There is little that can be discussed of the impact of Alfred Hitchcock that hasn't been said countless times already. The Master Of Suspense has been named by many as one of the greatest, most influential filmmakers of all time. His work has been referenced and honored countless times over the decades.
While some are instantly recognizable to fans, others may be more subtle and require the keen eye of a Hitchcock master to pinpoint. With an impressive filmography such as Hitchcock's, it is no wonder so many of his iconic scenes have been recreated or spoofed. Odds are many audiences have been exposed to his influence without ever having known it.
Vertigo - Dream Sequence
While viewed as a cinematic masterpiece today, Vertigo was originally considered a failure. The suspenseful tale of a former detective who must face his fears while investigating a beautiful woman is consistently referenced in pop culture, but the ahead of its time dream scene takes the cake.
Hitchcock has always excelled in showing the various fears of his characters, but the trippy visuals and odd camera work truly show what James Stewart's character is going through. This scene has been imitated and referenced for years, notably in Woody's nightmare in Toy Story 2.
North By Northwest - Mt. Rushmore Climax
The adventure thriller North By Northwest is responsible for inspiring countless films such as the Indiana Jones series and certain sequences in the James Bond films. Mt. Rushmore has been legendary since its inception, but the thrilling climax that sees the characters climbing the face of the mountain trying to survive has cemented it as a cinematic legend.
The scene is peak Hitchcock, and it is no surprise it is called back on in many adventure films, including the finale of the live-action Richie Rich from 1994. From the groundbreaking set design to the heart-pounding music, scenes like this are what made Hitchcock a legend.
Rear Window - Jeff Falls
Perhaps one of the most nail-biting films that have ever carried the Hitchcock name is Rear Window. The story about a man in a wheelchair who believes he witnesses a murder is one of the most suspenseful movies ever made, and all the suspense builds to a climax that will leave audiences on the edge of their seats. The main character ends up hanging out of his window and falls down below. The shot of him falling has been referenced in such films as Die Hard and was even spoofed in That '70s Show.
The scene is even paid homage to during Dumbledore's fateful scene in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, giving a perfect example of Hitchcock being referenced when many audiences have no idea.
The Birds - Schoolhouse Terror
Hitchcock fans may find it difficult to see a group of crows sitting on a surface and not instantly think of this iconic sequence. Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds may not seem like much by today's standards, but only a master such as Hitchcock can craft a film with such a silly premise and make it stand the test of time.
The scene of a large group of birds terrorizing a schoolhouse features iconic imagery and has been recreated multiple times. Perhaps younger fans will have felt its influence when living pants attack in Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius.
Strangers On A Train - The Meeting
The meeting of the titular strangers seems like a simple enough scene, but the film that follows makes the scene ripe for imitating. The film, about two men who agree that each will kill one person of the other, is clear on the surface, but in typical Hitchcock fashion, he turns it into a thrill ride that grabs viewers and won't let them go until the credits roll.
The meeting scene doesn't seem like the kind of sequence to be referenced, but when entire movies pay homage, such as Throw Mama From The Train, fans can guarantee this seemingly unimportant scene will be referenced.
Vertigo - Bell Tower
While the scene may not be directly referenced as much, a chase through a bell tower has become a common trope thanks to this sequence. The film has a classic Hitchcock build-up to an exciting climax as the main character climbs up a bell tower after the woman he was protecting.
While this may sound dull, the incredible camera work and stellar acting from James Stewart make audience ' pulses race as he treks to the top of the tower. This scene was referenced in such films as Tim Burton's Batman, where Batman chases The Joker to the top of a bell tower to confront him. Anytime there is a chase in a bell tower, odds are the reason is Hitchcock.
Psycho - Norman's Smile
One of the final shots of Hitchcock's Psycho is of motel manager Norman Bates smiling into the camera, almost to the audience themselves. This chilling shot is one of the most memorable scenes of an already memorable movie. Norman goes through the majority of the film scared and unsure of himself, but this smile reveals that he is in full control of his actions, or at least somebody is.
Perhaps the best example of this shot's influence isn't one single moment, but instead several as the smile is clearly a large influence behind the Kubrick stare. While not exactly the same, there is no doubt an influence each time a character performs this sinister look.
Rear Window - Spying On A Neighbor
While again not exactly one specific scene, the premise of a character spying out of their window and seeing something they aren't supposed to, was all born with this movie. The minimal locations and the idea that anyone can be watching an individual are what made this trope catch on.
Entire films such as 2007's Disturbia are based on this premise, and there are countless more. The Simpsons have referenced Hitchcock numerous times, but perhaps the most well-known is when Bart breaks his leg and spies on Flanders, which a direct call back to this iconic film.
North By Northwest - Crop Duster Chase
As famous as the Mt. Rushmore scene is, the sequence where a crop duster nearly runs down the main character is one of the most iconic scenes in all of film. Few films have had stunts quite as dangerous at the time, and Hitchcock was the perfect man to reach that boundary.
The scene begins with the character in a large field and then out of nowhere a crop duster begins barrelling towards him. The scene had such an impact, it was directly imitated in the second Bond film, From Russia With Love. This is one of the most famous Hitchcock scenes of all, but there is one that beats it by a large margin.
Psycho - Shower Scene
When a scene is so impactful and expertly crafted that it changes film forever, it is hard not to imitate it. The supposed main character being brutally killed off in the first act of a film is something only the great Alfred Hitchcock can pull off as well. While Hitchcock is the master of suspense, this scene has no build-u,p making it random and absolutely frightening.
The chilling and legendary music was enough to shock audiences in 1960 in a way no other film had at the time. There is an infinite number of examples of this scene being referenced, from Mel Brooks to Bugs Bunny. There is even an entire documentary based on this scene alone. There are few filmmakers who can make such an impact on film in just a few seconds, but Alfred Hitchcock is the master.
