Where To Watch
Alfred Hitchcock believed that satisfaction was a ''fleeting pleasure''
"We all get to love that limelight and the expensive living that is part of it," said the director, "but that's only a part of it."
As one of the most prolific directors of all time, it can be hard to imagine why a man like Alfred Hitchcock was unsatisfied with his career. The creative had a variety of films under his belt, many of which were critically acclaimed and adored by the public. Plenty of Hitchcock’s movies have become cult films, with fans devoting a near fanatical reverence for him. Moreover, Hitchcock expanded beyond cinema, making a name for himself in television by creating shows like Alfred Hitchcock Presents. He seemed to be a man who had the golden touch.
Hitchcock seemed to understand that such success should be celebrated by other creators. "It is difficult, and dangerous too, to generalize," said Hitchcock during an interview with The Saginaw News. "How many people of contentment are there in any field? But I know what you mean. It is too bad to see people who have achieved what they set out to achieve, get so little joy from the achievement."
Still, however, he suffered the same plight that seemed to befall every creator. "I think perhaps this is because there is no lasting satisfaction in attainment by itself," said Hitchcock. "This is a fleeting pleasure...There is only a terrible fear that perhaps there will not be another good part…We all get to love that limelight and the expensive living that is part of it," said Hitchcock. "But that's only a part of it. The big cross to bear is the insatiable ego that has to be fed and fed and fed. Just reading another actor's good notices is a cause of searing pain and anxiety."
Related
