Editorial

November 1, 2002

Congratulations to the winners of our To Catch a Thief DVD drawing!

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October 21, 2002

Dear Readers,

A preivew of some images from the To Catch a Thief DVD.

Just ten days left for the giveaway!

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October 1, 2002

Dear Readers,

Our To Catch a Thief DVD giveaway begins today.

Details on our events page.

Good luck!

Steven DeRosa

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September 25, 2002

Dear Readers,

Here's the skinny on the To Catch a Thief DVD which hits stores on November 5, 2002. The extra features include:

Theatrical trailer, "The Writing and Casting of To Catch a Thief," "The Making of To Catch a Thief," and "Alfred Hitchcock and To Catch a Thief: An Appreciation" The three featurettes by Laurent Bouzereau include interviews with Pat Hitchcock-O'Connell, Mary Stone (Hitchcock's granddaughter), production manager Doc Erickson, script supervisor Sylvette Baudrot, and yours truly.

The disc also includes Photo, Poster, and Text galleries, and "Edith Head: The Paramount Years" (a documentary of the famed costume designer), Widescreen transfer, French and English language tracks.

WritingWithHitchcock.com in conjunction with Paramount Home Entertainment is marking the release with a special giveaway. Details next week!

Steven DeRosa

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August 6, 2002

Dear Readers,

This month, I thought it was entirely appropriate to shine the spotlight on Charles Barr, an author and film scholar whose work I admire greatly, and not just because he shares my passion for allowing that Hitchcock's writers may indeed have had some influence over the stories and scripts they wrote for him.

Charles is the author of English Hitchcock and most recently the BFI Film Classics edition Vertigo. And the material he's uncovered (and continues to unearth), particularly about Hitchcock's very first screenwriter is fascinating reading. Please visit the page on Hitchcock in England for information about Charles's work.

I should also put in a plug for Roman Nights, the new play by a dear friend and a gifted writer, Franco D'Alessandro, which opens Off-Broadway on September 12. I have been busy doing some of the art work, as well as the tv spots for the production, and must say you will not want to miss this one.

More updates will be coming soon.

Have a wonderful summer.

Steven DeRosa

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June 19, 2002

Dear Readers,

Went to a press screening of the European version of Billy Wilder's Kiss Me, Stupid the other day (which will be running at the Film Forum in NYC, June 21-27).

The European version contains a lengthier and racier scene between Dean Martin and Felecia Farr, in Kim Novak's trailer. In the American version, Dean Martin falls asleep while Farr gives him a massage, and the following morning, he leaves her $500. In the European version, it is clear that the two have sex. Film Forum is screening the European version, and following that, the scene as Wilder re-shot it for the censors. If you're in the area, don't miss it.

Someone wrote in asking if a newly published "encyclopedia" on Hitchcock is correct in listing me as "the British author of Writing with Hitchcock." So much for fact checkers? No, I was born and raised in New York City, and am proud of my American-Italian background (Barese, Neopolitan, and Sicilian, to be exact).

Chris Wehner, author of Screenwriting on the Internet, and editor of the Screenwriter's Utopia site, has been running a poll asking what is Hitchcock's best film, which I gather, is from a writing perspective. Last time I checked, John Michael Hayes's Rear Window was well in front, with Ernest Lehman's North by Northwest running a comfortable second above the other contenders. Drop by and cast a vote, and check out the report on Robert Towne's progress on a script for a remake of The 39 Steps.

Also, it appears that Melanie Griffith's and Antonio Banderas's production company Green Moon Productions is in fact developing Mary Rose as a feature. Jay Presson Allen worked on this for Hitchcock after Marnie. A new script has been commissioned from the screenwriter Susan MacGillicuddy.

Steven DeRosa

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May 22, 2002

Dear Readers,

A couple of minor updates.

First, an interesting update on the upcoming DVD of To Catch a Thief. Sylvette Baudrot, the script supervisor on the film, was interviewed by Laurent Bouzereau, and provided him with some excellent material, including notes by Hitchcock and correspondence from Cary Grant. Unfortunately, Brigitte Auber proved to be unavailable, so she won't be part of the documentary.

The current issue of Movieline mentions a pair of Hitchcock remakes. There's been talk of a To Catch a Thief remake for years now, and the latest rumor is that Gweneth Paltrow might be interested (in reprising another Grace Kelly role), with George Clooney as the reformed jewel thief.

The other project, which is a bit more concrete, is Strangers on a Train, to be produced by Arnold and Anne Kopelson. It's reported that David Seltzer's script relies more on Patricia Highsmith's novel than Hitchcock did. And casting rumors pit Jude Law's Bruno against Heath Ledger's Guy.

In other news, courtesy of Corey Hayes, AP reports that Hitchcock has been bumped by Shrek, at least this is the plan at Universal Studios Orlando. A 10-minute "Shrek" show, which also will open at Universal Studios Hollywood, will take the place of "Alfred Hitchcock: The Art of Making Movies" at the Universal Studios Orlando park.

That's all for now.

Steven DeRosa

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May 1, 2002

Dear Readers,

Today I spent the afternoon being interviewed by Hitchcock documentarian supreme Laurent Bouzereau for an upcoming Special Edition DVD of To Catch a Thief.

As most of you know, Laurent did the documentaries for the Universal Hitchcock titles which were released last year, so it's only fitting that he would do this one for Paramount, which is long overdue. I cannot reveal all the details about the special edition at this point, but can say Laurent will also be interviewing Brigitte Auber who played Danielle Foussard in the film, as well as Sylvette Baudrot the continuity supervisor.

Laurent is also at work, with Pat Hitchcock-O'Connell, on a book about Alma Reville-Hitchcock. This and the many other documentary projects he's working on (simultaneously!) keep him pretty busy.

Laurent mentioned that he's also working on a "making of" documentary of Steven Speilberg's current production Catch Me if You Can, which features Band of Brothers star, and my old friend Frank John Hughes. (Congrats, Frank!)

Keep an eye out here for a release date on the To Catch a Thief DVD. I'll post it here as soon as I have it.

Steven DeRosa

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April 5, 2002

Dear Readers,

Last week marked the passing of a true Hollywood heavyweight, a man who excelled as a writer, director, and producer, who left his mark in just about every film genre, except perhaps the Western - the one and only Billy Wilder.

Wilder's death at the age of 95 will no doubt bring renewed interest in his long and varied career. It is an irony that would have brought a wry smile to Wilder, and undoubtedly one of his biting remarks. Nevertheless, if you are looking for a comprehensive study of the life and art of Billy Wilder, look no further than Ed Sikov's brilliant On Sunset Boulevard. Sure, if you're looking for an extended interview with Billy Wilder himself, there's that other book … but like the more famous, or rather infamous Hitchcock/Truffaut sessions that inspired it … it can only be one sided.

Ed Sikov doesn't merely tell you to take Billy Wilder at his word. He conducted original interviews with scores of Wilder's colleagues and friends, dug through production archives, scripts, notes, and film footage to assemble not only a fascinating study of a filmmaking genius, but the conclusive portrait of the man behind that genius. Sikov's analyses of Wilder's films are fresh and exciting, and his prose leaps off the page. You know instantly that Sikov knows his stuff, and that it's a subject close to his heart.

So long, Mr. Wilder ... and thanks for so much.

Steven DeRosa

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March 4, 2002

Dear Readers,

As today marks the official UK publication of Writing with Hitchcock, I thought it would be interesting to show what the book jacket might have looked like.

The evolution of the jacket was kind of interesting. It was clear early on that the photo of Hitchcock and Hayes from the set of To Catch a Thief told volumes in terms of the book's message; just look at the body language of the two. Hitchcock sits, hands clasped, his feet passively resting on the ground, as he listens intently to Hayes. Hayes, on the other hand, has his feet firmly planted on the ground, his hands in motion, actively pitching his ideas to Hitchcock.

The first jacket at the right was the initial design proposed by the publisher, Farrar, Straus & Giroux. To me it looked like a schlock, B movie poster, which was the antithesis of what I felt the Hitchcock/Hayes collaboration represented.The book was to be about the writing, about the sophistication these two artists brought to the screen. So we had to come up with something better.

As I felt the screenwriting community made up a large part of my intended audience I was enamored with the idea of using a typeface reminiscent of an old typewriter. Thus, the second design was my own, to help nudge the publisher's art department in the direction I wanted to go.

In the end, the design by Charlotte Strick was exactly the right cover. Or as my agent wrote in response: "very classy, very smart, very DeRosa!" Okay, he's an agent, what else is he supposed to say?

Steven DeRosa

Copyright 2002 Steven DeRosa