Hitchcock Haikus Trivia Quiz

Answer: The 39 Steps

This 1935 film, (loosely) based on the 1915 novel by John Buchan, has regularly been named one of the greatest British films of the 20th Century. Richard Hannay (Robert Donat) finds himself suspected of killing a beautiful spy, and must work out the meaning of the cryptic clue that forms the title of the film in order to clear his name. The opening scene involving a music hall act turns out to have more significance than was at first apparent.

As was often the case, Hitchcock made a cameo appearance: he is the man tossing a cigarette box as the bus pulls up outside the theatre when Hannay is leaving it with Annabelle Smith (Lucie Mannheim), the spy whose life expectancy is shorter than they realised at the time.

Answer: The Lady Vanishes

Iris Henderson (Margaret Lockwood) is an English tourist who gets embroiled in international espionage when her path crosses that of Miss Froy (Dame May Whitty), who is not the genteel retired lady she appears to be. When Miss Froy disappears from the train compartment, and the other passengers deny that she was ever there, Iris enlists the assistance of Gilbert Redman (Michael Redgrave) to locate her and (of course) make sure the vital message gets delivered via the tune of a song.

Hitchcock's cameo in this film is at Victoria Station, wearing a black coat, smoking a cigarette.

Answer: Rebecca

Hitchcock's first American project, in 1941, was based (pretty faithfully) on Daphne du Maurier's novel of the same name, with its famous opening line, "Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again." The title character, the first Mrs de Winter, died before the film starts, but her memory is a strong presence in the minds of the central figures. Manderley is the de Winter home, where Max (Laurence Olivier) brings his second wife (Joan Fontaine); she is made to feel less than welcome by the housekeeper, Mrs Danvers (Judith Anderson). Dark secrets will out, of course - this film is a quintessential psychological thriller-mystery, and nobody is safe from the shadow of earlier events.

This time, you can spot Hitchcock walking near the phone booth just after Jack (George Sanders) makes a call, near the end of the film.

Answer: Mr & Mrs Smith

This 1941 film marks a real change of pace - no intrigue, no murder, no suspense, just a good old-fashioned romantic comedy. David Smith (Robert Montgomery) and Ann Smith (Carole Lombard) discover that they are not actually legally married. Earlier that same day (talk about coincidences) they had a conversation in which he said that he would not marry her again if he had it to do over - their constant squabbles were getting him down. Don't worry, despite the misunderstandings, true love will find a way to get them together.

Hitchcock's cameo occurs about halfway through the film, as he walks past David Smith outside the apartment building. Apparently the scene was directed by Carole Lombard, who made Hitchcock complete multiple takes to get it to her satisfaction. (Not that anyone ever found him to be a demanding director, or anything.)

Answer: Strangers on a Train

Guy Haines (Farley Grainger) wants to marry Anne Morton (Ruth Roman), but his wife Miriam (Laura Elliott) refuses to give him a divorce. When he meets Bruno Anthony (Robert Walker) on a train, he doesn't take Bruno's suggestion that they should each kill the person who the other wishes to be rid of seriously. But after Bruno kills Miriam, he tries to force Guy to kill Bruno's father and fulfil their "deal". The idea behind this 1951 movie has been used a number of times since, including the 1987 comedy "Throw Momma From the Train".

Hitchcock's cameo in this film occurs when he gets on a train carrying a double bass.

Answer: Dial M for Murder

Tony (Ray Milland) discovers his wife Margot (Grace Kelly) has had an affair with Mark (Robert Cummings), and hires A. C. Swann (Anthony Dawson) to kill her, staging it to look like a burglary. When Swann is killed, Tony then manipulates the situation to get Margot convicted of murder. The hidden key reveals the truth in time to avoid her execution.

Hitchcock's appearance in this 1954 film is in a photo, rather than being live. You can see him in the photograph showing a faculty and student banquet, about 15 minutes into the action.

Answer: Rear Window

Jeff (James Stewart) relieves his boredom during a heat wave (a good excuse for everyone having their windows open) by observing his neighbours, and becomes convinced that he has seen Lars Thorwald (Raymond Burr) murder his wife. His girlfriend Lisa (Grace Kelly) is sceptical, but gets involved in helping him determine the truth. Often considered one of Hitchcock's finest films, "Rear Window" has been referenced many times, including an episode of the cartoon show "The Simpsons" titled "Bart of Darkness" - but Flanders didn't kill his wife, only her favorite plant. It is also strongly referenced in an episode of the television series "Castle" called "The Lives of Others", in which it turns out that the suspense was completely staged to give Castle a puzzle to occupy himself while he recuperated.

Hitchcock can be seen inside one of the apartments, winding a clock. The character who lives there, and is only identified as The Songwriter, was played by Ross Bagdassarian, better known by the stage name Dave Seville, of Alvin and the Chipmunks fame.

Answer: North by Northwest

Roger Thornhill (Cary Grant) is mistaken for the fictitious "George Kaplan", a character created as part of a government plan to trap a group of spies, including Phillip Vandamm (James Mason). Is Eve Kendall (Eva Marie Saint) on the side of the angels or the demons? Kidnapping, drugging, an attempt on his life by a crop dusting plane, and (of course) the climactic chase across Mount Rushmore all eventually lead to the recovery of the missing microfilm, and the downfall of the bad guys. Phew!

If you want to see Hitchcock in this 1959 film, you need to pay close attention during the opening credits. He can be seen as a would-be passenger missing a bus, just after his name leaves the screen in the opening credits.

Answer: Psycho

Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) shouldn't have stopped at that lonely motel, despite the rain; she would then not have met her fate at the hands of Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins). This 1960 film is a classic example of Hitchcock's contention that it is not what the audience sees which causes the thrill of horror, but what they imagine from what is suggested. If you haven't watched the famous shower scene with that thought in mind, you should do so. It may have kept people out of the showers for months, but you don't actually see much in the way of gory detail!

If you're looking for Hitchcock in person, you will spot him early on, wearing a cowboy hat, standing outside Marion's office.

Answer: The Birds

Actually, those lovebirds are about the only ones that do not start attacking the humans in this 1963 thriller loosely based on a short story of the same name by Daphne du Maurier. Melanie Daniels (Tippi Hedren) meets Mitch Brenner (Rod Taylor), who wants the birds for his young sister's birthday, and they start a flirtatious relationship. If you've ever thought that a bird's beady little eyes held a vague suggestion of menace, then this film may be the realisation of your nightmares.

As Melanie is entering the pet shop where she meets Mitch, Hitchcock can be seen leaving it, accompanied by two of his own dogs.