How Alfred Hitchcock’s Creative Rift With Bernard Herrmann Shattered Their Bond
Alfred Hitchcock’s partnership with composer Bernard Herrmann ended in heartbreak after a creative clash on Torn Curtain, leaving the legendary director feeling deeply betrayed.
Some of Hollywood ’s most iconic collaborations have ended in heartbreak, and the partnership between Alfred Hitchcock and Bernard Herrmann is no exception. Their creative alliance, which began in 1955, produced some of cinema ’s most memorable moments. But when trust is broken, even the strongest bonds can unravel.
From Creative Harmony to Discord
Hitchcock and Herrmann first joined forces on The Trouble With Harry, sparking a collaboration that would span seven films. Herrmann’s music became an essential part of Hitchcock’s storytelling, most notably in the unforgettable shower scene from Psycho. That score, now legendary, was actually the result of Herrmann ignoring Hitchcock’s instruction not to write music for the murder scenes. Instead, Herrmann followed his instincts, and the result was cinematic history.
Reflecting on their work together, Steven C Smith, author of Hitchcock & Herrmann, explained,
The reason Benny felt that he could go against Hitchcock’s wishes on Torn Curtain, I’m confident, is because Hitchcock said on Psycho, ‘Do whatever you think is best. I only have one instruction. Do not write music for the murders.’
Herrmann’s boldness paid off with Psycho, but it set a precedent that would later lead to conflict.
The Breaking Point on Torn Curtain
When it came time to score Torn Curtain, Hitchcock had a clear vision: he wanted a lighter, less intense soundtrack. Herrmann, however, believed the director was being misled by outside influences and chose to compose a powerful, dramatic score instead. This time, his decision to disregard Hitchcock’s wishes backfired.
Smith described the fallout:
I have a much clearer understanding now of how, when Hitchcock walked into the Torn Curtain scoring session, he was just stunned, and his thought was an understandable ‘Why have you betrayed me like this? Everything’s gone wrong, and I counted on you, my friend, and you did this to me too.’ Benny didn’t do what he was told, and he wasn’t the director of the movie. And this could have been avoided.
The sense of betrayal Hitchcock felt was profound, and the damage to their relationship was irreparable.
The End of an Era
Herrmann’s refusal to compromise ultimately led to his dismissal from the project. Henry Mancini or John Addison could have been brought in from the start, but Herrmann’s personal struggles at the time clouded his judgment. Smith noted,
He was at the lowest point of his life at that moment, and I think that he was not able to view a project with the same open-mindedness that he could have if his world had not gotten very dark in his head.
After Herrmann was let go, Addison completed the score for Torn Curtain. The creative partnership that had defined so many classic films was over, and Hitchcock and Herrmann would never collaborate again.