In 1920, when he learned that Cecil B DeMille's Hollywood studio, Lasky, was on course to open a studio in London, Alfred promptly got himself a job as a title designer.
The 21 year old then designed the titles for all the movies made at the studio for the next two years.

In 1923, while the studio was working on Always Tell Your Wife, the film's director fell ill. This proved to be a stupendous stroke of luck for the industrious Hitchcock, who was allowed to complete the film, with impressive results.

Studio bosses handed Alfred his first directorial assignment with Number 13, but before the film could be finished, Lasky wound up its British operations.