[Sarasota 2024] MY NAME IS ALFRED HITCHCOCK -- Experimental Cinema Essay Is a Must-See for Cinephiles

Review by Sean Boelman

Mark Cousins is one of the most prolific cinema historians of all time, with his epic documentary The Story of Film being considered one of the definitive documentaries about filmmaking. In My Name Is Alfred Hitchcock, Cousins takes a more narrow focus and an incredibly ambitious approach, creating a distinctive and essential film for cinephiles.

In the documentary, Cousins explores the filmography of master filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock with a unique twist—the narration is by Hitchcock himself… or at least so he says. Although this premise might strike many as pretentious, the movie never imagines it’s for anyone other than the most devoted cinephiles. 

Cousins doesn’t attempt to fool the audience for very long. After a title card that says the film is written and voiced by Hitchcock himself, the voiceover begins talking about how Hitchcock is lecturing us from beyond the grave and mentions things like 5G phones. It’s a gimmick, for sure, but one that posits an interesting thought experiment about the inherent deceit of cinema — particularly Hitch’s work.

As far as impersonations go, Alistair McGowan’s take on the master of suspense is often uncanny. Of course, we’re only hearing the impersonation as a voiceover, so McGowan doesn’t have tools like makeup or mannerisms to convince us he’s the iconic director. He relies solely on the vocal side of things and does an excellent job. His ability to capture the nasally and breathy qualities of the filmmaker’s speech is particularly impressive.

Like any great essay documentary, the hero of My Name Is Alfred Hitchcock is the clips from Hitchcock’s movies. From his acclaimed masterpieces like Vertigo and Psycho to some of his lesser-seen and more difficult-to-find work (Juno and the Paycock being the most obvious example), Cousins has combed through Hitchcock’s entire filmography to find the best illustrations of his point.

Cousins makes an interesting point about the moviegoer’s relationship with Hitchcock’s work. No one needs to be told that Hitchcock is one of the greatest filmmakers that ever lived — they’ve been told that hundreds of times. Cousins is much more interested in the mechanics of why Hitchcock’s films are so resonant, not only from a filmmaking perspective but also a psychological one, creating a compelling exploration for its two hours.

And while one might be wondering if this would all grow monotonous and dull after a bit, Cousins knows how to spice things up. He often cuts to other footage he photographed that helps him illustrate his message or even just photos of Hitchcock himself. But rather than showing these images still, or even with Ken Burns effect, he imbues them with movement — a bit of a glisten or reflection in his eye or some smoke rising from his cigar. This gives the movie just enough visual energy to keep the viewer invested.

My Name Is Alfred Hitchcock is the type of cinema history documentary made for and by cinephiles. However, even those intimately familiar with Hitchcock’s work will find something of value in this engaging, experimental, and thoughtful essay. Mark Cousins truly is one of the best cinema historians working today, and this documentary is all the proof you need to know.

My Name is Alfred Hitchcock screened at the 2024 Sarasota Film Festival, which runs April 5-14 in Sarasota, FL.

Rating: 4/5