Just because someone has an extraordinary talent does not mean they don't have a dark side. It was well known in Hollywood that A. Hitchcock became obsessed with his "Hitchcock blondes" and sexually harrassed many of them. This is wrong. It is hurtful and it is illegal! The new Anthony Hopkins film about his life reveals this in some detail. I'm disappointed at some of the comments here. Sexual harrassment is wrong and women then had little recourse.
I have heard Ms. Hedren speak in public about this before. I adore her so much I named my cat after her. She is the essence of the cool Hitchcock blond.
did you listen to the interview? Hitchcock destroyed her career. She wanted out because of inappropriate demands made on her. He then sat on her contract and wouldn't allow her to do any work while under his contract ....then, had her black listed
Tippi looks fantastic for her age. Also, I believe everything she is saying about Hitchcock. He was very strange when it came to the women on his set but he is still one of the greatest directors of all time and he is the reason why I want to be a filmmaker.
Tippi's still so stunning! And I'm not surprised at all about what she is saying. Hitchcock had strong leading ladies in all of his movies, one more beautiful than the other. And they were only ever allowed to be strong until to a certain point, where the male characters would take over. No surprise for these times, but it also shows how he wanted women portrayed. Definitely a genius as a director, but in my opinion he also clearly lived out his own personal sexual fantasies in his work.
The good side, as stated here, was that Tippi Hedren took two of the most extraordinary leading roles in the entire Hitchcock canon and was incandescently wonderful in both of them. It is great pity he ruined further opportunities, although I have feeling that her gifts as an actress and as the quintessential Hitchcock icon may have proved difficult to use in anyone else's work. The Truffaut offer may have been "The Bride Wore Black": not very good overall, despite some wonderful moments.
Whatever DID happen and whatever Hitchcock was REALLY like towards her (which we really dont know), I still think she's an amazing actress, and I'm really sad that she didn't act in a lot more movies:[
Tippi had a pride of lions. There was a book about it. Maybe in Australia....? I remember some shot of a lion popping into a kitchen window...and another shot in the book of about ten lions in a small garage sized area surrounding some guy, and one of them climbing on the back of the guy. Unforgettable pics.
Tippi is still stunning [ we had the pleasure of seeing her on stage at a Lincoln Center Film society gala for Sean Connery ] and her account of the Hitchcock treatment is credible. While "The Birds" was critically and commercially successful, "Marnie" was regarded as a failure and Hitchcock's career never fully recovered, with the possible exception of "Frenzy" in 1972. It would be interesting to know what Rod Taylor and Sean Connery, who starred in these films remember about Hedren's treatment
No, no, you're wrong here. Back then, actors were under contract. They were owed by filmmakers, studios, etc. An actor starring in a Hitchcock film was an enormous privilege, considering the implications of the name itself. She wasn't a movie star in the classical terms, but she definitely was a hot item and highly coveted by other filmmakers. If you're under contract, you can't necessarily do as you please. The "junk" she was in was a result of Hitchcock's doing. Her career was ruined.
Tippi Hedren, who remains absolutely beautiful, has now spoken in print interviews for the first time in detail regarding the extent of her physical abuse and sexual harassment by Hitchcock during The Birds and Marnie, and is all rings true. Interesting to have had commentary from Janet Leigh and Grace Kelly regarding their experiences. Hedren is careful to differentiate between his artistic contributions as a director and his personal characteristics.
Yeah, and you know why? Because Hitchcock enforced a contract saying she couldn't work for anyone else for 7 years. She missed her window of opportunity for working with others because of his "If I can't have her, no one else will" selfishness.
If Tippiu had something to gain from this, why didn't she speak of it sooner? In today's working world this is called sexual harassment...And Hitchcock is paying now for what he did all those years ago. Today he would have been sued, taken to court, and she would have been released from her contract. Unless you lived back then, as I have, you have no idea how woman were treated. He wanted to have her anyway he could, and punished her when he couldn't. It's justice time for Hitchcock!.
Thats fair enough, and I actually came back and wrote a comment a few days later that apparently didn't pass approval saying that I was being too harsh and that people think about things in different ways, so one thing may be a lie while another is an exaggeration. Anyway though, I can't agree with you because honestly I can't find any records of Hitchcock behaving like this that arent related to tippi, I would appreciate it if you could find something? I'm not so naive to close my eyes.
You make a valid point, some actors unfortunately start out at the top a couple hits and after that nothing really memorable again. She's done a couple good TV movies had some nice guest spots on some classic tv shows. But nothing really worth writing home about. A lot of "paycheck" roles as Zsa Zsa Gabor once told me. Where they had to keep working the roles wern't that great but they took them for the paycheck that was about it.
just on the force of "the Birds" alone, tippi was always a subject of curiousity. where was she? why didn't we see her all those years? now we know why. but that being said, "Marnie" was by no means a great film, nor was Tippi especially compelling in it. Her scenes with Sean were captivating. But it wasn't among Hitchcocks great ones. Tippi would have done great in a good tv series in those years....
Many of the actresses who worked with Alfred Hitchcock said nothing but great things about Hitchcock. Joan Fontaine, Ingrid Bergman, Teresa Wright, Tallulah Bankhead, Jane Wyman, Grace Kelly, Shirley MacLaine (her film career started through Hitchcock), Vera Miles, Kim Novak, Eva Marie Saint, Janet Leigh, Louise Latham, Julie Andrews, Karin Dor, and Barbara Leigh Hunt. Only Tippi Hedren had the problem with Hitchcock.
Married for 53 years does NOT make a man happy or faithful. Tippi Hedren was his most inexperienced actor to have two leads in his films. He took a much more "hands on" interest in her --besides, he always had a thing for blondes and looking back Hedren was probably/arguably the most beautiful and elegant Hitchcock blonde.
How do actors get paid? How do they earn? 600 a week sounds just enough. But celebs are rich. I have heard in some cases actors demanding fat sum of money(hundreds thousands) for a film.
i believe every word she says. a pretty woman like her, its no surprise what desperate men will do to keep her under his thumb. esp when the man has money and power. it doesnt matter if she was a mediocre actress or such and such. she was beautiful, and hitchcock wanted her. thats why he gave her the role.
Hitchcock initially wanted Grace Kelly to star in "Marnie" opposite Sean Connery, and she was announced for the film as a "comeback" project, however, there was a hostile reaction in Monaco and she ultimately withdrew from the film. Ironically, Hitchcock' next film projects, Torn Curtain, Topaz were artistic and commercial failures. Perhaps poetic justice for his treatment of Hedren.
In my first year as an investigator i believed the "innocent ones" after that I preferred to hear b o t h sides.It turned out different in most cases. So for me Hitch is no saint but certainly not guilty just by virtue of Hedren`s onesided version of the story. If Hitch truly were such a monster how come he was happily married for 53 years (his wife adored him) and had a daughter that blossomed? I
I find her VERY hard to believe. For one, he's the one who gave her a career. Frankly, she's a mediocre actress, I've never found her convincing, so considering that Hitchcock gave her a chance is beyond me. And she says he ruined her career, seriously? I mean, look at her filmography, she did films practically every year after "Marnie". And to speak of it decades after his death, and not doing anything about it legally at the time is very fishy. Seriously, you could have sued??
You are correct. She was not a "great" actress. I like "The Birds" but her demeaner is always the same. Stoic, reserved, and certainly not greatly talented. She made her money on that film. Marnie did not impress me. Saw that on TV. Sean Connery took the lead in that. She would not have succeeded in future roles.
When did it become a problem for you? `At the end of `Marnie`. What a joke! She had signed a 7 year contract and got out of it `because I was hot` in 1967. She only did 3 years of a 7 year contract. You see, the american actors took advantage of Hitchcock simply because he was an English man in Hollywood. They thought they could run rings around him and did. Newman stiffed him on `Torn Curtain`. Hedren bullied until she got a release from a 7 year contract. Fact is though the Old boys Network wouldn`t play..they refused to recognize her release by Hitchcock.
people may badmouth alfred hitchcock, but he has created cinematic masterpieces. shame people talk about the bad once people die, and not on the remarkable achievements they had.
I wasn't sure what to think when I first heard about this, I've always loved Alfred Hitchcock, and hearing this my immediate response was to somewhat side with Tippi while keeping in mind its still just hearsay. Well now I know exactly what to think. Tippis lying, all her body language shows it. Looking to the left when remembering instead of to the right, downplaying her own emotions (this is evidence of a practiced story), relying on ambiguous claims which can be shaped to fit her story later
Just because someone has an extraordinary talent does not mean they don't have a dark side. It was well known in Hollywood that A. Hitchcock became obsessed with his "Hitchcock blondes" and sexually harrassed many of them. This is wrong. It is hurtful and it is illegal! The new Anthony Hopkins film about his life reveals this in some detail. I'm disappointed at some of the comments here. Sexual harrassment is wrong and women then had little recourse.
I have heard Ms. Hedren speak in public about this before. I adore her so much I named my cat after her. She is the essence of the cool Hitchcock blond.
Tippi is still beautiful.
I feel so bad for her. Very classy Lady.
did you listen to the interview? Hitchcock destroyed her career. She wanted out because of inappropriate demands made on her. He then sat on her contract and wouldn't allow her to do any work while under his contract ....then, had her black listed
Tippi looks fantastic for her age. Also, I believe everything she is saying about Hitchcock. He was very strange when it came to the women on his set but he is still one of the greatest directors of all time and he is the reason why I want to be a filmmaker.
Tippi's still so stunning! And I'm not surprised at all about what she is saying. Hitchcock had strong leading ladies in all of his movies, one more beautiful than the other. And they were only ever allowed to be strong until to a certain point, where the male characters would take over. No surprise for these times, but it also shows how he wanted women portrayed. Definitely a genius as a director, but in my opinion he also clearly lived out his own personal sexual fantasies in his work.
i saw the movie"The Girl" and when she talked about her experience the movie actually took me through all the crap she went through
Konway K, just be other women did not complain doesn't mean it did not happen. Perhaps she is the only brave one to tell the true.
The good side, as stated here, was that Tippi Hedren took two of the most extraordinary leading roles in the entire Hitchcock canon and was incandescently wonderful in both of them. It is great pity he ruined further opportunities, although I have feeling that her gifts as an actress and as the quintessential Hitchcock icon may have proved difficult to use in anyone else's work. The Truffaut offer may have been "The Bride Wore Black": not very good overall, despite some wonderful moments.
"Ah loov'd yah, Marnie, Ah reely loov'd ya!"
The directors couch
Whatever DID happen and whatever Hitchcock was REALLY like towards her (which we really dont know), I still think she's an amazing actress, and I'm really sad that she didn't act in a lot more movies:[
Tippi had a pride of lions. There was a book about it. Maybe in Australia....? I remember some shot of a lion popping into a kitchen window...and another shot in the book of about ten lions in a small garage sized area surrounding some guy, and one of them climbing on the back of the guy. Unforgettable pics.
Tippi is still stunning [ we had the pleasure of seeing her on stage at a Lincoln Center Film society gala for Sean Connery ] and her account of the Hitchcock treatment is credible. While "The Birds" was critically and commercially successful, "Marnie" was regarded as a failure and Hitchcock's career never fully recovered, with the possible exception of "Frenzy" in 1972. It would be interesting to know what Rod Taylor and Sean Connery, who starred in these films remember about Hedren's treatment
No, no, you're wrong here. Back then, actors were under contract. They were owed by filmmakers, studios, etc. An actor starring in a Hitchcock film was an enormous privilege, considering the implications of the name itself. She wasn't a movie star in the classical terms, but she definitely was a hot item and highly coveted by other filmmakers. If you're under contract, you can't necessarily do as you please. The "junk" she was in was a result of Hitchcock's doing. Her career was ruined.
Tippi Hedren, who remains absolutely beautiful, has now spoken in print interviews for the first time in detail regarding the extent of her physical abuse and sexual harassment by Hitchcock during The Birds and Marnie, and is all rings true. Interesting to have had commentary from Janet Leigh and Grace Kelly regarding their experiences. Hedren is careful to differentiate between his artistic contributions as a director and his personal characteristics.
Nothings changed in hollywood,just the guys have to worry now as well.
Yeah, and you know why? Because Hitchcock enforced a contract saying she couldn't work for anyone else for 7 years. She missed her window of opportunity for working with others because of his "If I can't have her, no one else will" selfishness.
That's because Hitchcock put the kybosh on her future career. He tied her into a contract for 2 years, when she was receiving good offers.
Makes you wonder about the other blond actresses who worked for Hitchcock. How far did they go?
If Tippiu had something to gain from this, why didn't she speak of it sooner? In today's working world this is called sexual harassment...And Hitchcock is paying now for what he did all those years ago. Today he would have been sued, taken to court, and she would have been released from her contract. Unless you lived back then, as I have, you have no idea how woman were treated. He wanted to have her anyway he could, and punished her when he couldn't. It's justice time for Hitchcock!.
Thats fair enough, and I actually came back and wrote a comment a few days later that apparently didn't pass approval saying that I was being too harsh and that people think about things in different ways, so one thing may be a lie while another is an exaggeration. Anyway though, I can't agree with you because honestly I can't find any records of Hitchcock behaving like this that arent related to tippi, I would appreciate it if you could find something? I'm not so naive to close my eyes.
ouch!!
Interesting. I suppose it depends on whose account rings true to you. I'll have to look up David Spoto now.
so cool
I have no idea what to believe.
In a way , Hitchcock reminds me of Picasso in regard to the beautiful women. I am just guessing. George Wu, AIA 2012-8-26
You make a valid point, some actors unfortunately start out at the top a couple hits and after that nothing really memorable again. She's done a couple good TV movies had some nice guest spots on some classic tv shows. But nothing really worth writing home about. A lot of "paycheck" roles as Zsa Zsa Gabor once told me. Where they had to keep working the roles wern't that great but they took them for the paycheck that was about it.
Her lav wire is showing and the mic is pointed downward. Not very professional sound technique.
just on the force of "the Birds" alone, tippi was always a subject of curiousity. where was she? why didn't we see her all those years? now we know why. but that being said, "Marnie" was by no means a great film, nor was Tippi especially compelling in it. Her scenes with Sean were captivating. But it wasn't among Hitchcocks great ones. Tippi would have done great in a good tv series in those years....
Many of the actresses who worked with Alfred Hitchcock said nothing but great things about Hitchcock. Joan Fontaine, Ingrid Bergman, Teresa Wright, Tallulah Bankhead, Jane Wyman, Grace Kelly, Shirley MacLaine (her film career started through Hitchcock), Vera Miles, Kim Novak, Eva Marie Saint, Janet Leigh, Louise Latham, Julie Andrews, Karin Dor, and Barbara Leigh Hunt. Only Tippi Hedren had the problem with Hitchcock.
It was only a year in the half ? What stop her after that ?
Married for 53 years does NOT make a man happy or faithful. Tippi Hedren was his most inexperienced actor to have two leads in his films. He took a much more "hands on" interest in her --besides, he always had a thing for blondes and looking back Hedren was probably/arguably the most beautiful and elegant Hitchcock blonde.
How do actors get paid? How do they earn? 600 a week sounds just enough. But celebs are rich. I have heard in some cases actors demanding fat sum of money(hundreds thousands) for a film.
i believe every word she says. a pretty woman like her, its no surprise what desperate men will do to keep her under his thumb. esp when the man has money and power. it doesnt matter if she was a mediocre actress or such and such. she was beautiful, and hitchcock wanted her. thats why he gave her the role.
Hitchcock initially wanted Grace Kelly to star in "Marnie" opposite Sean Connery, and she was announced for the film as a "comeback" project, however, there was a hostile reaction in Monaco and she ultimately withdrew from the film. Ironically, Hitchcock' next film projects, Torn Curtain, Topaz were artistic and commercial failures. Perhaps poetic justice for his treatment of Hedren.
She said "a year and a half or so". Allowing for the vagueness of that plus time for post production, it's conceivable those records match her story.
Well she called him evil and you never met him.
Ii'm sure it's all true. He was a genious but a strange guy.
In my first year as an investigator i believed the "innocent ones" after that I preferred to hear b o t h sides.It turned out different in most cases. So for me Hitch is no saint but certainly not guilty just by virtue of Hedren`s onesided version of the story. If Hitch truly were such a monster how come he was happily married for 53 years (his wife adored him) and had a daughter that blossomed? I
HhhhP
the sad thing is that Alfred did look like Marlon Brando.
I find her VERY hard to believe. For one, he's the one who gave her a career. Frankly, she's a mediocre actress, I've never found her convincing, so considering that Hitchcock gave her a chance is beyond me. And she says he ruined her career, seriously? I mean, look at her filmography, she did films practically every year after "Marnie". And to speak of it decades after his death, and not doing anything about it legally at the time is very fishy. Seriously, you could have sued??
I'm sure if he looked and acted like Marlon Brando things would be different.
I'm totally shocked that Tippi didn't want to jump in Hitch's pants. He was such a hottie.
You are correct. She was not a "great" actress. I like "The Birds" but her demeaner is always the same. Stoic, reserved, and certainly not greatly talented. She made her money on that film. Marnie did not impress me. Saw that on TV. Sean Connery took the lead in that. She would not have succeeded in future roles.
When did it become a problem for you? `At the end of `Marnie`. What a joke! She had signed a 7 year contract and got out of it `because I was hot` in 1967. She only did 3 years of a 7 year contract. You see, the american actors took advantage of Hitchcock simply because he was an English man in Hollywood. They thought they could run rings around him and did. Newman stiffed him on `Torn Curtain`. Hedren bullied until she got a release from a 7 year contract. Fact is though the Old boys Network wouldn`t play..they refused to recognize her release by Hitchcock.
people may badmouth alfred hitchcock, but he has created cinematic masterpieces. shame people talk about the bad once people die, and not on the remarkable achievements they had.
I wasn't sure what to think when I first heard about this, I've always loved Alfred Hitchcock, and hearing this my immediate response was to somewhat side with Tippi while keeping in mind its still just hearsay. Well now I know exactly what to think. Tippis lying, all her body language shows it. Looking to the left when remembering instead of to the right, downplaying her own emotions (this is evidence of a practiced story), relying on ambiguous claims which can be shaped to fit her story later
If this is true, why did she say nothing years ago? Sorry, I don't believe her.
He made you a star, lady. So shut up, pack it in, and get on with it.