Hitchcock's granddaughter recalls his love of Bay Area and Santa Cruz

San Jose Mercury News ^ | 10/11/2008 | Richard Scheinen

[nickcarraway]

At their Scotts Valley ranch, the filmmaker and his wife could be themselves

Tere O'Connell Carrubba is Alfred Hitchcock's granddaughter. Her spacious house, overlooking the ocean in Aptos, south of Santa Cruz, is filled with pictures of Hitch. In one set of framed photos, the director hoists Tere (pronounced "Terry") and her older sister, Mary, into the air. In their gingham dresses, they're cute as buttons. And the master of suspense looks like a regular grandfather.

Carrubba, daughter of Patricia Hitchcock O'Connell (the director's only child), grew up near Hitchcock in Los Angeles. But she also spent a lot of time with Hitchcock and his wife, Alma, at their Scotts Valley ranch, in the hills just outside Santa Cruz, with a spectacular view of Monterey Bay. The Hitchcocks purchased it in 1940, and it remained their getaway for about three decades.

I asked Carrubba, 54, to explain her grandfather's fascination with the Bay Area and Northern California. After all, many of Hitchcock's films — from "Rebecca" (1940) to "Family Plot" (1976) — were filmed in this region, which he described as having a magical quality. He particularly loved San Francisco, calling it a great place to set a murder mystery namely "Vertigo," released 50 years ago.

Q Can you explain your grandfather's connection to the Bay Area?

A He always liked it, especially San Francisco. It kind of reminded him of European cities, I think; it had that kind of flavor. And Scotts Valley, that's where he and my grandmother went to relax. They weren't a typical Hollywood couple. They didn't go to parties. Some of the people they made movies with would become friends, so Grace Kelly and her husband would come visit them in Scotts Valley. Ingrid Bergman, too.

[nickcarraway]

Ping

[John123]

Alfred Hitchcock ruined my childhood... I “accidentally” wandered in the family room late in the evening and my older brother (who is crazy by the way) was watching that movie in which some woman jumps out and start stabbing some guy on the staircase... I had nightmares ever since...

[nufsed]

Yes, that was “some” woman! LOL!

[martin_fierro]

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No love lost for Pt. Reyes, tho.

[Clemenza]

A damn shame that the only liveable areas in California are controlled by the liberals.

[martin_fierro]

But she also spent a lot of time with Hitchcock and his wife, Alma, at their Scotts Valley ranch, in the hills just outside Santa Cruz, with a spectacular view of Monterey Bay.

	Cruzio
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!!!

[skeeter]

I knew Hitchcock liked filming here, but I had no idea he lived so close by.

One reason I love his movies are the local shots - reminders of what it used to be like around here.

[TwilightDog]

On August 18, 1961, thousands of seabirds crashed into Capitola, littering streets, disrupting power lines, and, in some cases, biting residents. Director Alfred Hitchcock, who owned a home in the area and had already written a script based on a Daphne du Maurier story about avian invaders, caught wind of the incident and requested that copies of the local newspaper be sent to him in Hollywood. Two years later he released The Birds.

http://www.viamagazine.com/top_stories/articles/capitola07.asp

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

A damn shame that the only liveable areas in California are controlled by the liberals.

I thought that San Luis Obispo (halfway between LS and SF on the coast) has a GOP government.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

LS = LA.

[sargunner]

Years ago I visited the schoolhouse that was used in the film, in Bodega Bay I believe. It was a Bed and Breakfast. The wife didn’t share my enthusiasm as it being a place to spend the evening, so we got a place in the Russian River area. Beautiful area though.

[Lizavetta]

SAn Luis Obispo is a loony liberal college town.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

How about the surrounding county?

[Clemenza]

I prefer the Mel Brooks version:

[Lizavetta]

As you go further north into cowboy country - Santa Margarita, Paso Robles - it gets more conservative, for sure. The beach areas, San Luis Obispo itself - total lib land.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

I hear Real Estate is cheaper than most of the CA coast there?