Alfred Hitchcock, Part 3: The End of an Era — Psycho, The Birds, and a Changing Hollywood

About this episode

With Psycho, Alfred Hitchcock bet his own money on a low-budget shocker — and changed Hollywood forever. What followed would bring some of his biggest hits, his most troubling partnership, and a final chapter like no other. Concluding our October Halloween series, this is Part 3 of our three-part look at the life of Alfred Hitchcock. When plans for a new thriller starring Audrey Hepburn fell through, Hitchcock turned to something radically different. Working with a modest budget and much of his television crew, he transformed Psycho into a sensation. Janet Leigh's famous shower scene shocked audiences, while an unprecedented publicity campaign helped make it the most profitable film of his career.  With greater independence than ever before, Hitchcock began planning a return to the screen for Grace Kelly in Marnie, while moving ahead with his next major production, The Birds. For its leading lady, Hitchcock chose an unknown model named Tippi Hedren, whom he hoped to turn into a major Hollywood star. But their partnership, which continued with Marnie, would end in bitter conflict. Years later, Hedren's allegations of sexual harassment and assault would raise lasting questions abo