20 Myths and Truths About Alfred Hitchcock

TRUTH: Psycho’s publicity campaign demanded that audiences arrive before the film began. Theater displays warned that nobody would be admitted after the start, and Hitchcock appeared in promotional material insisting on punctuality. The policy protected the shock of Janet Leigh’s disappearance and turned scheduling into event marketing. Exhibitors initially worried about losing customers, but lines formed anyway. The stunt changed how suspense could be sold: secrecy, rules, and audience behavior became part of the entertainment.