Hitchcock's 'That's What She Said' Joke Is Its First Known Recording! (VIDEO)

[Ian David]

Alfred Hitchcock was way ahead of his time.

In this rare sound test recording for Hitchcock's 1929 film "Blackmail" he makes the first ever known recording of the joke "that's what she said." Well, his joke is actually the "as the girl said" version, but the joke has evolved, like all the great ones do.

So, Michael Scott, meet Alfred Hitchcock, who did it before you. That's what she said.

More:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/10/hitchcocks-thats-what-she_n_607689.html?ref=twitter

[mix]

1. Loved it, a true cad. nt

[edbermac]

2. The Master Of Suspense

Any one of his 50 films is as good as any of the mindless multiplex crap that's out nowadays.

[jobycom]

3. Oh come on, DU would hate him if he were making movies today.

He kept remaking his own films, his films were popular, they were emotionally manipulative... I mean, I love the guy, but you and I both know he'd be the equivalent of James Cameron on DU if he were making films now.

[mix]

4. I'm not sure I understand.

:hi:

[Auggie]

5. I don't agree

His films kept up with the times, certainly the later ones like Family Plot, Frenzy and Topaz.

[jobycom]

6. Wouldn't matter. Film snobs don't judge a film on its merits, only its popularity.

If they feel like the masses can enjoy it, it's automatically "crap" or "garbage," usually with some superlative adjectives and adverbs attached. Hitchcock would be the equivalent of the Olive Garden around here.

[Bucky]

7. You're being provocative. He'd be subject to Tarantinoish debates, of course

Hitch did some things quite well, was an innovator. But yes, like Tarantino he took one shtick and worked it over ad infinitum in order to showcase what clever new things he could do. The difference with Hitchcock is that he was inventing the language of film; he didn't have all the precedents film makers today have to draw on. Thus he had a much less film savvy audience to communicate to.

Before Hitchcock, showers were safe, a bird watching you was banal, if noticed at all, a window curtain pulled half shut was not going to conceal the strangler your husband hired. Today's film makers draw on that... and the best of them know how to play with those iconic elements and the expectations they project into your head... and throw you a curveball with an unexpected twist. But Hitchcock didn't just invent how to throw a cinematic curve, he invented the ball itself. I'm sure I could've struck out Abner Doubleday if I had a time machine and I still had the arm I had in 1990. I could probably outguess Sigmund Freud about somebody's psychological problems if he suddenly showed up today. They were still the pioneers & visionaries who got the business started in a new direction.

[peekaloo]

8. I thought it was from the outtakes of 'Psycho'

where Janet Leigh's sister is recounting her sister's phone call from the Motel.

Sis: She said there was a weird guy there, can't recall his name, the inn keeper. She said she didn't know what he did all day since he was rarely in the office.

Detective: You mean Master Bates?

Sis: That's what she said.


:hide:

[Ian David]

9. LOl! n/t

[mitchum]

10. I really am laughing out loud

beautifully done