Author Steven C. Smith explores the friendship and film scores of Alfred Hitchcock and Bernard Herrmann in his latest book, 'Hitchcock & Herrmann: The Friendship & Film Scores That Changed Cinema.' The work highlights their groundbreaking partnership on classics like 'Vertigo' and 'Psycho,' as well as the factors leading to their eventual fallout. Smith, speaking ahead of events at New York's Film Forum, draws on new research to illuminate their shared artistic vision.
Book Overview
Steven C. Smith's 'Hitchcock & Herrmann' examines the decade-long collaboration between director Alfred Hitchcock and composer Bernard Herrmann, which produced some of cinema's most iconic scores. Published in hardcover in October 2025, the book builds on Smith's 1991 Herrmann biography, incorporating fresh archival material like recording session tapes and personal papers. It portrays their relationship as a profound friendship that elevated films from 'The Trouble With Harry' in 1955 to 'Marnie' in 1964.
Key Collaborations
Their partnership began with 'The Trouble With Harry,' a black comedy where Herrmann's score captured Hitchcock's emerging sense of macabre humor and romantic tones. This led to Herrmann's onscreen cameo as a conductor in 'The Man Who Knew Too Much' (1956). The trio of 'Vertigo' (1958), 'North by Northwest' (1959), and 'Psycho' (1960) represents their peak. For 'Vertigo,' Herrmann composed music for extended silent sequences, trusting the score to convey emotional depth amid a musicians' strike that complicated recording. 'Psycho''s shrieking strings transformed a risky project into a cultural phenomenon, with Herrmann defying instructions to score the shower scene, ultimately earning Hitchcock's approval.
Smith notes their personalities complemented each other: Hitchcock's conflict-averse nature balanced Herrmann's volatility, fueling dark, romantic visions. Socially, they shared meals and stories, with Herrmann dreaming of running a pub and Hitchcock joking about being a 'hanging judge.'
The Breakup and Legacy
Tensions arose with 'Torn Curtain' (1966), when Hitchcock sought a light, contemporary score, but Herrmann delivered a heavy, dramatic one, echoing 'Psycho''s intensity. Fired on the spot, their friendship ended amid mutual frustrations. Despite this, Herrmann's influence endures in modern media, from 'Wednesday' to 'Eleanor Rigby.' Smith emphasizes Herrmann's psychological scoring as unparalleled, evoking characters' inner turmoil.
An audiobook narrated by Smith releases January 6, 2026. He discusses the book at Film Forum, introducing screenings of their films December 12-14, 2025.