Alfred Hitchcock: The Mind behind the Best of Psychological Suspense

Alfred Hitchcock: The Mind behind the Best of Psychological Suspense by Roxanne McDonald

“Television has done much for psychiatry by spreading information about it, as well as contributing to the need for it.” Alfred Hitchcock (1899 - 1980)

The psychologically thrilling and macabre storylines, use of light (and shadow), and interstice sarcasm of Alfred Hitchcock movies and shows are as well known and as thoroughly discussed by film aficionados as is Hitchcock’s life. But for less TV- and movie- savvy folks, some Hitchcock information might be interesting… so rather than go into who the master of mental manipulation was from birth to death, I would like to share with you the coolest of trivia as I know (or remember) it:

–When Hitchcock was a kid, he stole a candy bar (or did some other minor infraction, I can’t recall exact details). To exact the most effective discipline, his mother/father wrote a note to the chief of police, handed it to Alfie, and sent the boy downtown to the local PD. Alfie gave the note to the officer, who, following its directions, placed little Alfie in a cell, locked it, and walked away—leaving the kid incarcerated and terrified (for a short? period). When he returned to let Alfred out, he commented, “This is what we do to naughty boys.”

This experience translated to a terrible fear of police, which Hitch highlighted in all of his depictions of cops—from camera angles that made arresting officer look huge to the use of the standard issue sunglasses which instill fear in the offender…and the audience.

–Hitchcock was intrigued with numbers, especially the number seven. He included the number seven in his movies…or used numbers which added up to or reduced to seven. (read more…)