The director liked to create tension on-set to draw out stronger performances. But have stories about his psychological tricks been inflated in the retelling? The director liked to create tension on-set to draw out stronger performances. But have stories about his psychological tricks been inflated in the retelling? I n 1978, shortly after publishing The Art of Alfred Hitchcock , biographer Donald Spoto met the director one last time. At one point, Hitchcock appeared to fall asleep mid-