Hitchcock in Ascendance

In 1954, Alfred Hitchcock left Warner Bros. for Paramount under a new contract that increased his salary, gave him a percentage of gross profits, afforded him more freedom and autonomy, and put him on a par financially with any director in Hollywood. His agent, Lew Wasserman, bargained for a unique clause that went almost unnoticed at the time but ultimately pushed Hitchcock’s earnings well beyond those of his peers. The clause stipulated that the ownership of the pictures he produced and directed for Paramount would revert to Hitchcock eight years after their initial release. Using his newfound freedom to select