Sir Alfred Hitchcock was an English film director and producer born in 1899 who was pioneering in applying techniques in suspense and psychological thriller genres. Some of his most famous and acclaimed films included Psycho, North by Northwest, and The Birds, which utilized twisted endings, thrilling plots involving violence and crime, and elements like MacGuffins, red herrings, and cliffhangers to grab audience attention. In North by Northwest, the MacGuffin was microfilm the villains sought, though its purpose was unclear and less important to viewers than the protagonist's mistaken identity.