Famous Alfred Hitchcock Quotes
As quoted in Hitchcock (revised edition 1984) by François Truffaut with the collaboration of Helen G. Scott, p. 102.
As quoted in Hitchcock (1967) by François Truffaut.
“There is no terror in the bang, only in the anticipation of it.”
Attributed to Hitchcock in Halliwell's Filmgoer's Companion (1984).
Alfred Hitchcock Quotes about life
Alfred Hitchcock Quotes about people
NY Journal-American (25 August 1965).
Hitchcock's Definition of Happiness https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14dOICbwSIs (YouTube video), excerpt from CBC's interview 'A Talk with Alfred Hitchcock' (1964). Quoted in "Hitchcock's Secret to Happiness" http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/03/hitchcocks-secret-to-happiness/254769/ by Maria Popova, The Atlantic (20 March 2012).
Alfred Hitchcock Quotes
“Give them pleasure – the same pleasure they have when they wake up from a nightmare.”
On audiences, Asbury Park NJ Press (13 August 1974).
“Puns are the highest form of literature.”
Dick Cavett Show (8 June 1972).
Regarding his oft-cited quote stating that actors are cattle; as paraphrased and quoted in "Town Called Hollywood: Director Pleads Off Poundage" http://www.mediafire.com/view/ix2ammmxkb3flqx/Screen%20Shot%202018-09-11%20at%2012.56.17%20AM.png by Philip K. Scheuer, in The Los Angeles Times (30 May 1943).
Context: [T]he director passed off the phrase as one of his "Machiavellian quips," not to be taken seriously. "Let us say, rather, that actors are a necessary evil," he cautioned, with a straight face. "As a matter of fact, I couldn't work if I weren't on friendly terms with them; I'll bend over backward every time. Besides, I get into each picture I make, if only for a couple of seconds—so I'm probably a frustrated actor at heart myself."
“Let us say, rather, that actors are a necessary evil,”
Regarding his oft-cited quote stating that actors are cattle; as paraphrased and quoted in "Town Called Hollywood: Director Pleads Off Poundage" http://www.mediafire.com/view/ix2ammmxkb3flqx/Screen%20Shot%202018-09-11%20at%2012.56.17%20AM.png by Philip K. Scheuer, in The Los Angeles Times (30 May 1943).
Context: [T]he director passed off the phrase as one of his "Machiavellian quips," not to be taken seriously. "Let us say, rather, that actors are a necessary evil," he cautioned, with a straight face. "As a matter of fact, I couldn't work if I weren't on friendly terms with them; I'll bend over backward every time. Besides, I get into each picture I make, if only for a couple of seconds—so I'm probably a frustrated actor at heart myself."
“Blondes make the best victims. They're like virgin snow that shows up the bloody footprints.”
Interview on CBS TV (20 February 1977).
“T. V. has brought murder back into the home where it belongs.”
National Observer (15 August 1966).
Variant: One of television's great contributions is that it brought murder back into the home, where it belongs
Context: One of television's great contributions is that it brought murder back into the home, where it belongs.
News summaries (31 December 1963).
“[This award is] meaningful because it comes from my fellow dealers in celluloid.”
On receiving American Film Institute's 1979 Lifetime Achievement Award, recalled on his death (29 Apr. 1980).
“The silent pictures were the purest form of cinema.”
As quoted in Hitchcock (1967) by François Truffaut
“The lower lip definitely states that all actors are cattle—including the authorǃ”
Handwritten note accompanying Hitchcock's sketched self-portrait; as seen in—and addressed to the author of— "Melodrama Maestro" http://www.mediafire.com/view/uvl045zkpces0io/MELODRAMA_MAESTRO.jpg by Hume Cronyn, in McClean's (1 November 1944).
“I’m not against the police; I'm just afraid of them.”
As quoted in Hitchcock (revised edition 1985) by François Truffaut, p. 109 http://books.google.com/books?id=NnE_sPb3XBQC&q=%22I'm+not+against+the+police+I'm+just+afraid+of+them%22&pg=PA109#v=onepage.
“Hitchcock: You know that I think all actors are cattle?
George Raft: Yes, I know—but I'm no actor.”
On the set of The House Across the Bay; as quoted in "The New Yorker" http://www.mediafire.com/view/t6bdmd0wg1hvd8m/%20.png by Leonard Lyons, in The Washington Post (26 July 1940).
As quoted in "New York Close-Up" http://www.mediafire.com/view/sllj68n3ug6dgju/Concert_Thursday_to_Aid_Memori.jpg.
As quoted in "New York Close-Up" http://www.mediafire.com/view/sllj68n3ug6dgju/Concert_Thursday_to_Aid_Memori.jpg by Tex McCrary and Jinx Falkenburg, in New York Herald Tribune (27 February 1950).
“The Birds could be the most terrifying motion picture I have ever made.”
Movie trailer for the 1960s film The Birds.
“It still goes. But Pat is the nicest cattle I've ever seen.”
Reaffirming the "actors are cattle" quote while in Boston to see his daughter perform onstage; as quoted in "The Lyons Den" https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3ZBRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0mkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5954%2C4412673 by Leonard Lyons, in The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (20 October 1944).
Defending his repetition of filming techniques, in The Observer [London], (8 Aug. 1976).
“You can't direct a Laughton picture. The best you can hope for is to referee.”
Films and Filming (Volume 9, Issue 3; 1963), p. 20 https://www.google.com/books/edition/Films_and_Filming/GMARAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=%22you+can%27t+direct%22+hitchcock+laughton