“The Hitchcock Touch”: Visual Techniques in the Work of Alfred Hitchcock

Since his beginning as a filmmaker in Britain, Alfred Hitchcock has become a household name not only in Britain and, later, the United States, but also internationally. Hitchcock’s unique auteur style has made his name recognizable even if one has not personally viewed one of his many films. How is it, then, that Hitchcock has accumulated such a distinct and well-known style? Using examples from his films, the research of other Hitchcock experts, and cinematic technique and terminology resources, this article illustrates the way Hitchcock’s visual techniques have contributed to the creation of this auteur style. The visual techniques examined include lighting, camera movement, and visual story-telling technique, each demonstrated using specific examples from one or more of Hitchcock’s films. While Hitchcock’s audiences may be diverse in spoken and cultural language, visual communication is universal. The visual techniques Hitchcock employed are what made him the internationally recognized auteur that he is credited as today.