directors are silenced and the contemporary filmmakers are allowed to riff on a film.
Hearing Martin Scorsese, James Gray, Richard Linklater and David Fincher pick through Psycho and Vertigo is like ambrosia to the film lover. It makes you want to run out to the video store and rent Hitch’s entire filmography, and in the end that feels like the point.
Reviewed by Evan Arppe.
