Alfred Hitchcock is a director of suspenseful thrillers, but his films can also include comedy, romance, melodrama and psychological complexity. With some typical samples from his British and American periods, the course will explore his preoccupations with guilt and innocence, murder and justice, a naive hero and a beguiling heroine who is both icy and passionate. Beginning with a train mystery, we will survey a variety of other Hitchcock plots: an unlikely murderer, an analysis of madness, a romantic obsession, and an action-packed spy thriller. We will consider both the variety and the consistency of Hitchcock's film techniques. The course will meet once weekly for five weeks, viewing a feature film during each class. A short lecture will usually precede the viewing to highlight themes and connections among the works. Class discussion will follow the screening.