Film by film, from the silents and early talkies, through the great productive middle period, to the final less prolific years, Donald Spoto takes the reader through the monumental scope of the master film-maker's work. The author briefly describes each film and analyzes in detail its cinematic and psychological language, leaving us with a deeper understanding of the whole. For Hitchcock, it becomes clear, no camera angle, no tracking shot, no cut, was extraneous; each one reflects or emphasizes the characters' emotional state. Every word or line or dialogue contributes to the central themes of the film. Everything had its place and purpose. To aid the reader in re-visualizing the films, the text is supported by stills from every one, as well as a story-board section illustrating Hitchcock's technical facility and a separate section of miscellaneous photographs. The author also wrote "The Dark Side of Genius: The Life of Alfred Hitchcock" and biographies of Tennesse Williams, Lotte Lenya, Preston Sturges and Laurence Olivier.