Comparing and Contrasting Hitchcock and Spielberg

The unblinking eye means so much for so many reasons to a person such as Steven Spielberg or Alfred Hitchcock. A continuous shot, completely uncut or edited, can bring a vision together and tell the viewer to not look away. With their ability to tell magnificent tales of suspense, drama and horror in over 100 films, Hitchcock and Spielberg are, and always will be the two most influential and prolific directors in history.

Hitchcock, otherwise known as the Master of Suspense, never saw himself as a part of that crazy, actor filled area Hollywood, California. He was born in 1899 in London, England. His first job at the age of nineteen was as an estimator for the Henley Telegraph Company, manufacturer of electric cables. In the evenings, he began studying art at the University of London, and after some time he was transferred to Henley’s advertising department to design ads for cables. Hitch’s interests in cinema led him to submit a portfolio of title designs for the silent films of Famous Players-Lasky. In 1922, he was assigned to direct a film entitled Number Thirteen, but because of money problems it was never completed.

The Pleasure Garden was to be produced in Germany and it was up to Hitchcock to direct the silent film which would be his official debut. He never made it on the scene until his late 30’s or early 40’s, directing films like, “The Lady Vanishes”, Foreign Correspondent”, “Suspicion” and “Rebecca”.

Rebecca was his only movie that ever won the Academy Award for Best Picture… Hitchcock never won for Best Director. Later, in the 50’s, came his more infamous films such as “Strangers On A Train”, “Dial M For Murder”, “Rear Window”, “Vertigo” and “North By Northwest”. These films made Hitchcock who he was and made him famous.

After the movie, North By Northwest, the Master of Suspense directed his masterpiece, Psycho. The one movie that most of the public know because of its staying power was released in 1960 and caught viewers off guard right away. But when most folks would go home scared or shocked from viewing it, Hitchcock thought it was a fun movie with his strange sense of humor. Before retiring at the age of 77, he was behind the camera for five more films including “The Birds” in 1963 and “Marnie” in 1964.

The apprentice of the Master Of Suspense, Steven Spielberg, was born on December 18th, 1946 in Cincinnati. At the mere age of 16 he produced a filmed titled “Firelight” which later inspired the classic “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”. He studied English at California State University after not being able to attend a film school. During his college years he would drive around the Universal Studio lots and observe. After waiting for his perfect chance he snuck inside the lot dressed in a suit so the guard on duty wouldn’t notice. He then cleaned out an old janitor’s closet and set it up as an office.

Months prior to his 21st birthday, and not graduated, a department head of Universal asked him if he wanted to graduate from college or be a film director, and a week later he made his decision. He would go on to be the youngest producer in Universal Studios history, and after producing a highly praised television film “Duel” in 1972, he would have the opportunity to direct for the cinema.

Three years later he would stun the movie world with his first big film, “Jaws”. Being about an evil fish that does nothing but kill innocents it made Americans afraid of the ocean and would forever be known as his best film. It also gave way to such 1980’s classics as “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”, “E. T.” and the Indiana Jones series. After “Hook”, a 1991 movie about Peter Pan starring Robin Williams, he directed “Jurassic Park”, a movie concerning a park filled with recreated dinosaurs that break loose and wreak havoc upon its visitors. This was his triumph with young kids and teenagers in the early 90’s. Toys, books, school supplies, and more, filled the shelves of ever major store across the country. It could be listed as one of his best to date.

Later on in his career, Spielberg started directing films with a much more serious role. Such films as “Schindler’s List”, “Amistad”, “Saving Private Ryan”, “Minority Report” and “Munich” would be about war, death, or overall depression built for his audience that grew up with his earlier flicks.