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PEOPLE & ARTS Saturday 10 February 2018
Alfred Hitchcock remains an influence on crime writers

ample of this technique. fans of “Alfred Hitchcock
Again, insinuating sus- Presents,” a TV series from
pense before it is realized the 1950s that the director
by the central character hosted. Some of the stories
makes the reader feel aired on “Alfred Hitchcock
helpless and creates won- Presents” were adapta-
derful drama.” tions of fiction that ran in
The Alfred Hitchcock Mys- the magazine.
tery Magazine, founded “The shows on the series do
in 1956, remains a favored share more elements in line
publication for crime writ- with short stories — the nar-
ers to see their work. Land- rative arc, and the ironic
rigan said that many writ- payoff at the end,” Land-
ers submitting stories were rigan said.q

This 1972 file photo shows British film director Alfred Hitchcock. Nearly 40 years after his death,
Hitchcock remains a brand name in the thriller genre, not just among directors, but for crime
writers who look to “Shadow of a Doubt,” “Vertigo” and others works as models for narrative and
mood.
Associated Press

By HILLEL ITALIE a brand name in the thriller being accused or caught
AP National Writer genre, not just among di- up in a series of events they
NEW YORK (AP) — As he rectors, but for crime writ- don’t really understand,
wrote what has become ers who look to “Shadow but have to figure a way
one of the top-selling of a Doubt,” ‘’Vertigo” out of. Average, normal
novels so far in 2018, “The and others works as mod- people getting thrust into
Woman in the Window,” els for narrative and mood. those situations, feeling a
the author who calls him- Although much of his work sense of vertigo (no Hitch-
self A.J. Finn was thinking was adapted from novels cock pun intended) until
of a certain master of sus- and short fiction, Hitch- they can get their bear-
pense: Alfred Hitchcock. cock is the only filmmaker ings and get back to some
“Hitchcock proved that to receive a “grand mas- semblance of their normal
suspense can be just as ef- ter” Edgar award from the lives.” Otto Penzler, a lead-
fective — if not more so — Mystery Writers of America, ing editor of crime fiction
than surprise; that restraint a lifetime achievement and owner of the Mysteri-
and taste could trump prize that has been given ous Bookshop in Manhat-
sensational scare tactics to Agatha Christie, Elmore tan, says that Hitchcock’s
and cheap tricks; that style Leonard and James M. mastery of showing ordi-
might enhance a story Cain. Hitchcock also re- nary people caught up in
rather than overwhelm it,” ceived a Raven Award events beyond their con-
Finn, pen name for the crit- from the mystery associa- trol can be found in the
ic and literary editor Daniel tion for his “contribution” to fiction of Thomas H. Cook
Mallory, told The Associ- the genre. and Alan Furst, among oth-
ated Press recently. “The shows on the series do ers. He also cited Mary Hig-
“Above all, though, he em- share more elements in line gins Clark as one who “fully
phasized psychology, from with short stories — the nar- understands the Hitchcock
the Oedipus complex of rative arc, and the ironic methodology.” Clark, one
Norman Bates to the folie a payoff at the end,” said of the world’s top thriller
deux that binds the killers in Linda Landrigan, editor of writers, told the AP in a
‘Rope,’ from James Stew- the Alfred Hitchcock Mys- recent email that she ad-
art’s mounting obsession in tery Magazine. mires Hitchcock’s “ability
‘Vertigo’ to Teresa Wright’s “The term ‘Hitchcockian’ to create tension before
reluctant coming of age in was invented to describe the main character is even
‘Shadow of a Doubt.’ With certain qualities that he aware of the impending
‘The Woman in the Win- exemplified,” says Paul danger.”
dow,’ I’ve tried to tap into D. Marks, a prize-winning “The reader is thinking ‘be
his brand of timeless sophis- crime writer. careful’ as the protagonist,
tication and that legend- “He may not have invent- unsuspecting, puts herself
ary psychological depth.” ed all of them, but he cer- in danger,” Clark wrote to
Nearly 40 years after his tainly made them his own. the AP. “I think my book ‘A
death, Hitchcock remains Things like innocent people Cry in the Night’ is an ex-