SUSPICION: Hitchcock's Misfire

Many of my former students read this blog, as well as a great deal of upcoming writers who frequently ask questions about writing.

I think one of the best ways to examine effective storytelling is to look at the misfire of a master.  In this case, Alfred Hitchcock's SUSPICION (1941)-- get past the fact that it's in black and white.  For those of you who are illustrators it will allow a chance to see some fabulous compositions.

We're going to pick apart this entry in the Hitchcock canon featuring Joan Fontaine as a woman who may or may not be in love with a murderer.

There is a lot to like about this one, but we can learn a lot from what went wrong here.  There are many elements that work but some, not the least of which is the ending, that don't.

So I want you, the aspiring writer or even the writer who just wants to learn their craft-- to go out and rent this movie so we can talk about it together.  It's available at most public libraries and through Netflix so rent it and then come back here next week and we'll start the examination.

And HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my lovely wife Veronica!