Alfred Hitchcock Alfred Hitchcock Presents

Alfred Hitchcock on creating suspense in a television series

"Sometimes people create their own anxiety," said the director.

February 7, 2025, 1:11PM By MeTV Staff

NBC/Universal

Alfred Hitchcock was well known as a master of suspense. This wasn't just the case in his films; the director also wielded suspense like a weapon during his time working on his show, Alfred Hitchcock Presents.

In addition, Hitchcock also played an important part in the story, serving as the episode's narrator. Comparatively, Hitchcock felt that he was allowed to be a bit more elegant in his appearances on Alfred Hitchcock Presents, as opposed to his more fleeting appearances in film.

"Doing lead-ins and an appearance in a story (on television) would present a conflict," said Hitchcock during an interview with the Daily Press. "In movies, it's very undignified - as in Strangers on a Train, when I debarked from the train carrying a bass fiddle."

Granted, television offered more of a limited opportunity as opposed to that of a feature film, though Hitchcock felt confident in his storytelling ability, even given the time constraints.

"The hour show gives time for a full story," said Hitchcock. "The stories often come from full-length novels."

More importantly, Hitchcock knew exactly what to do with the time that he was given. The director was able to use his mastery of the craft to cultivate investment in the audience and maintain a general atmosphere of suspense that was integral to the show's success.

"Basically, suspense creates anxiety in a mass audience - and a feeling of fear," said Hitchcock. "Sometimes people create their own anxiety as they would by riding a roller coaster. Sometimes it's given to them - in television and in movies; they become anxious for another person with whom they have vicariously identified with themselves."