He had all sorts of tricks up his sleeve. But sometimes the people working with him didn't understand his "sleight of hand".
There's a story about one actor who learned this while on set. The film was Shadow of a Doubt (1943). The scene: a family dinner.
At one point, one of the actors is supposed to rise in reaction to another character. Hitchcock told him to do this abruptly. The actor did, pushing off his chair and stepping back.
HITCHCOCK
That's all right, Hume, but rise and step in.
That's all right, Hume, but rise and step in.
ACTOR
Toward Teresa?
Toward Teresa?
HITCHCOCK
Yes, step in and lean forward.
Yes, step in and lean forward.
ACTOR
But she's just said something very offensive.
But she's just said something very offensive.
HITCHCOCK
I know.
I know.
ACTOR
But... yes, sir.
But... yes, sir.
Thinking this direction was "completely false", when Hitchcock asked for another take, the actor repeated the original movement by stepping back.
HITCHCOCK
You've done it wrong again.
You've done it wrong again.
ACTOR
I know. I'm terribly sorry. It just feels so uncomfortable.
I know. I'm terribly sorry. It just feels so uncomfortable.
HITCHCOCK
There's no law that says actors have to be
comfortable. Step back if you like--but then
we'll have a comfortable actor without a head.
There's no law that says actors have to be
comfortable. Step back if you like--but then
we'll have a comfortable actor without a head.
Finally, the actor did it Hitchcock's way.
HITCHCOCK
Come and see the rushes... You'll never know
which way you stepped. The camera lies, you
know--not always, but sometimes. You have to
learn to accommodate it when it does.
Come and see the rushes... You'll never know
which way you stepped. The camera lies, you
know--not always, but sometimes. You have to
learn to accommodate it when it does.
[Original Photo by fredpanassac]
