Psycho (1960)

Psycho (1960)

Produced and Directed by Alfred Hitchcock
Screenplay by Joseph Stefano
Based on the novel by Robert Bloch
Music by Bernard Herrmann

Starring:
Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates
Vera Miles as Lila Crane
John Gavin as Sam Loomis

Co-starring:
Marten Balsam as Detective Milton Arbogast
John McIntire as Sheriff Al Chambers

With:
Vaughn Taylor as George Lowery
Frank Albertson as Tom Cassidy
Lurene Tuttle as Eliza Chambers
Pat Hitchcock as Caroline
John Anderson as Charlie
Mort Mills as Highway Patrol Officer
Simon Oakland as Dr. Fred Richmond

And Janet Leigh as Marion Crane

Originally rated "M" changed to "R" in 1984.

You know the story, Marion Crane emebezzles $40,000 (which is what Anthony Perkins was paid to do the film), on the way to take the money to her boyfriend she pulls off the highway and decides to spend the night in the Bates Motel. After a light dinner serverd by Norman Bates, Marion heads to her room for a shower...

I first saw Psycho at Lincoln, Northeast Highschool years ago. They were having a horror film festival. I can't recall at the moment what else I saw then.

Alfred Hitchcock bought the film rights from Robert Bloch anonymously for $9500. His agent had intially offered $5,000. The film was filmed in black and white because Hitchcock thought it would be too gory in color. He used the crew from his tv series "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" and made the film for under $1 million dollars to prove a cheap picture could be done well by a good director.

In the opening sequence Marion Crane's undergarments are white. After she takes the money her ungergarments are black, because she's done something wicked.

A chair with "Mrs. Bates" printed on the back was kept on the set during filming. Cast and crew had to take an oath not to reveal the ending and the actors were not given their scripts for the revealing scene until they needed them.

Audiences were not allowed to enter the theater after the film had already started. This was unsual back then. The claim was that the film would be most enjoyed if seen from the beginning, in reality Hitchchock didn't want people coming in late, missing the shower scene, then spending the rest of the film looking for Janet Leigh.

Pscyho was voted the 11th Greatest Film of all time by Entertainment Weekly, being the highest ranked horror film on their list.

Anthony Perkins starred in sequels Psycho II (1983), Psycho III (1986) and tv movie Psycho IV: The Beginning (1990). There was also a tv movie sequel featuring a new pyscho, Bates Motel in 1987. There was a Psycho remake in 1998.

The Psycho Collectors Edition DVD includes a making of documentary, shower scene with and without music (Hitchcock had originally planed to the scene to run without music, Bernard Herrmann wrote music for it anyway and Hitchcock realised he was right), trailers, production drawings, photo galleries, main cast and director biographies with filmographies, newsreel footage. Language choices: English (mono), Spanish, French (mono), optional English closed captioning or Spanish subtitles.