Celebrating the master of suspense

Sky Movies remembers one of Hollywood’s innovators with a special week of Alfred Hitchcock’s films that will air on Sky Movies Classics from May 25th

'Rear Window' is one of the featured films

Sky Movies Classics presents an unparalleled week of films from the Master of Suspense, with Alfred Hitchcock taking the director’s chair for 7 days.

Starting 25th May, Hitchcock Week delivers 15 films back-to-back with a new double bill every night from 7pm. The biggest Hitchcock season ever to grace British television screens includes some of the cinematic maestro’s finest films such as North By Northwest, The Birds, Vertigo, Psycho and Rear Window.

The full list includes:

· The Birds

· North By Northwest

· Vertigo

· Psycho

· The Man Who Knew Too Much

· Rear Window

· Marnie

· Torn Curtain

· Spellbound

· Notorious

· To Catch A Thief

· Topaz

· Frenzy

· Lifeboat

· Shadow Of A Doubt

Sky Movies Classics’ definitive Hitchcock Week includes 15 of his very best films. Sky HD customers will also be able to see the British television HD premieres of The Birds, Vertigo, Rear Window, Psycho, Frenzy, Lifeboat, The Man Who Knew Too Much, Marnie, Notorious, Shadow of a Doubt, Torn Curtain, Topaz, To Catch A Thief and Spellbound on Sky Anytime.

Psycho Screening With Live Orchestra

To celebrate Hitchcock week, Sky Movies have partnered with The Independent and The Independent on Sunday to host the first ever screening of Psycho complete with full live accompaniment from a 20-piece string orchestra.

Psycho has one of the most iconic and instantly recognisable soundtracks in film history. Hitchcock himself once said that “33% of the effect of Psycho was due to the music”; none more so than in the terrifying shower scene with its shrieking string stabs that caused many to leave the auditorium when it was first released.

On the night, the score will be re-created live by the London Soundtrack Orchestra and conducted by acclaimed conductor and composer Ben Foster, who will be tasked with keeping 20 live string players in perfect sync with the film.

Ian Lewis, Director of Sky Movies said, “Psycho’s iconic soundtrack has been firmly engrained in popular culture for almost 50 years, appearing in everything from comedic parodies to rap samples and is therefore the perfect choice for this very special event. As part of our definitive Hitchcock season, we will be showing the UK HD premieres of many of Hitchcock’s best films, including Psycho, on Sky Anytime – yet another example of our on-going commitment to enhancing the viewing experience. We hope this unique event will do the same thing in a live setting.”

Foster adds, “Hitchcock's collaboration with Bernard Herrmann created some of the most gripping scores of all time; none more so than Psycho. The genius of Herrmann’s score is the combination of beautiful simplicity, deliberately paired-down orchestration and his skilled use of leitmotif. I’m very excited to be a part of what should be a fantastic evening.”

Incredibly, the legendary director originally envisaged a jazz soundtrack. However composer Bernard Herrmann ignored his suggestion, scored it purely for strings to reflect the film’s deliberately monochromic feel - and Hitchcock was so pleased with the results he doubled his pay.

The Independent has 100 pairs of tickets to give away to Readers' Club members. If you are not a member of our Readers' Club and would like to join up call 0800 505 3500 for more information.