Alfred Hitchcock - ©Theda Bara

The name I bring in this post is that of the “Master of Suspense”, the British Alfred Hitchcock, who was a renowned film director and producer, who always appeared in scenes in his films. Hitchcock is still considered one of the most revered and influential filmmakers of all time, having been chosen by The Telegraph as the greatest director in British history and, by Entertainment Weekly, the greatest director in world cinema.

Over the course of his nearly 6-decade career, Hitchcock made more than 50 films. The filmmaker's first film was: “The Pleasure Garden”, which was restored by the British Film Institute. The new version of the silent film, made in 1925 and released in 1926, had around 20 minutes of new scenes added.

Considered the “Master of Suspense”, Alfred Hitchcock never won a personal Oscar. He was nominated five times in the Best Director category, for: “Rebecca” (1940), “Lifeboat” (1944), “Spellbound” (1945), “Rear Window” (1954) and “Psycho” (1960), but the award never arrived, being surpassed every time. However, in his Hollywood debut, Alfred Hitchcock won the Oscar for Best Film for: “Rebecca” (1940).

Alfred Hitchcock won two Golden Globe Awards for Best Television Program in 1958: “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” and for the television biography of fellow American filmmaker Cecil Blount DeMille, better known as Cecil B. DeMille (1881-1959), in 1972.

In the 60s, when Alfred Hitchcock was choosing the cast of the film: “The Birds”, (1963) he received a refusal from his favorite actor and protagonist of four of his films, James Stewart (1908-1997): “Rope” (1948); “Rear Window” (1954); “The Man Who Knew Too Much” (1956) and “Vertigo” (1958). Stewart said he didn't fit into the script. After this refusal, Alfred Hitchcock and James Stewart never worked together again.

Alfred Hitchcock has two stars on the Los Angeles Walk of Fame, at 6506 and 7013 Hollywood Boulevard, in the Cinema and Television categories respectively.

Born Alfred Joseph Hitchcock on August 13, 1899, Leytonstone, London, United Kingdom, died April 29, 1980, Bel Air, Los Angeles, California, United States, aged 90.

Alfred Hitchcock was married to British screenwriter and film editor Alma Reville (1899-1982) from 1926 to 1980, when she became the widow of filmmaker and knight of the Queen Sir. Alfred Hitchcock. The couple had one daughter, American actress Patricia Alma Hitchcock O’Connell, known as: Pat Hitchcock (1928-2021).

James Stewart - ©Theda Bara

The name I bring to you in this post is that of the American actor James Stewart, who won the Oscar for best actor in 1941, for his performance in the film: “The Philadelphia Story” (1940) as the reporter “Macaulay Connor”. The actor also won an Honorary Oscar in 1985 for his film career.

James, who according to friends had a comedic streak, was very successful in western and suspense films, being the favorite actor of British filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock (1889-1980), with whom he made 4 films: “Rope” (1948), character: “Rupert Cadell”; “Rear Window” (1954), character: “L. B. Jefferies”; “The Man Who Knew Too Much” (1956), character: “Dr. Benjamin McKenna - Ben McKenna” and “Vertigo” (1958), character: “John Ferguson”.

James Stewart has his star on the Los Angeles Walk of Fame, at 1708 Vine Street, in the Cinema category.

James Maitland Stewart, born May 20, 1908, Indiana, Pennsylvania, United States, and died July 2, 1997, Beverly Hills, California, United States, aged 89.

James Stewart is one of the few Hollywood actors who was married only once, to fellow American actress Gloria Hatrick McLean Stewart (1918-1994), from 1949 to 1994, of whom the actor ended up a widow. Gloria had previously been married to the owner of The Washington Post newspaper, Edward “Ned” Beale McLean Jr. (1918-1987), from 1943 to 1948, when they separated.

James Stewart and Gloria Hatrick had three children: former American football player Michael Stewart (1947-); and the twins, businesswoman Judy Stewart-Merrill and university professor Kelly Stewart-Harcourt (1951-), both 72 years old. The legendary actor's stepson, Ronald Walsh McLean (1944-1969), son of Gloria and Edward, was killed in action in the Vietnam War.