Interesting Facts About Alfred Hitchcock

Psycho (1960), Vertigo (1958), The Birds (1963), Rear Window (1954), etc. are all famous films directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Nicknamed the “Master of Suspense”, Hitchcock is credited with defining the thriller genre from 1921 and 1976. Hitchcock impacted the film industry through making over 50 films- most of which he would make a hidden cameo appearance in. Biography.com said it best in 2014 when they said that, “his cameo appearances in his own films, as well as his interviews, film trailers and the television program Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955-65), made him a cultural icon”. So, without further ado, here are 5 interesting facts about the Master of Suspense.

1. No Oscar for Alfred!

Although credited with sixteen Oscar nominations for his films, Hitchcock himself was never awarded a Best Director Academy Award. The film Rebecca (1940) received a Best Picture award. Believe or not, Hitchcock was nominated for Best Director 5 times, but never got to bring the award home.

2. That’s Sir Alfred Hitchcock, to you!

A few months before his death in 1980, Queen Elizabeth II gifted Hitchcock with his knighthood. Due to the fact that Hitchcock was facing health problems, instead of traveling to London for the ceremony, the British consul general Thomas W. Aston flew to Universal Studios to present the award to him.

3. Better Be on Time!

Hitchcock’s 1960 film, Psycho, is arguably his most famous film. When making the film, many studios turned down the proposal and Hitchcock was faced with the decision to fund the project out of his own pocket. Because of the money and time he put into the film, he was determined to leave the ending secret. The stars of the film were not even allowed to do press interviews due to Hitchcock’s fear of the movie being spoiled. Also, if you wished to see the movie in the theater, you better not be late! If you showed up to the movie even a minute late, you would not be allowed in. Hitchcock’s slogan for promotion was that you see the whole thing from the beginning or you don’t see it at all!

4. Prison Time for Misbehavior

Throughout the span of his life, Alfred Hitchcock maintained a fear of police. Even as an adult he had a phobia of police officers. The reasoning behind his phobia was from his childhood. As a child, Hitchcock’s father once sent him to the police station as a punishment. His father sent him with a letter saying he should face prison time for his misbehavior.

5. Afraid of His Own Movies?

Even though Hitchcock worked on over 50 films, he never once watched one of his movies in the theater. He was always too afraid of viewing the movies in the dark theater! This one blows my mind. The MASTER OF SUSPENSE was too scared to watch his films in the movie theater.

References

List of awards and nominations received by Alfred Hitchcock. (2019, February 21). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_awards_and_nominations_received_by_Alfred_Hitchcock#Awards_and_nominations

Kumar, P. (2017, July 15). 10 Interesting Alfred Hitchcock Facts You Might Not Know. Retrieved from https://moviesdrop.com/interesting-alfred-hitchcock-facts/1589/

Alfred Hitchcock (Creator). [image] (n.d.). Retrieved from https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Creator/AlfredHitchcock

Alfred Hitchcock. (2019, April 10). Retrieved from https://www.biography.com/people/alfred-hitchcock-9340006

HOME. (2012, July 18). Retrieved from http://www.mutantspace.com/hitchcock-promoted-psycho-1960/hitchcock/

It is required that you see Psycho from the very beginning [image]• fimdalinha. (2013, June 20). Retrieved from https://fimdalinha.com/it-is-required-that-you-see-psycho-from-the-very-beginning/

Admin. (2014, March 27). 10 Interesting Facts About Alfred Hitchcock. Retrieved from https://whatthafact.com/interesting-facts-about-alfred-hitchcock/

Movie Detail. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://fanart.tv/movie/354777/alfred-hitchcock-the-masterpiece-collection/