My Name is...

Directed by Mark Cousins, My Name is Alfred Hitchcock re-examines the vast filmography and legacy of one of the 20th century’s greatest filmmakers, Alfred Hitchcock, through a new lens: the auteur’s own voice.

A century after the debut of Alfred Hitchcock’s first feature, he remains one of the most influential filmmakers in the history of cinema. But how does his vast body of work and legacy hold up in today’s world?

Mark Cousins, the award-winning filmmaker tackles this question and looks at the auteur with a new and radical approach: through the use of his own voice. As Hitchcock rewatches his films, we are taken on an odyssey through his vast career – his vivid silent films, the legendary films of the 1950s and 60s and his later works – in playful and revealing ways.

In the opening credits Mark says “Written and narrated by Alfred Hitchcock”. This is not true of course – and in the end credits we tell the audience who really did the voice – but we want to create the illusion that Alfred Hitchcock finally decided, from beyond the grave, to take us on a guide through his remarkable body of work, one of the great image systems of the 20th Century, a labyrinth of pleasure and desire.

Image

The narrator is actually Alistair McGowan, a British impressionist, actor and stand-up comedian who made his name in the 1990s on television programs like “Spitting Image.” He went on to have his own impressions show on BBC One: ‘The Big Impression’ (1999-2004).

His narration captures Hitchcock’s iconic tone so perfectly that it’s almost eerie; you can’t help but feel transported to his world. The subtle nuances and delivery are so authentic, it’s as if the master himself is narrating. If I hadn’t watched the credits I would have truly thought it was indeed Hitchcock.

Read more here.