Alfred Hitchcock Quotes Page 4

“Suspense is like a woman. The more left to the imagination, the more the excitement. The conventional big-bosomed blonde is not mysterious. And what could be more obvious than the old black velvet and pearls type? The perfect ‘woman of mystery’ is one who is blonde, subtle and Nordic. Although I do not profess to be an authority on women, I fear that the perfect title for a movie, like the perfect woman is difficult to find.”

“Television has brought back murder into the home – where it belongs.”

“Television has done much for psychiatry by spreading information about it, as well as contributing to the need for it.”

“Television is like the American toaster, you push the button and the same thing pops up everytime.”

“Television is like the invention of indoor plumbing. It didn't change people's habits. It just kept them inside the house.”

“The ideal husband understands every word his wife doesn't say.”

“The length of a film should be directly related to the endurance of the human bladder.”

“The more successful the villain, the more successful the picture.”

“The only way for me to get rid of my fears is to make films about them.”

“The paperback is very interesting but I find it will never replace the hardcover book – it makes a very poor doorstop.”

“The silent pictures were the purest form of cinema.”

“There are several differences between a football game and a revolution. For one thing, a football game usually lasts longer and the participants wear uniforms. Also there are more injuries at a football game.”

“There is no terror in a bang, only in the anticipation of it.”

“There is nothing quite so good as burial at sea. It is simple, tidy, and not very incriminating.”

“There is nothing to winning, really. That is, if you happen to be blessed with a keen eye, an agile mind, and no scruples whatsoever.”

“There is something more important than logic: imagination.”

“To make a great film you need three things – the script, the script and the script.”

“To me Psycho was a big comedy. Had to be.”

“We seem to have a compulsion these days to bury time capsules in order to give those people living in the next century or so some idea of what we are like. I have prepared one of my own. I have placed some rather large samples of dynamite, gunpowder, and nitroglycerin. My time capsule is set to go off in the year 3000. It will show them what we are really like.”

“Weren't you ever booed at by your mother?!”

“When an actor comes to me and wants to discuss his character, I say, “It’s in the script.” If he says, “But what’s my motivation?” I say, “Your salary.”

“When we think we have been hurt by someone in the past, we build up defenses to protect ourselves from being hurt in the future. So the fearful past causes a fearful future and the past and future become one.”

“When you can look forward, and the road is clear ahead, and now you are going to create something – that's as happy as I'd want to be.”

“Your best side? My dear, you’re sitting on it.”