Alfred Hitchcock

Alfred Hitchcock (1899-1990) was an English-American director famous for mastering the suspense thriller genre of films from the 1930s through the 1960s. Trademarks within the film's narratives and types included his use of the "macguffin," an object which is the catalyst for a chain of events but unimportant of itself, atmospheric music (often supplied by former Orson Welles composer Bernard Herrmann), and cynical humor.

Hitchcock also became a familiar personality through cameo appearances in his films and later as the droll, silhouetted host of Alfred Hitchcock Presents and The Alfred Hitchcock Hour. Through such films as Dial M for Murder, Psycho, The Birds, and Rear Window, Hitchcock became nearly synonymous with crime and suspense, and lent his name and likeness to such print ventures as Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine and the juvenile book series The Three Investigators (in which Hitchcock was a regular "character," discussing cases with the title characters).

Connections
Several actors have worked with both Hitchcock and the Muppets/Henson.
 * Julie Andrews played Dr. Sarah Louise Sherman in The Torn Curtain (1966)
 * Roscoe Lee Browne played Philippe Dubois in Topaz (1969)
 * John Forsythe played Sam Marlowe in The Trouble with Harry (1955) and Michael Nordstron in Topaz (1969)
 * Henry Fonda played Manny Balestrero in The Wrong Man (1956)
 * Martin Landau played Leonard in North by Northwest (1959)
 * Jean Marsh played Monica Barling in Frenzy (1972)
 * James Masonplayed Phillip Vandamm in North by Northwest (1959)
 * Olan Soule played the assistant auctioneer in North by Northwest (1959)
 * John Stephenson played a State Department interrogator in Topaz (1969)
 * John Vernon played Rico Parra in Topaz (1969)
 * Billie Whitelaw played Hetty Porter in Frenzy (1972)