Sentinel staff report

Prince Rainier III of Monaco once paid a visit to Scotts Valley.

The monarch came with his wife, Grace Kelly, and their two oldest children, Caroline and Albert, to spend some time at the Glenwood Drive vacation home of legendary director Alfred Hitchcock.

The 6,000-square-foot Mediterranean style house is now owned by Bob and Judy Brassfield. It is mostly one-story, with a red tile roof, stucco walls and gardens Hitchcock installed.



For Prince Rainier’s visit, Hitchcock had the road paved, said Bob Brassfield, the retired owner of a nutritional produce company.

"Grace Kelly was a very close friend of my parents," said Patricia O’Connell, Hitchcock’s daughter who lives in Westlake Village. Kelly made three movies with Hitchcock — "Dial M for Murder," "Rear Window" and "To Catch a Thief." O’Connell believed the visit occurred sometime in the early ’60s.

Hitchcock would often invite his Hollywood friends to his 154-acre ranch for visits, according to Brassfield. Prince Rainier apparently visited only once, although Grace Kelly paid several visits to the wooded acreage.



Hitchcock bought the Scotts Valley ranch while filming "Foreign Correspondent" in 1940. The Brassfields purchased it in 1977 and have made some additions, but it’s mostly unchanged.