Friday the 13th-Knight Templars and Alfred Hitchcock
The Knight Templar and Alfred Hitchcock do not have much in common on Friday the 13th. But they do share an event or history to the date that shapes their image and how they are perceived . The reason I have written about them is that I never heard of their relation to Friday the 13th until today. This blog is about culture not food
Knights Templar and How Friday the 13th Destroyed Their Image
The Knight Templar were formed on Christmas Day in 1119. They took vows of poverty and piety. They were formed to protect travelers on dangerous roads of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. During the 14th century they developed a system of castles, churches, political power and wealth throughout western Europe.
The lost their crusade states in 1291 that were Israel, Lebanon, Syria and Turkey. They lost the states to Egypt, and Syria which made the Knights Templar vulnerable to criticism and blame. King Phlip IV and Pope Clement of France were rumored to be in debt and wanted to claim the Knight Templars wealth.
They accused the Knight Templar of black magic, sexual rituals, and worshipping false idols. On a Friday October 13, 1307, Jacques de Molay the grandmaster of the Knights Templar was arrested when in France trying to start another crusade. Other knights were arrested and place in the Paris Temple by King Philip IV and Pope Clement.
Philip IV charged them with blasphemy, sodomy and heresy. They were deprived of sleep, tortured using the rack, and shackled in irons to get them to confess to crimes they did not commit. Over 134 knights of 138 confessed due to the extreme conditions of torture they were subjected to. Other writers in later years continued the rumors of the Knight Templars which were developed by a corrupt king and Pope. Many article written today contradict this questionable tale.
Alfred Hitchcock's Birthday and Cats
Alfred Hitchcock was born on Friday the 13th the date August 13, 1899. He was known for producing suspense and horror movies and the Series called Alfred Hitchcock Presents. Alfred Hitchcock was known to hire blond actresses for his movies and cast them in star roles. Many of his movies were in black and white. He was quoted as saying blondes made the best victims.
In 1959 he produced Alfred Hitchcock presents: Miss Paisley's Cat. It was not about a black cat but a tabby cat that a lonely old woman adopted as a pet. The tabby comes through a window and the woman decided to make the stray a pet. Her downstair neighbor hated cats and decides to kill it. Miss Paisly decides to seek revenge for what he did.
Alfred Hitchcock Presents Fog Closing was made in 1956 and features a black cat in the production. It is about Mary Summer a woman afraid of being left alone. When her husband goes on a business trip her fears increase. She calls her parents but the line is busy.
After she hears a crash in the hallway and goes to find out what happened. She sees a lamp on the floor and see glowing yellow eyes. She screams turns on the lights to find a black cat and wonders how it got in. Then she sees it run through an open door. Behind her is an intruder from the local mental hospital that has escaped. Guess she reason to fear being alone that evening.
REFERENCES
Why Friday the 13th Was Bad Luck For the Knights Templar and Their Legacy, by Beth Daily, The Conversation, March 12, 2026
What Friday the 13t Spelled For the Knights Templar by Barbara Maranzani, History, November 13, 2017, Updated November 11, 2026
The Knights Templar and Friday the 13th The Truth Behind the Myth and Superstition, Knight Templar Blog 2026
Alfred Hitchcock Website 2026
Friday the 13th Connection to Alfred Hitchcock, by Jack Wilhelmi Screen Rant, December 11, 2019
Alfred Hitchcock Presents Miss Paisley's Cat, Cinema Cats Celebrating Cats in Movies, September 23, 2014, 2026
Alfred Hitchcock Presents Fog Closing In , Cinema Cats Celebrating Cats in Movies and Television 2026
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