I Am Alfred Hitchcock

Joel Ashton McCarthy's 2021 documentary covers Alfred Hitchcock's career through archive footage and interviews with directors. It spans a wide range, from the British silent work to the Hollywood years. The method is to let other people talk. Figures such as Edgar Wright, Eli Roth and John Landis explain particular scenes; the narrative shows technical choices through examples, with fragments of Hitchcock's own interviews cut in. The narrative advances no new argument. The familiar turning points are taken in order, and limited space is given to the debate about the director's treatment of his performers, particularly the women. Who it's for: those new to Hitchcock and looking for a general introduction. Who it's not for: viewers who have read about him; the documentary does not go beyond what is known.