It’s possible to spend an entire lifetime trawling the works of Alfred Hitchcock. The master of suspense made almost 70 films and TV shows across his staggering, more-than-half-a-century-long career, graduating from black-and-white, silent British potboilers to full-blown, Technicolor Hollywood blockbusters. Among them were countless era-defining releases that are still among the best movies ever made—of any genre—from the haunting Rebecca to the gripping Rear Window, and the ravishing Vertigo to the hair-raising Psycho.
It’s a crime, then, that the auteur never won a competitive Oscar for his efforts, despite five nominations. When he was eventually awarded a lifetime achievement award, in true Hitchcock fashion, he accepted the consolation prize with one of the shortest Academy Award speeches in history, simply saying, “Thank you… very much indeed,” before walking off the stage.
His films had the same winking sense of humor, as well as copious twists, remarkable performances, dazzling visuals, and sensational costuming—elegantly sported by icy blondes including Grace Kelly, Kim Novak, Eva Marie Saint, and Tippi Hedren—much of which was crafted by industry legend Edith Head.
As spooky season approaches, there’s no better time than now to revisit these classic nail-biters—and revel in their impeccable period styling.