Dan Callahan's The Camera Lies: Acting for Hitchcock offers an insightful, succinct and engaging film-by-film analysis of the master filmmaker's work. This impressive, thoughtful and delightfully opinionated book rivals Donald Spoto's definitive guide The Art of Alfred Hitchcock. The subtitle undersells the scope of Callahan's attention. Yes, it looks at how Hitchcock worked with actors, but Callahan (The Art of American Screen Acting) offers a wealth of information and gossip on how Hitchcock also partnered with outstanding co-writers, editors, composers and cinematographers.
Hitchcock was uncharacteristically modest about working with actors. He notoriously said, "All actors should be treated like cattle." But, Callahan reminds readers, "Hitchcock films are filled to bursting with memorable performances, great performances... and not just from leading players." Jimmy Stewart (who starred in several Hitchcock films including Rear Window) said Hitchcock "preferred to let the actor figure out things for himself. He refers to his method as 'planned spontaneity.' " But if Hitchcock wasn't getting what he wanted, he stepped in. According to Callahan, in Vertigo, Hitchcock told Kim Novak "exactly how he wanted her to say her lines, down to the breath (or lack of it) and rhythm." Although Callahan occasionally points out dated or sexist details in the films, he also explains that Hitchcock's films remain fresh today because he constantly fought against censorship and cleverly snuck a lot of gay and sexual innuendo into many of his films.
Hitchcock buffs will devour this fresh and adroitly written guide. The Camera Lies is an illuminating mixture of scholarly reference and good gossip. --Kevin Howell, independent reviewer and marketing consultant