The following is an article from the Motion Picture Herald dated July 16, 1938.
"Alfred Hitchcock, noted English director, sailed for London Wednesday after a visit to New York and Hollywood while on the coast Mr. Hitchcock was signed by David O. Selznick to direct 'Titanic' which will be placed in production in the fall
"On Tuesday evening Mr. Hitchcock was interviewed by Otis Ferguson over Station WNYC. The subject on the broadcast was 'Melodrama on the screen' and was sponsored by the National Board of Review. Mr. Ferguson is film editor of the New Republic.
"Mr. Hitchcock returned to New York from Hollywood Monday. He said that 'B' pictures, made on limited budgets, and often representing material that is not considered sufficiently worthy to merit an 'A' picture expenditure, might achieve new importance if made from experimental stories.
"He mentioned O. Henry and Edgar Allan Poe stories as in that category. 'The O. Henry stories with the plot and ending are not the conventional formula stuff and the Poe thrillers, the horrific stories would fit admirably into such a program and I for one should like to see the results.' He said.
"Mr. Hitchcock was impressed by the quality and quantity of exploitation and publicity of American films. He said the results were immediately discernable here and could be copied to advantage in England.
"Mr. Hitchcock whose latest film for GB will be released in this country soon, is best remembered for his melodramatic pictures, 'The 39 Steps' 'Secret Agent' and 'The Man Who Knew Too Much.'"
The Titanic movie mentioned early in this article never came to be and Rebecca would end up being Hitch's first American movie. Rebecca was produced for David O. Selznick like the unmade Titanic movie would have been.
-Michael J. Ruhland
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