Portrait of Alfred Hitchcock

Alfred Hitchcock

Master of suspense filmmaker

Modern influential 112 sayings

Sayings by Alfred Hitchcock

Kicking is very important in football. In fact, some of the more enthusiastic players even kick the ball, occasionally.

Undated — Anecdotal, from a collection of quotes
General Unverifiable

Deep inside, I am a shy man. And in the presence of colorful characters, I am a clam. I never try to outeccentric the eccentrics!

Undated — Anecdotal, from a collection of quotes
Self-Deprecating Unverifiable

Some films are slices of life, mine are slices of cake.

1960s — Interview, possibly with Peter Bogdanovich
General Unverifiable

The ideal motion picture is a blank screen and the voice of the director.

1963 — Interview with The New York Times
General Unverifiable

I like stories where the hero is a victim. I don't like stories where the hero is a hero.

1963 — Interview with Peter Bogdanovich
Self-Deprecating Unverifiable

I'm a great believer in telling the audience all the information, and then letting them watch the characters suffer.

1966 — Interview with François Truffaut
Food & Drink Unverifiable

Fear isn't so difficult to understand. After all, everyone's afraid of something.

1960s — Interview, widely attributed
General Unverifiable

I enjoy playing the audience like a piano.

1960s — Interview, widely attributed
General Unverifiable

Casting is characterization.

1966 — Interview with François Truffaut
General Unverifiable

I can only imagine what will happen when I die. They’ll probably show my movies at the funeral, and everyone will be screaming.

1970s — Interview, widely attributed
Self-Deprecating Unverifiable

I try to get the audience to participate in the picture. I want them to be frightened, but I also want them to laugh.

1963 — Interview with Peter Bogdanovich
General Unverifiable

The good actors are the ones who are good in spite of the director.

1960s — Interview, widely attributed
General Unverifiable

When an actor comes to me and says, 'I'm not happy with my lines, I'm not happy with my character,' I say, 'There's a door, get out.'

1960s — Interview, widely attributed
General Unverifiable

I'm a great believer in the visual image. I like to tell a story visually.

1966 — Interview with François Truffaut
Food & Drink Unverifiable

I am full of fear, but I make films to master my fear.

1960s — Interview, widely attributed
Self-Deprecating Unverifiable

I don't believe in the 'slice of life.' I believe in the 'slice of cake.'

1960s — Interview, variant of 'slices of cake' quote
Self-Deprecating Unverifiable

All of us have a dark side, and that's where the stories are.

1960s — Interview, widely attributed
General Unverifiable

I like to work with stories that are full of suspense and surprise.

1966 — Interview with François Truffaut
Work & Money Unverifiable

The element of surprise is very important in my films.

1960s — Interview, widely attributed
General Unverifiable

I'm interested in the effect of fear on people.

1963 — Interview with Peter Bogdanovich
General Unverifiable
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