8. Alfred Hitchcock and Cary Grant (Director/Actor, 4 collaborations)
The glamour couple of the list; however, all of that going to Mr. Grant. Hitchcock's lighter faires in his filmography (Notorious not withstanding) needed a textbook leading man to carry them. Charming, articulate and refined, Cary Grant personified exactly what he needed. Suspicion was their first project together in 1941, but because of Grant's popularity the sordid ending was changed to fit more in line with Hollywood sensibilities. It would reflect the lighter tones Hitch would use with Grant in the lead including North by Northwest and To Catch A Thief. However, their best arguably was Notorious. Perhaps, not coincidently, it was also their darkest film together. Grant was the only actor the master of suspense was said to "love". Continuing that James Stewart was the "everyman", but Hitch never would cast Stewart after Vertigo flopped. The director blamed it on Stewart now looking too old to draw in the crowds and turned to Grant for North by Northwest. Ironically, Grant was actually four years older than Stewart.