The Rise to Greatness

Hitchcock's success came from his strong work ethics and his genius abilities to overcome challenges and design groundbreaking films. Take into account his family was not in any part of the film industry and were not incredibly wealthy to support him. Despite this, Bruce Evensen states in his article "When he was eleven, Hitchcock was enrolled in Saint Ignatius College, a Jesuit day school for boys" (Evensen) he soon enrolled for night classes "in navigation at the University of London when he was fourteen, and after his father's death in December 1914, he found office work at the Henley Telegraph and Cable Company. he became an illustrator in their advertising department." (Evensen) Eventually he was hired by Famous Players-Lasky film company which led to his apprenticeship to. In 1923 Hitchcock was signed on to be assistant director to a movie called "Woman to Woman" after the successful achievement the company tested his abilities in two other movies. In December 1926, Hitch made his first movie as a director called "Pleasure Garden" with his new wife/editor to help him reach his goal of Hollywood fame. Their efforts produced many other movies.

The beginning of 1934, was the beginning to Hitchcock's breakthrough to his dream. He created several amazing films including: "The Man Who Knew Too Much" and "39 Steps" these films distinguished him from other directors and got the attention he deserved from Hollywood. After this "breakthrough" he quickly began creating masterpieces and labeled himself "editor" to accommodate many mystery books that were written. He made many cameo appearances in his films to add an extra "fun factor". With films like "Psycho" and "The Birds" he was labeled a master of suspense and credited for his talent all over the world.

Sources Cited:


Evensen, J. Bruce. "Hitchcock, Alfred Joseph."The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives Thematic Series: The 1960s. Ed. William L. O'Neill and Kenneth T. Jackson. 2 vols. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2003.
Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale, 2010. http://ezp.tccd.edu:2055/servlet/BioRC