Hitchcock’s preference for sophisticated icy blondes is well-known. He claimed that audiences would be suspicious of brunettes, but I think this quote shows a truer insight into his cinematic genius:
Blondes are blondes make the best victims. They’re like virgin snow that shows up the bloody footprints
My favourite Hitchcock blonde has always been Grace Kelly – partly because I love the movie ‘To Catch a Thief’ – it’s not as disturbing as a lot of his movies and makes for wonderful, witty, glamorous viewing. Here’s a run-down of my favourite Hitchcock blondes – I know I haven’t included them all, but I think these are probably the most iconic. Who’s your favourite?
Grace Kelly
Grace Kelly made three films with Hitchcock: Dial M for Murder (1954), Rear Window (1954, with Jimmy Stewart) and To Catch a Thief (1955, pictured below with Cary Grant).
Source and copyright: This work is in the public domain in that it was published in the United States between 1923 and 1977 and without a copyright notice.
Ingrid Bergman
Swedish actress Ingrid Bergman starred in three Hitchcock films “Spellbound” (1945), “Notorious” (1946), and “Under Capricorn” (1949).
Cary and Ingrid in “Notorious”, 1946, source and copyright: This work is in the public domain in that it was published in the United States between 1923 and 1977 and without a copyright notice
Tippi Hendren, whose relationship with Hitchcock was recently the subject of the BBC drama The Girl, starred in 2 Hitchcock movies: The Birds (1963) and Marnie (1964)
Kim Novak
Novak is probably best known for the dual role she played in Vertigo (1958) opposite James Stewart playing both female characters.
Source and copyright: This work is in the public domain in that it was published in the United States between 1923 and 1977 and without a copyright notice.
Eva Marie Saint
Saint played the role of Eve Kendall in North by Northwest with Cary Grant in 1959.
Source and copyright: This work is in the public domain because it was published in the United States between 1923 and 1963 and although there may or may not have been a copyright notice, the copyright was not renewed.
Janet Leigh
Famous for that shower scene in Psycho, Janet Leigh is probably one of the most well-known images of a Hitchcock blonde. Psycho was her only Hitchcock movie in 1960.
Dear Mary, congratulations by the choices! My only caveat refers to Kim Novak; despite only having starred one single movie from the master of suspense, I find her much more relevant that Tippi Hedren: In addition to far more beautiful, Vertigo is considered (per 100 between 100 major movie critics worldwide) Hitchcook’s masterpiece and ranks among the ten best films ever made… A great 2013 for you and your family !!!
thanks Augustus, Happy New Year to you too! I didn’t really put them in order of preference (although Grace Kelly is my favourite…)
Hi 🙂 You need a picture of Tippi, she was so cute! (And her last name is Hedren, not Hendren) Grace is my favourite as well, for many reasons. I think it is so strange that she, Ms. Saint, and to a lesser extent, Kim Novak, LOVED Mr Hitchcock. One of my favourite photos of Princess Grace shows her in the enormous gold fabulous costume , without the matching wig, and she was happily trimming Hitch’s hair.
And yet people would rather believe that he was a monster or sexual predator 🙁 Too many people are written about after they have passed away and cannot refute claims, so awful things can be said. I wish I knew more about Ingrid’s thoughts, but I doubt she would have worked with him more than once if he was so awful.