The well-known creator of suspense and tension, Alfred Hitchcock, was born on August 13, 1899 and died on April 28, 1980, the same time that Queen Elizabeth of England subtly honored him as a Knight of the Crown.

He described himself as a shy person and repeatedly, in various interviews, he had openly revealed the phobias that plagued him.

He had an intense fear and aversion to eggs.

“Nightmares haunt me, these small, white, round objects without a single clue inside. Have you ever watched the disgusting performance when the shell of an egg breaks and the yellow liquid is released? Blood is a satisfyingly vibrant color. However, the yellow of the crust is hideous, inestimably hideous. I have never dared to try.”

Throughout his life, the presence of the police caused him intense fear

“The police fill me with fear. The fear of them is so deep that in 1939, when I arrived in the United States, I refused despite the fact that I was aware to drive my car, for fear of having to face the representatives of the law. And yet the mere idea of ​​being in the midst of such a situation was sufficient to fill me with dread. I can’t stand my everyday life having elements of uncertainty and surprises. People around me told me that I would be able to overcome my fear if I faced its source through my subconscious, and by bringing to the surface the episode that led to the formation of this paranoid fear.”

He went on to say, “So I found out how when I was still very young, my father had sent me to meet a policeman with a note in my hand. He, after reading the note, took me to a cell, forbidding me to go out and saying ‘You will see what punishment naughty children receive.’ My father’s teasing was meant to teach me a lesson. Although I tried to explain this past and illuminate the spontaneity that led to the creation of this fear, unfortunately the release of its origin did not relieve me of my inevitable anxiety. The police, with their presence, continue to evoke a sense of dread that I cannot overcome.”

Dirty alleys and darkness

“I never sought to find anguish in noisy, clanging doors. I’m more drawn to crime scenes that take place by a lighted river than those that take place in dark and deserted alleys. My preferred protagonist is always an ordinary person, to whom extraordinary events happen, rather than the opposite. What interests me is to present interesting incidents to this ordinary hero, as opposed to creating extreme circumstances around him. Because of this, my opposing characters come across as educated and charming. The image of a criminal must move away from the clichés of bad looks or cruel behavior. Many of the most recognizable criminals in history have excelled in leadership, good looks and charm in order to attract their victims. What makes villains truly terrifying is their ability to hide dark intentions behind their superficial charm and friendliness. In the end, the dynamic of suspense outweighs the mystery.”