Neil Alcock, HITCHOLOGY author and former hair owner
@mrneilalcock.bsky.social
Filmy words man. Buster Keaton, Hitchcock, postwar British film, Ealing, Basil Dearden, Hawks, Wyler, Bogart, Kubrick, Bond, Scorsese.
HITCHOLOGY: A FILM-BY-FILM GUIDE TO THE STYLE AND THEMES OF ALFRED HITCHCOCK out now: neilalcock.com/hitchology
HITCHOLOGY: A FILM-BY-FILM GUIDE TO THE STYLE AND THEMES OF ALFRED HITCHCOCK out now: neilalcock.com/hitchology
Pinned
A ★★★★★ review of Vertigo (1958)
To celebrate Alfred Hitchcock’s 126th birthday, here’s the Vertigo essay from my book HITCHOLOGY: A Film-by-Film Guide to the Style and Themes of Alfred Hitchcock. You can find links to buy the book H...
letterboxd.com
To mark Alfred Hitchcock’s 126th birthday, here’s the Vertigo essay from my book HITCHOLOGY: A Film-by-Film Guide to the Style and Themes of Alfred Hitchcock. Try before you buy! (Although trying is not an essential pre-requisite to buying)
letterboxd.com/neilalcock/f...
letterboxd.com/neilalcock/f...
Scorsese is a Basil Dearden fan and between him and me we'll make you all part of our BD fan club one day
#spotted Of course, the legendary Martin Scorsese has a poster of Saraband for Dead Lovers in his office.
Get your copy from powerhousefilms.co.uk (US only).
Get your copy from powerhousefilms.co.uk (US only).
November 20, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Scorsese is a Basil Dearden fan and between him and me we'll make you all part of our BD fan club one day
OK, enough of you wanged on about this to convince me to bag it in the @indicator.bsky.social sale. So for my first viewing, 67-min UK theatrical cut, or 81-min US cut?
November 19, 2025 at 10:49 AM
OK, enough of you wanged on about this to convince me to bag it in the @indicator.bsky.social sale. So for my first viewing, 67-min UK theatrical cut, or 81-min US cut?
Watched Basil Dearden's 1954 boxing drama The Square Ring today. Robert Beatty wasn't in quite the same shape as De Niro in Raging Bull, but a late scene where, already battered half to death, he faces an oncoming pummelling, struck me as a possible visual inspiration for Dearden fan Marty.
November 14, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Watched Basil Dearden's 1954 boxing drama The Square Ring today. Robert Beatty wasn't in quite the same shape as De Niro in Raging Bull, but a late scene where, already battered half to death, he faces an oncoming pummelling, struck me as a possible visual inspiration for Dearden fan Marty.
Excellent to see this nasty little low-budget bad boy get a HE release from the BFI. Thanks to @filmnoiruk.bsky.social for flagging: the BFI are for some reason not on BlueSky, maybe get in touch with them if you think they should be! bfiforms.wufoo.com/forms/contac...
November 11, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Excellent to see this nasty little low-budget bad boy get a HE release from the BFI. Thanks to @filmnoiruk.bsky.social for flagging: the BFI are for some reason not on BlueSky, maybe get in touch with them if you think they should be! bfiforms.wufoo.com/forms/contac...
Heads up! David Lean's first film In Which We Serve (co-directed by and starring Noël Coward) is on BBC2 tomorrow afternoon (and hopefully iPlayer thereafter), and it is a *belter*. Been watching a lot of WW2 films this year and this is one of the very best.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b...
November 10, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Heads up! David Lean's first film In Which We Serve (co-directed by and starring Noël Coward) is on BBC2 tomorrow afternoon (and hopefully iPlayer thereafter), and it is a *belter*. Been watching a lot of WW2 films this year and this is one of the very best.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b...
@letterboxd.social WAKE UP BABE SITE'S DOWN
November 6, 2025 at 2:10 PM
@letterboxd.social WAKE UP BABE SITE'S DOWN
Rejoice! Those crazy sexpots at @arrowvideo.bsky.social are releasing Basil Dearden's 1969 Oliver Reed / Diana Rigg crackersgasm The Assassination Bureau on Blu-ray in January. I am drooling with anticipation. (also old age)
www.arrowfilms.com/p/the-assass...
www.arrowfilms.com/p/the-assass...
The Assassination Bureau Limited Edition Blu-ray | Arrow Films
Shop The Assassination Bureau Limited Edition Blu-ray at Arrow Films. Free UK Delivery
www.arrowfilms.com
October 31, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Rejoice! Those crazy sexpots at @arrowvideo.bsky.social are releasing Basil Dearden's 1969 Oliver Reed / Diana Rigg crackersgasm The Assassination Bureau on Blu-ray in January. I am drooling with anticipation. (also old age)
www.arrowfilms.com/p/the-assass...
www.arrowfilms.com/p/the-assass...
Two years since the release of Killers Of The Flower Moon, an actual Martin Scorsese film which, if you're the kind of person who wants a legit physical media copy rather than a pirated or suspiciously imported version, you still can't own because Apple refuse to release it or let anyone else do so.
October 23, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Two years since the release of Killers Of The Flower Moon, an actual Martin Scorsese film which, if you're the kind of person who wants a legit physical media copy rather than a pirated or suspiciously imported version, you still can't own because Apple refuse to release it or let anyone else do so.
Watched a lot of postwar British cinema this year, so excited to dig into this Eureka box set offering up an alternative point of view. What's the German equivalent of The Lavender Hill Mob?
October 21, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Watched a lot of postwar British cinema this year, so excited to dig into this Eureka box set offering up an alternative point of view. What's the German equivalent of The Lavender Hill Mob?
Was excited for Radiohead x Nosferatu but it didn't really work for me. Often too on-the-nose with the syncing, so loud as to be a distraction from the story, and inexplicable posterisation effects that make Nozzo look like he's less into the blood of the innocent than big bowls of Ready Brek
October 2, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Was excited for Radiohead x Nosferatu but it didn't really work for me. Often too on-the-nose with the syncing, so loud as to be a distraction from the story, and inexplicable posterisation effects that make Nozzo look like he's less into the blood of the innocent than big bowls of Ready Brek
Why does an unstoppable killing machine flinch like a baby when it bashes down its victims' doors? Scared of a bit of flying woodwork are you diddums, ah bless
October 1, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Why does an unstoppable killing machine flinch like a baby when it bashes down its victims' doors? Scared of a bit of flying woodwork are you diddums, ah bless
Seeing Hitchcock's Sabotage at a picture house (literally a Picturehouse) next week like it's 1936, absolute madness. You too could be watching great old Hitchcock films at a cinema RIGHT NOW!* www.picturehouses.com/blog/hitchcock
*probably not RIGHT NOW, depends what time you're reading this
*probably not RIGHT NOW, depends what time you're reading this
October 1, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Seeing Hitchcock's Sabotage at a picture house (literally a Picturehouse) next week like it's 1936, absolute madness. You too could be watching great old Hitchcock films at a cinema RIGHT NOW!* www.picturehouses.com/blog/hitchcock
*probably not RIGHT NOW, depends what time you're reading this
*probably not RIGHT NOW, depends what time you're reading this
We be Hillin'
September 30, 2025 at 7:40 PM
We be Hillin'
Had a great chat with @hopeylivliv.bsky.social and Rose Butler from Picturehouses about their current season of Hitchcock belters and bangers. Available on pods of all shapes and sizes, but here's one: picturehouse.podbean.com/e/hitchcock-...
September 25, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Had a great chat with @hopeylivliv.bsky.social and Rose Butler from Picturehouses about their current season of Hitchcock belters and bangers. Available on pods of all shapes and sizes, but here's one: picturehouse.podbean.com/e/hitchcock-...
I am only ever interested in Bond gossip if Baz is reporting it. The news is there is no news, new Bond is 3 years away (which would make it a 7-year gap between films, the longest ever), calm down everyone.
deadline.com/2025/09/jame...
deadline.com/2025/09/jame...
Denis Villeneuve To Start Casting For An “Unknown” Brit Actor For ‘Bond 26’ When He Completes ‘Dune: Part Three’ — Breaking Baz
Deadline goes undercover to reveal the latest on James Bond casting, including the expected nationality, look and gender of the actor.
deadline.com
September 25, 2025 at 6:56 AM
I am only ever interested in Bond gossip if Baz is reporting it. The news is there is no news, new Bond is 3 years away (which would make it a 7-year gap between films, the longest ever), calm down everyone.
deadline.com/2025/09/jame...
deadline.com/2025/09/jame...
Lots of you are still on X. Why?
The owner of and absolute unquestionable algorithm controller of a preferred communications channel of the UK Government calling for violence and the overthrow of the Government. www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
Elon Musk addresses the ‘unite the kingdom’ march crowd via video link – UK politics live
Met Police believe 110,000 people attending rally, with one group in Whitehall throwing projectiles at officers
www.theguardian.com
September 13, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Lots of you are still on X. Why?
Talking 'cock again in the new issue of Picturehouse Recommends magazine. A season of Hitchy delights is coming to a Picturehouse near you soon!
September 6, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Talking 'cock again in the new issue of Picturehouse Recommends magazine. A season of Hitchy delights is coming to a Picturehouse near you soon!
There are enough James Bond films
What is your most controversial James Bond opinion?
(These may be discussed in a future podcast)
(These may be discussed in a future podcast)
September 1, 2025 at 12:20 PM
There are enough James Bond films
Reposted by Neil Alcock, HITCHOLOGY author and former hair owner
Work with Hitchcock was fruitful for Benny,
Who scored loads of his movies, but then he
Really wasn't that certain
About doing Torn Curtain
And thereafter he didn't score any.
Who scored loads of his movies, but then he
Really wasn't that certain
About doing Torn Curtain
And thereafter he didn't score any.
An hour of Bernard Herrmann on this week's Sound of Cinema. Why does his work give us the shivers? All the analysis you need at 4pm on BBC Radio 3 & BBC Sounds. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
August 30, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Work with Hitchcock was fruitful for Benny,
Who scored loads of his movies, but then he
Really wasn't that certain
About doing Torn Curtain
And thereafter he didn't score any.
Who scored loads of his movies, but then he
Really wasn't that certain
About doing Torn Curtain
And thereafter he didn't score any.
I genuinely read this BFI film listing three times in slack-jawed disbelief before I realised it says "fraudulence" and not "flatulence"
August 29, 2025 at 4:07 PM
I genuinely read this BFI film listing three times in slack-jawed disbelief before I realised it says "fraudulence" and not "flatulence"
Happy Bank Holiday Monday to all who celebrate correctly
August 25, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Happy Bank Holiday Monday to all who celebrate correctly
Confirmation that @marghjenkin.bsky.social's Rose Of Nevada will screen at the LFF in October 👏
www.bfi.org.uk/london-film-...
www.bfi.org.uk/london-film-...
Official Competition films announced for 69th BFI London Film Festival
Ten titles showcasing bold, inventive and distinctive filmmaking compete for Best Film at the 2025 BFI London Film Festival Awards.
www.bfi.org.uk
August 21, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Confirmation that @marghjenkin.bsky.social's Rose Of Nevada will screen at the LFF in October 👏
www.bfi.org.uk/london-film-...
www.bfi.org.uk/london-film-...
What's your favourite Terence Stamp film? Mine will always be D-Day at White House
August 18, 2025 at 11:06 AM
What's your favourite Terence Stamp film? Mine will always be D-Day at White House
Happy Alma Reville Day to all who celebrate
August 14, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Happy Alma Reville Day to all who celebrate
To mark Alfred Hitchcock’s 126th birthday, here’s the Vertigo essay from my book HITCHOLOGY: A Film-by-Film Guide to the Style and Themes of Alfred Hitchcock. Try before you buy! (Although trying is not an essential pre-requisite to buying)
letterboxd.com/neilalcock/f...
letterboxd.com/neilalcock/f...
A ★★★★★ review of Vertigo (1958)
To celebrate Alfred Hitchcock’s 126th birthday, here’s the Vertigo essay from my book HITCHOLOGY: A Film-by-Film Guide to the Style and Themes of Alfred Hitchcock. You can find links to buy the book H...
letterboxd.com
August 13, 2025 at 9:15 AM
To mark Alfred Hitchcock’s 126th birthday, here’s the Vertigo essay from my book HITCHOLOGY: A Film-by-Film Guide to the Style and Themes of Alfred Hitchcock. Try before you buy! (Although trying is not an essential pre-requisite to buying)
letterboxd.com/neilalcock/f...
letterboxd.com/neilalcock/f...