The History Of The Thriller

Film makers have been combining the elements of suspense, mystery and anticipation for almost as long as cinema itself. With the first audiences quickly losing interest towards the common technical marvels, directors sought more inventive ways to thrill their viewers. Borrowing a trick from the hugely popular serial literature of the time, producers began to churn out weekly installments of long-running franchises, each ending with a cliff hanger that sees the hero also known as the protagonist in mortal danger. The most famous of these was the 1914 series ‘Perils of Pauline’.

(Perlis of Pauline one of the early form of the Thriller Genre)

The 1930s was the period of the gentleman like detective, films like 'Bulldog Drummond'

(Bulldog Drummond detective thriller, with the iconic detective costumes and pencil thin moustaches)

'Bulldog Drummond' is very iconic as it featured suave heroes, invariable sporting fine suits and moustaches, who were often caught up in exotic mysteries and tended to face down all manner of mortal danger.

Alfred Hitchcock really and truly mastered the conventions of Thriller movies hence his title 'The master of suspence'. Hitchcocks detective like thrillers such as 'The 39 Steps'.

(The 39 Steps influenced many Action/Espionage Thrillers

today)

'The 39 steps' contained, set piece chase sequences and fas

t paced action, which really gripped the audiences. The film set the template for exotic action-Adventure Thrillers, which James Bond movies had emulated, in other words Hitchcocks style has influenced contemporary Thrillers.

The thriller genre today is the benchmark for filmmakers with fascination explosive action sequences, new technology and dazzlingly plotting, however not that all thrillers must necessarily depend on extravagant action scenes as there are now a variety of Sub-Genres which apply to many Thrillers, however it was the fast paced action thrillers that set the bench mark for many films.

(The famous Alfred Hitchcock)