Alfred Hitchcock is the undisputed "Master of Suspense," but it took him making a lot of movies to develop that reputation.
Back when his career was just beginning, there was a movie that he was unable to get ot the big screen for the audience to see.
It was called Number 13, and it was supposed to be the director's debut, yet it never happened. Today, we're going to unpack this tantalizing mystery in his otherwise illustrious career.
Let's dive in.
Alfred Hitchcock
A Film Without a Budget
Like most movies of first-time directors, the reason we never got Number 13, which was also known as Mrs. Peabody, was that they didn't have the money.
The movie had no studio behind it; money to make it came from Hitchcock's own uncle, John Hitchcock, and one of the film's stars, Clare Greet. Despite their personal investments, the money simply wasn't enough to see the project through, and production was ultimately shut down.
It was also paid for by the Peabody Trust, founded by American banker-philanthropist George Foster Peabody, to offer affordable housing to needy Londoners.
But that budget fell apart, and only a few scenes were ever shot.
The Story
Even though the movie never happened, we know what it was about.
Number 13 was about the residents of an affordable housing building in London. The screenplay was penned by Anita Ross and was set to offer a glimpse into the lives of a diverse group of tenants, a theme that Hitchcock would later explore in films like Rear Window.
A Debt of Gratitude
While the film never saw the light of day, it did forge a lasting professional relationship. Hitchcock was so grateful for Clare Greet's financial backing and belief in him that he cast her in six of his subsequent films: The Ring, The Manxman, Murder!, The Man Who Knew Too Much, Sabotage, and Jamaica Inn.
This act of loyalty speaks volumes about the director's character and his appreciation for someone who supported him in his early, uncertain days.
It's really cool to see Hitchcock support him later in life.
A Lifelong Silence
The movie remains a very unfinished "what if" that Hitchcock rarely ever spoke about.
Again, Hitchcock went on to be considered one of the best and most important directors of all time. These kinds of setbacks happen to everyone; it's how you handle them and keep working that matters most.
Summing It All Up
The story of Number 13 serves as a fascinating glimpse into the humble beginnings of a cinematic giant.
It can teach us, as filmmakers, about perseverance and loyalty, but it's also just a cool fact that will make you an absolute legend at trivia night.
Let me know what you think in the comments.
