McGilligan, Patrick

A biography of Orson Welles, chronicling his early life growing up in the Midwest as the son of an alcoholic industrialist and a radical suffragist and classical musician, and the early years of his career, including his marriage and affairs, his influential friendships, and his artistic collaborations.

Examines the life of director Alfred Hitchcock, the so-called "Master of Suspense," presenting him as a devoted husband and father, and an innovative film craftsman, and includes anecdotes about his many movies, as well as a filmography.

Chronicles the life of African-American filmmaker Oscar Micheaux, discussing his childhood in Illinois as the son of freed slaves, his years as a homesteader in South Dakota, his writing career, the personal challenges he faced, and his contributions to American cinema.