Alfred Hitchcock Day 2023: Date, History, Facts about Alfred

Alfred Hitchcock was born in London at the turn of the 20th century to a strict Catholic family; he later characterised his childhood as lonely and sheltered.

Alfred Hitchcock, known as the Master of Suspense, is a pioneering film director who gave us some of our beloved classic horror films. From The 39 Steps to Psycho, Hitchcock developed innovative filmmaking techniques that influenced generations of filmmakers to come and altered the way we perceive horror and mystery.

Throughout his career, Hitchcock directed over 50 films and introduced the world to iconic characters, film scenes, and directing conventions. Hitchcock became a master of nerve-wracking suspense, twist endings, and psychologically complex characters by drawing on his austere upbringing and demanding parents as well as the work of German Expressionist artists.

The background of Alfred Hitchcock Day

Alfred Hitchcock was born in London at the turn of the 20th century to a strict Catholic family; he later characterised his childhood as lonely and sheltered. Elements of his upbringing, such as his mother’s punishment of making him stand at the foot of her bed, were incorporated into his later films.

First entering the British film industry as a designer of title cards for silent films, Hitchcock later became an assistant director. In 1925, he directed his first film and never turned back. In 1939, he moved to Hollywood and laboured on “Rebecca,” one of his most beloved films. He continued to produce international blockbusters such as “The Birds” and “Psycho,” scandalising and titillating audiences everywhere.

Throughout his career spanning more than 60 years, Hitchcock directed more than 50 films, some of which no longer exist. After “Rebecca,” the director appeared in fleeting cameos in each of his remaining 39 films. Between 1955 and 1965, he hosted and produced the mystery anthology series Alfred Hitchcock Presents. Each episode features a new thriller or mystery narrative and begins with an illustration of the director’s infamously rotund silhouette that he drew himself.

Hitchcock was active for the duration of his existence. He was awarded two plaques on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960, for television and film. He is regarded as the most influential director in history. In 1979, shortly before his death in his Los Angeles residence while sleeping, he was knighted.

Since Hitchcock was born in August, the origins of National Alfred Hitchcock Day on March 12 are unknown — a fitting tribute for the Master of Suspense.

Worship of Tools Day 2023: Date, History, Facts, Activities

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT ALFRED HITCHHOCK

Hitchcock believed that providing more information could actually heighten suspense by revealing dangers that the protagonist is oblivious of, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats as the protagonist stumbles into trouble.

Hitchcock was a pioneer in the use of juxtaposed close-ups to convey a story. This technique provides the director with greater control over what and when they display the audience.

In order to build suspense, distract the audience, and serve as a foil for the actual dramatic action, Hitchcock frequently told two contrasting stories in parallel.

With his background in silent film, Hitchcock understood the significance of using close-ups, zooms, and panning to create the illusion of a person looking around a room.

Hitchcock popularised the term “the MacGuffin,” which refers to an inconsequential object in a film that functions as a catalyst for the plot and the characters’ motivations.

Worship of Tools Day 2023: Date, History, Facts, Activities