Skip to main content

Alfred Hitchcock

alfred-hitchcock_main-banner_photo.jpg

Our look at the Master of Suspense begins with a remarkable six-year period from 1958 through 1963, in which he worked on four of his most influential films. 

Already known around the world as the master of suspense with over forty features and a hit TV series under his belt, director Alfred Hitchcock collaborated for the first time with revolutionary graphic designer Saul Bass on Vertigo (1958), while North by Northwest (1959) placed Cary Grant in the most elaborate, ambitious version of Hitchcock’s beloved “wrong man on the run” storyline. Then Hitchcock turned to full-blooded horror for the first time with Psycho (1960) and The Birds (1963), both of which pushed viewers’ nerves and the boundaries of movie censorship to their limits and featured wildly innovative ad campaigns.

Now let’s take a deeper look at this chapter in the career of the screen’s reigning maestro of tension and terror.

The droll personality and cinematic atmosphere of Hitchcock are perfectly conveyed in this colorful publicity shot for “The Birds.”
Alfred Hitchcock
Playwright Maxwell Anderson, Samuel Taylor, and short story writer Ambrose Bierce all wrote drafts for “Vertigo,” including very different titles.
Vertigo
This research shot of a redwood was used for Kim Novak’s haunted forest monologue in “Vertigo.”
Vertigo
This is just one of many concept drawings by Saul Bass which formed the basis for the striking main titles of “Vertigo.”
Saul Bass design
The director and actress share a light moment on the set while filming the aftermath of her dive into the water in “Vertigo.”
Alfred Hitchcock and Kim Novak
Art director Henry Bumstead conceptualized this church tower interior for the pivotal “suicide” scene in the middle of “Vertigo.”
Vertigo church tower
This Edith Head gray suit design for Kim Novak in “Vertigo” became one of the most recognizable costumes in film history.
Edith Head drawing
Studio heads disliked the title of “Vertigo,” instead preferring to call it “Face in the Shadow.” Alfred Hitchcock begged to differ.
Face in the Shadow?
Numerous different titles were proposed by the studio for “Vertigo,” though the final one always remained Hitchcock’s top choice.
Different titles for Vertigo
In France the title of the French source novel for “Vertigo,” D'entre les morts (“From the Dead”), was discarded in favor of “Sueurs froides.”
From the Dead
Seen on location in San Francisco, Kim Novak delivered not one but two haunting characters in “Vertigo.”
Kim Novak
In this early Maxwell Anderson draft of “Vertigo,” James Stewart’s character was named Roger Kilrain instead of Scottie Ferguson.
Maxwell Anderson
Screenwriter Alec Coppel drafted the famous opening of “Vertigo,” in which James Stewart discovers his fear of heights at the worst possible moment.
Alec Coppel
The various drafts of the script for “Vertigo” featured different comic banter between James Stewart and Barbara Bel Geddes.
Banter
Seen in this wardrobe reference photo, the Oscar-winning actress was one of the wittiest and most memorable “Hitchcock blondes” in “North by Northwest.”
Eva Marie Saint
The English actor became one of Hitchcock’s most memorable villains as Vandamm in “North by Northwest.”
James Mason
seamless rear projection
Cary Grant
This temporary title for NORTH BY NORTHWEST was later used for the famous 1960 French film.
Working title for North by NW
Can you imagine “North by Northwest” with the title “The Man on Lincoln’s Nose” and opening narration by Hitchcock? At one point, that almost happened.
Man on Lincoln's Nose?
You don’t usually associate those two words with Cary Grant, but here they are during the production of “North by Northwest.
Cary Grant
Ever the foodie, the director scopes out the sweets during a break in filming “North by Northwest.”
Sweets
“North by Northwest” was the fifth and final Hitchcock film shot in the widescreen high-resolution process created by Paramount.
VistaVision
Production designer Robert F. Boyle created these sketches of James Mason’s modern hideout, which Cary Grant scales in “North by Northwest.”
Robert F. Boyle
This behind-the-scenes photo offers a sense of scale for the Mount Rushmore sets created for the climax of “North by Northwest.”
Mount Rushmore
This contact sheet shows the optical trickery used to show Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint descending Mount Rushmore in “North by Northwest.”
Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint
Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint and James Mason enjoy a visit from Princess Sophia of Greece while filming “North by Northwest.”
visit from Princess Sophia
Saul Bass reunited with Hitchcock for the opening titles for PSYCHO, as well as crafting these storyboards for the shower sequence.
Saul Bass comes back
The true nature of Norman Bates' mother was kept heavily under wraps by Alfred Hitchcock during the production and promotion of “Psycho.”
Psycho
It took seven days and a lot of hot water to shoot the famous shower scene in “Psycho.”
Psycho
Bates household
Psycho sketch
The two actors share a steamy clinch while filming the eyebrow-raising opening of “Psycho.”
Janet Leigh and John Gavin
The censorship issues with “Psycho” are legendary including the fate of Marion (originally named Mary), as seen in this Production Code memo.
Production Code memo
This 2012 Mondo poster design by Daniel Danger for PSYCHO is just one example of its enduring popularity.
Mondo poster
Preparations for “Psycho” included this grisly memo about the condition of an embalmed body, which figures in the film’s twist ending.
grisly memo
As originally scripted, the opening shots of “Psycho” were intended to be one long, continuous take.
One long opening take
How effective was Bernard Herrmann's score for "Psycho?" Here's what one viewer had to say about it.
Letter about the score
Did you catch the medical goof in the “Psycho” shower scene? This eagle-eyed physician did and brought it to Mr. Hitchcock’s attention.
Medical goof
The massive public response to “Psycho,” both positive and negative, included at least one passionate Beethoven fan.
Beethoven fan writes in
Not all audience members were entertained by the powerful shocks in PSYCHO, as this upset fan vented to Alfred Hitchcock.
Upset viewer
When Hitchcock claimed THE BIRDS was based on fact, he wasn’t kidding; here’s a news story from the real Bodega Bay, California.
Based on a true story
The actors take an unusual break during the filming of THE BIRDS.
Suzanne Pleshette and Rod Taylor
This startling conceptual painting for THE BIRDS became one of the film’s most memorable, unexpected images.
Painting of "The Birds"
All of the Bodega Bay schoolchildren in THE BIRDS were carefully cast and costumed, as seen in this wardrobe reference photo.
Bodega Bay extra
Tippi Hedren gets a makeup touch up while filming the harrowing attic climax of THE BIRDS
Tippi Hedren
Truffaut interview
Alfred Hitchcock presides over the shooting of the final scene with Rod Taylor in “The Birds.”
final scene with Rod Taylor
Hitchcock’s extensive use of storyboards was pivotal to the attack scenes in “The Birds,” such as this one outside the schoolhouse.
storyboards
Hitchcock and Hedren
If you went to see “The Birds” at a movie theater in Paris, this is what you might have seen.
The Birds in Paris
Hitchcock works on the sounds of “The Birds” with sound effects producer-composers Remi Gassmann and Oskar Sala at a MixturTrautonium synthesizer.
The sounds of The Birds
Though he never took writing credit, Hitchcock offered in-depth notes to his screenwriters, such as this example for “The Birds.”
Notes for The Birds
After PSYCHO, the MPAA was cautious with Hitchcock about the potentially gruesome subject matter of THE BIRDS after seeing the submitted script.
Letter from MPAA
Instead of music, the soundtrack for “The Birds” is an elaborate mixture of natural and electronic sounds, as planned out in these notes.
Modern soundtrack
Tippi Hedren
The director and star embarked on a huge publicity tour for THE BIRDS in Paris. Can you spot the other 1963 terror classic in this photo?
Publicity tour in Paris
Veronica Cartwright
Alfred Hitchcock tweaked the sensibilities of English majors with ads proclaiming, “The Birds Is Coming!” New York schoolchildren were not amused.
The Birds Is Coming!
Hitchcock often offered thoughtful responses to fan letters, such as this note about first-time actress Tippi Hedren in “The Birds.”
Fan letter reply

More Collection Highlights

Stevens Family Collection

Giant

George Stevens and Son
Hepburn and Stevens
George Stevens Jr., speaking at the Academy

Richard Donner

title

Superman Poster
title
Omen poster

Rick Baker

American Werewolf

Schlock
King Kong
An American Werewolf in London

The French Connection

French connection

action
cast list
chase

FLFA Posters

FLFA

La Strada - Italy
The Nights Of Cabiria
My Uncle

The Silence of the Lambs

Silence of the Lambs Makeup Touch up

Jonathan Demme and Jodie Foster
Jodie Foster and others in THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, 1991.
Silence of the Lambs Set Pictures

Mary Pickford

marypickford_main-banner_photo.jpg

Publicity portrait
Business card
Mary Pickford

Miracle on 34th Street

miracle-on-34th-st_main-banner_photo.jpg

Edmund Gwenn
George Seaton and Valentine Davies
Early draft as This Is the Time

Titanic

titanic_main-banner_photo.jpg

70th Oscars
Casting of roles of Jack and Rose
Hollywood Reporter story