Alfred Hitchcock, film director and ‘the master of darkness’, made over fifty feature films where innocent people are often caught up in circumstances beyond their control. His Catholic upbringing and uneasy relationship with femininity will be discussed in his early work of the Silent Era. London based dramas, Blackmail (1929) and Dial M for Murder (1954) will be closely analysed. After moving to Hollywood, Hitchcock created several masterpieces of cinema including Vertigo (1958) and Psycho (1960). Although often regarded as a skilled entertainer, cinema critics have argued that Hitchcock’s films should be regarded as artistic masterworks. He remains by far the most studied film director of all time.

Presented by John Francis, an inspirational speaker who has delivered lectures and workshops in the US (Texas, California, Massachusetts), Beijing, Malaysia and the UK. Initially trained as a painter, John was awarded the Max Beckmann Memorial Scholarship in painting in Brooklyn, New York and went on to be artist in resident for the state of Texas. Later in his career John produced and directed several short films and animations. He has taught film, art and pedagogy at the University of Exeter, Arts University Bournemouth, University Sains Malaysia, Southwestern College, California, Brunel University and Kingston University London.