Alfred Hitchcock himself was not literally a "peeping tom," but his films frequently explored themes of voyeurism and voyeuristic behavior, often implicating the audience as voyeurs. Notably, in Hitchcock's film "Psycho," there is a famous scene where the character Norman Bates peeps through a peephole to watch Marion Crane undress, and Hitchcock intentionally forces the audience to recognize their own voyeuristic role by making them see from Norman's point of view. This technique highlights voyeurism as a major theme in his work but does not mean Hitchcock himself engaged in such behavior. Regarding Hitchcock's personal behavior, there have been allegations by actress Tippi Hedren that he sexually harassed her during the making of "The Birds" in the 1960s. These allegations paint a troubling picture of his conduct on set, including inappropriate advances and creating a hostile environment, but this should not be conflated with being a "peeping tom," which literally means secretly watching people, especially for sexual gratification. In summary:
- Hitchcock's work often thematically involved voyeurism, using it as a narrative and cinematic device.
- He was not a peeping tom in the literal sense, but his films made viewers complicit in voyeurism.
- Allegations of sexual harassment against Hitchcock by one of his actresses exist, but these are separate issues from voyeurism depicted in his films.
