Alfred Hitchcock Day

Yes, Hitchcock often appeared in brief cameos in his films. This started partly by accident when he was forced to appear as an extra in his 1927 film, The Lodger, to fill out a crowd scene.

His appearances soon became a quirky tradition, with audiences eagerly searching for him in each movie. Sometimes, he would be a background pedestrian or sit among extras.

Hitchcock’s appearances created a fun, hidden “Where’s Waldo” element that delighted fans.

It became a signature element of his directing style, adding an unexpected charm to his suspenseful films.

Hitchcock earned the title “The Master of Suspense” due to his unique ability to create intense emotional responses in audiences.

This title wasn’t just based on his famous thriller films but his deep understanding of human psychology.

Hitchcock knew how to build tension by giving audiences partial information, like showing a bomb under a table but keeping characters oblivious.

This technique, known as “suspense through dramatic irony,” captivated viewers, making Hitchcock synonymous with the genre of suspense.

In San Francisco, home to Hitchcock’s Vertigo, fans hold walking tours that trace the film’s famous locations.

Tours visit spots like Fort Point, where a pivotal scene was filmed, and Mission Dolores, where key story events take place.

These tours mix film history with real San Francisco sights, allowing fans to see the city as Hitchcock depicted it.

Similarly, London offers themed events, often screening his early British films alongside talks about Hitchcock’s impact on cinema.

Hitchcock’s 1963 film The Birds left a lasting impression, creating a cultural association between him and ominous bird imagery.

The movie was based on a Daphne du Maurier story and drew inspiration from an actual bird attack in California.

Hitchcock chose crows and gulls for their unpredictable behavior, enhancing the fear factor. His use of birds was so effective that blackbirds and crows became symbols of looming danger, especially around Halloween.

To this day, Hitchcock and birds are inseparably linked in pop culture.

Hitchcock had a famous fear of eggs, known as ovophobia.

He described eggs as “frightening” and found their yolks disgusting. Hitchcock’s aversion was so strong that he avoided eggs entirely and even used his fear to add tension in his films.

For example, his 1943 film Shadow of a Doubt uses close-ups of eggs cracking, adding subtle unease. Hitchcock’s personal fears often influenced his work, adding a unique layer to his thrillers.

A common myth is that Hitchcock’s 1960 film Psycho was the first to show a flushing toilet on screen. While Psycho did break taboos, it wasn’t the very first to show a flushing toilet. Still, the scene shocked audiences and sparked debates about what could be shown in mainstream movies. This moment illustrated Hitchcock’s knack for pushing boundaries, even if it didn’t invent every film technique it’s credited with.