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Alfred Hitchcock Quotes

Powerful Alfred Hitchcock for Daily Growth

About Alfred Hitchcock

Alfred Joseph Hitchcock (August 13, 1899 – April 29, 1980) was an English-American filmmaker, widely regarded as one of the most influential directors in the history of cinema. Known for his distinctive style, Hitchcock is famously associated with suspense and psychological thrillers, earning him the nickname "The Master of Suspense." Born in Leytonstone, London, England, Hitchcock developed an early interest in movies, working as a messenger boy at Islington Studios before securing a job as a title card writer. His first directorial role was for the silent film 'Number 13' (1922). In 1920, he moved to Germany to work with German Expressionist directors, an experience that greatly influenced his later work. In 1939, Hitchcock emigrated to Hollywood where he made some of his most iconic films. These include 'Rebecca' (1940), which earned him his first Academy Award nomination for Best Director; 'Strangers on a Train' (1951); 'Rear Window' (1954), with James Stewart and Grace Kelly; 'To Catch a Thief' (1955) also starring Kelly; and the chilling 'Psycho' (1960), featuring Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates. Hitchcock was known for his innovative techniques, such as the use of point-of-view shots and manipulating audience expectations. He often explored themes of guilt, innocence, obsession, and death. In addition to directing, Hitchcock was also a prolific writer, contributing stories and screenplays to numerous films. Off-screen, Hitchcock was known for his eccentric public persona, wit, and flair for self-promotion. He hosted the television series 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' (1955-1965), where he would introduce each episode with his signature chuckle. Despite his success, Hitchcock remained a private individual, shrouding much of his personal life in mystery. Alfred Hitchcock's enduring influence on cinema continues to this day, with many modern directors citing him as an inspiration. His work remains a significant part of the film canon and continues to captivate audiences worldwide.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The length of a film should be directly related to the endurance of the audience."

This quote by Alfred Hitchcock underscores the importance of maintaining audience engagement in filmmaking. He suggests that a movie's duration should be proportional to the viewer's patience or endurance, implying that longer films may test the limits of an audience's focus, while shorter films can sustain their interest more effectively. In essence, Hitchcock emphasizes the need for cinematic storytelling to keep audiences engaged throughout the film, regardless of its length.

"There is no terror in the bang, only in the anticipation of it."

This quote highlights that fear or terror lies not in the actual event or sudden noise (the 'bang'), but rather in the expectation or suspense leading up to it. In other words, our minds can create a more terrifying experience out of an uncertain situation than the reality itself. This is a fundamental aspect of storytelling and suspenseful narratives, where tension is built through anticipation.

"To make a great film you need three things — the script, the script, and the script."

This quote emphasizes that for a successful movie, a strong screenplay is paramount; it underscores its indispensable role in filmmaking, stating that having an exceptional script is necessary not just once but thrice - as the foundation upon which the rest of the production is built. In essence, Hitchcock highlights the pivotal importance of a well-crafted story for any cinematic masterpiece.

"Drama is life with the dull bits cut out."

This quote emphasizes that drama, in essence, is a distillation of real-life events where the mundane, routine, or less impactful moments are eliminated, leaving only the significant, emotional, or exciting elements. In other words, drama presents life's high points and intensities, providing audiences with a heightened, engaging, and compelling experience.

"The art of making wireless films is the art of making plots in which the suspense never lets up for a moment and the audience are constantly on the edge of their seats from beginning to end."

Alfred Hitchcock's quote emphasizes his approach to filmmaking, particularly in the realm of suspenseful and wireless (television) films. He believed that these genres should be crafted to keep audiences engaged and on edge throughout the entire narrative. The essence of this quote is about creating a gripping plot where tension, suspense, and anticipation are maintained consistently from the film's start to its end, leaving viewers excitedly guessing what will happen next.

When an actor comes to me and wants to discuss his character, I say, 'It's in the script.' If he says, 'But what's my motivation?, ' I say, 'Your salary.'

- Alfred Hitchcock

Motivation, Say, Your, Actor

In feature films the director is God; in documentary films God is the director.

- Alfred Hitchcock

Films, Feature Films, Director

I am a typed director. If I made Cinderella, the audience would immediately be looking for a body in the coach.

- Alfred Hitchcock

Audience, Director, Made, Typed

For me, the cinema is not a slice of life, but a piece of cake.

- Alfred Hitchcock

Cake, Me, Piece, Slice

A lot of movies are about life, mine are like a slice of cake.

- Alfred Hitchcock

Movies, Lot, Mine, Slice

Revenge is sweet and not fattening.

- Alfred Hitchcock

Revenge, Sweet, Fattening

The length of a film should be directly related to the endurance of the human bladder.

- Alfred Hitchcock

Movies, Related, Bladder, Directly

Disney has the best casting. If he doesn't like an actor he just tears him up.

- Alfred Hitchcock

Tears, Actor, Like, Casting

Television is like the American toaster, you push the button and the same thing pops up everytime.

- Alfred Hitchcock

Television, Like, Same Thing, Button

This award is meaningful because it comes from my fellow dealers in celluloid.

- Alfred Hitchcock

Award, Fellow, Dealers, Celluloid

These are bagpipes. I understand the inventor of the bagpipes was inspired when he saw a man carrying an indignant, asthmatic pig under his arm. Unfortunately, the man-made sound never equalled the purity of the sound achieved by the pig.

- Alfred Hitchcock

Pig, Sound, Purity, Asthmatic

Some of our most exquisite murders have been domestic, performed with tenderness in simple, homey places like the kitchen table.

- Alfred Hitchcock

Some, Tenderness, Been, Kitchen Table

I am scared easily, here is a list of my adrenaline - production: 1: small children, 2: policemen, 3: high places, 4: that my next movie will not be as good as the last one.

- Alfred Hitchcock

Small, Next, Here, Policemen

Television is like the invention of indoor plumbing. It didn't change people's habits. It just kept them inside the house.

- Alfred Hitchcock

Television, Habits, Like, Invention

I have a perfect cure for a sore throat: cut it.

- Alfred Hitchcock

Perfect, Cut, Throat, Sore

Luck is everything... My good luck in life was to be a really frightened person. I'm fortunate to be a coward, to have a low threshold of fear, because a hero couldn't make a good suspense film.

- Alfred Hitchcock

Luck, Good Luck, Threshold, Frightened

There is nothing to winning, really. That is, if you happen to be blessed with a keen eye, an agile mind, and no scruples whatsoever.

- Alfred Hitchcock

Mind, Happen, Whatsoever, Scruples

I am to provide the public with beneficial shocks.

- Alfred Hitchcock

I Am, Provide, Public, Shocks

There is nothing quite so good as burial at sea. It is simple, tidy, and not very incriminating.

- Alfred Hitchcock

Nothing, Very, Burial, Tidy

Dialogue should simply be a sound among other sounds, just something that comes out of the mouths of people whose eyes tell the story in visual terms.

- Alfred Hitchcock

Sound, Tell, Other, Just Something

Blondes make the best victims. They're like virgin snow that shows up the bloody footprints.

- Alfred Hitchcock

Snow, Like, Shows, Blondes

The paperback is very interesting but I find it will never replace the hardcover book - it makes a very poor doorstop.

- Alfred Hitchcock

Interesting, Will, Very, Paperback

This paperback is very interesting, but I find it will never replace a hardcover book - it makes a very poor doorstop.

- Alfred Hitchcock

Interesting, Will, Very, Paperback

Television has done much for psychiatry by spreading information about it, as well as contributing to the need for it.

- Alfred Hitchcock

Television, Need, Spreading, Psychiatry

We seem to have a compulsion these days to bury time capsules in order to give those people living in the next century or so some idea of what we are like.

- Alfred Hitchcock

Science, Next, Compulsion, Order

There is no terror in the bang, only in the anticipation of it.

- Alfred Hitchcock

Anticipation, Only, Terror, Bang

Drama is life with the dull bits cut out.

- Alfred Hitchcock

Drama, Cut, Bits, Dull

What is drama but life with the dull bits cut out.

- Alfred Hitchcock

Drama, Cut, Bits, Dull

The more successful the villain, the more successful the picture.

- Alfred Hitchcock

Picture, Villain, More, Successful

I'm full of fears and I do my best to avoid difficulties and any kind of complications. I like everything around me to be clear as crystal and completely calm.

- Alfred Hitchcock

Kind, Crystal, Like, Complications

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