Alfred Hitchcock's Hard Day at the Scaffold

by Alfred Hitchcock

Alfred Hitchcock's Hard Day At The Scaffold M64 Edited by Alfred Hitchcock. "That master organizer of way-out trips into the realm of bizarre mystery, Alfred Hitchcock, has once again arranged a first-class excursion into terror. He has selected only the most talented literary concocters of evil as guides, and invites everyone to come along. After all, you have nothing to lose but your sanity." 12 stories, 2 novelettes. Dell. 1967 H.S.D. Publications. 175 pages. "Hung up with the cares of the world? The mate? The kids? The bills? The weather? The job? The stopped faucet or the haywire ignition? Well, don't feel too bad. We're all in the same leaky boat. And some of us, you might say, are in it right up to our necks. Take the group of characters Alfred Hitchcock is about to introduce you to. If you want to see a bunch with real hand-ups, come join the master in A Hard Day At The Scaffold." Contributing to this mess are Jonathan Craig, Conald E. Westlake, Michael Brett, C.B. Gilford, Duane Decker, Syd Hoff, Richard Deming, Ed Lacy, Hal Dresner, James McKimmey, Jr., Hal Ellson, Helen Nielsen, Henry Slesar, Fletcher Flora.

Genres: Horror, Short Stories, Fiction, Mystery, Anthologies, Crime, Mystery Thriller

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1967

About the author

Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock KBE (13 August 1899 - 29 April 1980) was an iconic and highly influential film director and producer, who pioneered many techniques in the suspense and thriller genres.

Following a very substantial career in his native Britain in both silent films and talkies, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood and became an American citizen with dual nationality in 1956, thus he also remained a British subject.

Hitchcock directed more than fifty feature films in a career which spanned six decades, from the silent film era, through the invention of sound films, and far into the era of colour films. For a complete list of his films, see Alfred Hitchcock filmography.

Hitchcock was among the most consistently recognizable directors to the general public, and was one of the most successful film directors during his lifetime. He continues to be one of the best known and most popular filmmakers of all time.

Reviews

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've finished yet another short story collection, put together by Alfred Hitchcock. This is a man who knew the horror genre as well as anyone could. I trust that when I pick up a book with his name on it, I will love it. Unfortunately, this collection did hold up as well as the others I have read. There were still some gems within these pages, but overall, I felt this collection was underwhelming.

[Sheila Anguiano · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5⭐️

Hard Day at the Scaffold de Alfred Hitchcock resulta, en gran parte, una lectura decepcionante.

El texto avanza sin la tensión, el ingenio ni la profundidad que uno esperaría del maestro del suspenso; más bien, se siente plano y reiterativo, como si el Hitchcock seleccionador de cuentos no lograra traducir al papel la inteligencia visual que definió su cine.

Lo único verdaderamente interesante del libro es el epílogo, donde Hitchcock responde a un comentario que lo acusaba de que sus películas y programas de televisión carecían de cultura y se limitaban a la violencia. Ahí, por fin, aparece una voz lúcida y afilada: Hitchcock enumera y reflexiona sobre sus obras favoritas, defendiendo su trabajo desde la tradición artística, la narrativa clásica y la construcción del suspenso como forma de pensamiento, no como simple espectáculo.

Ese epílogo deja claro que Hitchcock sí era consciente de su lugar cultural, pero también subraya una paradoja incómoda: esa claridad y autoconciencia no atraviesan el resto del libro. Termina siendo una obra prescindible, salvada apenas por unas páginas.

[Stefano Saini · Rating 2 out of 5]

A quanto pare non riesco a far a meno di comprare i libri di questa collezione quando li noto sulle bancarelle, pur sapendo che la qualità media delle storie è bassa. Questi racconti sono perlopiù così insipidi che li si dimentica istantaneamente e ci si chiede perché qualcuno abbia sprecato tempo a scriverli, Hitchcock a raccoglierli ed io a leggerli.
L'unico testo degno di nota è "Solo su un'isola deserta", sia per lo stile che per l'idea.

[Carezzedicarta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una meravigliosa raccolta di racconti curata dal maestro del brivido. Brevi Ma particolarmente inquietanti. Degli shot veloci che parlano di persone normali, comuni, come il vicino della porta accanto rendendo così le trame ancora più sinistre. Molto godibile e leggero perfetto per spezzare altri generi

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would give this a 3.5 really. A fun little distraction with quick easy to read stories.

[Brick Marlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read! I dearly love these tales!!

[Candace Smith-Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting vignettes of murderous intent & intrigue

[Cletus Van · Rating 4 out of 5]

A snappy collection of short, engrossing, and titillating stories.

[Recensioni in tre parole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delittuoso. Feroce. Sinistro.

[Kavita · Rating 5 out of 5]

An anthology by Hitchcock, Hard Day at the Scaffold is a collection of short stories by various authors. Quirky, mysterious and creepy, the stories are all interesting with an unexpected climax. But even more than the collection of stories, I loved the humorous preface written by Hitchcock himself. So often do I think of him as a murder mystery guy, that I forget how awesome it is when his humour shines through his writing / films.

[Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Owned this book since the 90's and just never got around to reading it. I picked it up at a Friends of the Library book sale and got it for a steal. Any price was worth the Introduction written by Alfred Hitchcock himself. You can just hear him saying the words, and with his humor. So funny yet so serious. Yes, the introduction is worth the buying price, but that's not all! You still have all the stories to read. I enjoyed all the stories with those surprise endings.

[Fernando Tello · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un libro con una serie de cuentos intrigantes, pero a mi parecer no estuvieron tan buenos cómo me los imaginé, empero hubo uno que me encantó: Escribe cien veces, un cuento que sin duda te dejará con la boca abierta.