Hitchcock and Herrmann: The Friendship and Film Scores that Changed Cinema

Hitchcock and Herrmann: The Friendship and Film Scores that Changed Cinema

This is the story of the game-changing collaboration between director Alfred Hitchcock and composer Bernard Herrmann, who channelled their inner fears and desires into films that would become the nightmarish narratives and soundtracks of our lives. The 11-year collaboration between Alfred Hitchcock and Bernard Herrmann is often called the greatest director-composer partnership in cinema history. Their eight films together include such classic thrillers as Vertigo , The Man Who Knew Too Much , North by Northwest , Psycho, and The Birds . In Hitchcock and Herrmann: The Friendship and Film Scores that Changed Cinema , Steven C. Smith delivers an intimate account of how the reserved, but deeply anxious, Hitchcock found his ideal creative partner in the cantankerous, but deeply romantic, Herrmann. Smith draws on four decades of research, including previously unpublished documents and new interviews, to deliver a riveting account of what made the teaming of "Benny and Hitch" so memorable and influential -- and why it came to a bitter end. Their story involves the tumultuous changes in Hollywood from the mid-1950s to mid-1960s, as the collapsing studio system gave way to independent, counterculture filmmaking. It also involves the key figures in Hitchcock and Herrmann's inner circle including the director's gifted wife and most valued critic, Alma Reville; Herrmann's beautiful, put-upon spouse, Lucy Anderson; and talent agent-turned-studio mogul Lew Wasserman. Wasserman's negotiations made Hitchcock's greatest filmmaking period possible, but over time Lew's commercial instincts as head of Universal Studios clashed with Herrmann's pure artistic vision. Hitchcock and Herrmann is both a deeply researched historical study and a fast-moving, cinematic narrative -- one that puts readers on the film sets and scoring stages of Hitchcock masterworks. Their collaboration ended in a bitter break; but today Herrmann's pulse-quickening music has become the soundtrack of our own anxious times. The music from their movies is more popular than ever, heard in Quentin Tarantino blockbusters and Lady Gaga music videos. In Smith's expert telling, readers get an an intimate look at two legendary creators who, despite seemingly opposite personalities, found in each other artistic completion. "[R]arely has film criticism seen a more perceptive and nuanced examination of the details of how the musical score can reinforce, uplift, or - most importantly - mend imperfections in a film. A marvelous look at a legendary collaboration, and a testament to the power of music in film." -- Library Journal "Once again, it's Steven C. Smith who's forged this wonderful study of two of history's most lovable incorrigibles." -- John Williams "For anyone who is a fan of Herrmann's work, this book is essential. I can say without hesitation that were it not for the inspiration I received from Herrmann's music in my youth I would never have become a film composer. His scores provided the spark that made me realize what a powerful part of a film the music could be." -- Danny Elfman "In my opinion, Bernard Herrmann is the greatest film composer of all time, and he and Hitchcock changed the history of film. Now we have the book that tells us how they did it, and why that music is so alive today." -- Atticus Ross "[A]n exemplary work… Hitchcock & Herrmann is a painstakingly detailed history of two geniuses working first together and then at cross-purposes. When it dives deep into the scoring itself, it's a musicological feast that even tin-eared lay readers can appreciate." -- The Wall Street Journal "This meticulously researched book is written with the enthusiasm of an author who is passionate about the story he's telling. A wonderful addition to the body of literature on film history." -- Booklist "[a] must-read dual-biography.. even for those who aren't particularly knowledgeable about film music." -- Chris Willman, Variety Steven C. Smith is a four-time Emmy-nominated documentary producer and award-winning author. His over 200 documentaries about film and music include collaborations with Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, George Lucas, Stephen Sondheim, John Williams, Julie Andrews and Sidney Poitier. His biographies of composers Bernard Herrmann and Max Steiner each received the ASCAP Foundation Deems Taylor / Virgil Thomson Award. He has lectured at the Library of Congress, American Film Institute, Academy of Motion Pictures Museum and other organizations. He has written for the Wall Street Journal, the Hollywood Reporter and the Los Angeles Times.