Alfred Hitchcock
Alfred Hitchcock from the archive
Alfred Hitchcock directed more than 50 films during a career spanning six decades, earning himself the title The Master of Suspense, with his genre-changing epics of murder and intrigue.
In his trademark measured delivery, here Hitchcock talks to Tony Bilbow in an edition of the BBC’s Late Night Line-Up, first broadcast in 1966. He gives a fascinating insight into the workings of Hollywood, talking candidly about stars’ salaries and the difficulty of working with well-known actors, including his frustration with rewrites and improvisation.
The cultural icon explains why his dogged pursuit of realism and authenticity stopped him from ever making a Western or a costume drama and he details how the infamous 45 second shower scene from Psycho took 70 set-up shots and seven days to perfect.
Despite his indelible link to the macabre, Hitchcock also reveals his lighter side as a practical joker, discussing an innocent prank he played on guests at a birthday lunch thrown for his wife.