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The Dark Side of Genius: The Life of Alfred Hitchcock Audiobook
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(3.06) - 455 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
The story of the man who changed people’s relationships with their showers forever, thanks to Psycho, this is the classic, Edgar Award–winning biography of the enigmatic and intensely private Alfred Hitchcock. One of America’s greatest film directors, his suspenseful subject matter ranged from the dark drama of a man possibly trying to kill his wife, to the humorous problem of disposing of a body, to the ecological underpinnings of an attack by fowl fiends in a sleepy harbor town. Acclaimed biographer Donald Spoto explores the roots of Hitchcock’s obsessions—with food, murder, and idealized love, among others—and traces the origins of his incomparable, bizarre genius, from his childhood and education to the golden years of his career. Based on interviews with his writers, actors, and longtime associates, and on exhaustive research, The Dark Side of Genius is the definitive biography of Alfred Hitchcock.
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"As engrossing as one of Hitchcock's movies, I loved this book. Not only is it an illuminating pyschological portait, but also an in depth look at this technique, his obsessions, his art and his world. I not only learned about his films but about film in general, film as art and film in a historical and cultural context. Those juicy enough to be thought speculative, its as well documented and researched as it possiibly can be. I'd heard this was a contreversial take on Hitchcock but I would imagine that's because it's at odds with the image of the reticent gentlemen he so often presented. Loved it!"
— Mark (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“The finest book about a filmmaker yet. Sensational in its revelations; at the same time, a biography of unassailable integrity. I could not put it down.”
— Gregory Peck -
“Absolutely compulsory reading.”
— New York Times Book Review -
“A vivid and perceptive portrait…Knowledgeable and revealing.”
— Time -
“With unblinking objectivity and insight, Spoto sets a balanced account of a man who shaped his fears and repressions into a powerful and popular art.”
— Newsweek -
“Ranks with the best literary and political lives.”
— Observer (London) -
“An exemplary piece of cinema scholarship.”
— Washington Post -
“A real page-turner, and as complete a picture as we are likely to get.”
— Variety
Awards
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Winner of the 1984 Edgar Allan Poe Award for best critical or biographical work.
The Dark Side of Genius Listener Reviews
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Curtis Magnuson, 9/13/2022
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" The original M. Night Shayamalan. "
— Vania, 2/19/2014 -
" Audiobook. How much can you really extrapololate from the films to the man? I found a lot of the prose in this biography unnecessarily mean-spirited. "
— Bea, 2/8/2014 -
" Very interesting, especially if you have just recently seen some of his films. "
— L, 2/6/2014 -
" This book is very indepth, filmmaker reading material; about the greatest and most complex director. "
— Elena, 1/21/2014 -
" I last read this book when I was in college. Getting a lot more out of it now. "
— Adam, 1/20/2014 -
" has some facts since found out to be fictitious, but still a pretty good bio. "
— Nicholas, 1/10/2014 -
" If you think Steve Jobs was a some odd genius, you must read this griping account of Hitchcock. Hitch was another immensely talented but complicated and strange individual that could be both disarming with his charm and then shockingly odd in his actions and manners. You will not be disappointed. "
— HankinsonHolmes, 1/9/2014 -
" Engrossing read-didn't know Hitchcock had such a fear of his own mortality. Lots of dirt about various stars. "
— Linda, 12/20/2013 -
" Fascinating insight into the life of directing genius Alfred Hitchcock. Find out the back stories behind his successes and what drove him. Psychologically revealing. "
— TMJ, 12/16/2013 -
" What a complex mind the Master of Suspense possessed! Spoto does his best to make sense of Hitchcock as a man and the greatest auteur filmmaker of all time. "
— Elana, 11/20/2013 -
" I took a Hitchcock class in undergrad - what a f*%#ked up individual but strangely alluring artist/auteur. Funnily enough, I wrote a screenplay as a final project, which provoked Tippi Hedren to mastermind his murder. "
— Kristina, 10/29/2013 -
" A powerful biography on the master director and showman. "
— Marvin, 10/15/2013 -
" MADMAN! read the book, then watch all of his movies. "
— Thurston, 8/28/2013 -
" super research and full of details. loved it! "
— Laura, 8/7/2013 -
" Savory for Hitchcock fans. "
— David, 6/12/2013 -
" Wonderful film by film explanation of why Hitchcock was Hitchcock. "
— Bruce, 5/13/2013 -
" spellbinding biography on master filmmaker. He was one sick puppy. "
— Miyo, 4/10/2013 -
" I have been a big Hitchcok fan since I was a kid in the 1950s. I knew nothing about him as a person so this was interesting. The book provides an analysis of many of his movies and I have seen most of them. For some people this may be more than you want to know but I liked it alot. "
— Jane, 12/3/2012 -
" Whatever you wanted to know about Hitchcock and/or his movies can be found here. "
— Kevin, 9/4/2012
About Donald Spoto
Donald Spoto is the author of more than twenty books, including bestselling biographies of Alfred Hitchcock, Tennessee Williams, Laurence Olivier, Marlene Dietrich, Ingrid Bergman, and Audrey Hepburn. He lives with his husband, Danish artist and school administrator Ole Flemming Larsen, near Copenhagen, Denmark.
About Jeff Riggenbach
Jeff Riggenbach (1947-2021) narrated numerous titles for Blackstone Audio and won an AudioFile Earphones Award. An author, contributing editor, and producer, he worked in radio in San Francisco for more than thirty years, earning a Golden Mike Award for journalistic excellence.