Alfred Hitchcock

Born in Leytonstone in 1899, Hitchcock directed over fifty features across six decades, from the British silent era through Psycho and The Birds, moving to Hollywood at David O. Selznick’s urging by 1939. He became as famous as his stars — a rare thing for a director — through his television host duties, his cameo appearances, and his gift for the quotable line. That gift is exactly why this quote survives scrutiny: Hitchcock talked to the press constantly, and reporters wrote it down.