Psycho (1960 film)
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Psycho is a 1960 suspense film, based on the novel by Robert Bloch, which describes the events surrounding the encounter of an embezzler and the profoundly disturbed motel proprietor Norman Bates.
Alfred Hitchcock directed this film. The affecting, subtly humorous screenplay was written by Joseph Stefano, and, overall, is quite faithful to the novel. Commonly regarded as one of Hitchcock's best films, Psycho has also been acclaimed as one of the most effective horror films. The film spawned several sequels, though they are generally seen as works of lesser quality.
The book had Mary Crane from Dallas, Texas as the leading lady. Since a real Mary Crane in Dallas exists, Alfred Hitchcock changed her into Marion Crane from Phoenix, Arizona. The original film version of Psycho starred Janet Leigh, Anthony Perkins, Martin Balsam, John Gavin, Vera Miles, Simon Oakland, and Chief Tahachee.
Plot summary
The movie's first scene takes place in a cheap hotel room in Phoenix and shows Marion Crane (Leigh) and her boyfriend Sam Loomis (Gavin) in their undergarments after a Friday afternoon tryst. Marion is clearly unhappy, torn between her desire to be with Sam and her shame at these discreet meetings. But Sam explains that between his father's unpaid debts and alimony payments to his ex-wife, he is forced to live in the back room of a store. Until his finances improve, they cannot marry. Marion returns to find that her boss has just sold a house to the rich Tom Cassidy (Frank Albertson) for $40,000. Cassidy flirts with Marion, asking if she is "unhappy." "You know what I'd do about unhappiness," he tells her, "I'd buy it off." He then plops down $40,000 in cash, explaining that his daughter has never had an unhappy day in her life and this house is to be her wedding present. Marion's boss is uncomfortable with that amount of cash in the office and asks Marion to deposit it at the bank for the weekend, explaining that he'll get Tom to write a check the next week. Instead of going to the bank, Marion impulsively packs and leaves town with the money, which she sees as the ticket to her and Sam's happiness.Hitchcock builds his trademark tension as Marion becomes convinced people know of her crime, trading her car for another in California because she believes she is being followed. Driving at night in the pouring rain, Marion realizes she can go no further and turns off at the sign for the Bates Motel. The place seems deserted, but she notices the figure of a woman in the window of the house around back. Honking her horn for service, Marion encounters Norman Bates (Perkins), who runs down from the house and helps her into the office.
The motel, Norman explains, receives few visitors, as a newer freeway has bypassed the road she was following. Only those who are lost or take the wrong turn ever come here, but Norman keeps it open to give him some relief from taking care of his ailing mother. Despite finding out that she is only 15 miles from Fairvale and Sam, Marion decides to stay the night. Norman cheerfully offers to share his dinner with her rather than force her back out into the storm. While settling into her room, Marion overhears a fight between Norman and his mother through the open window. The mother refuses to allow Marion to come up to the house, accusing Norman of having a "cheap erotic mind" that "disgusts" her, and lacking the "guts" to send Marion away. Norman sheepishly brings some food down to the motel, inviting Marion to dine in the office's parlor, which is gaudily decorated with examples of Norman's hobby of taxidermy: birds being his favorite subject. As she eats, Marion discovers that Norman's mother is not only ill, but also overly controlling of her son. As they talk, Marion comes to realize that she must return to Phoenix and make amends.
As Marion showers in her hotel room, a female figure enters and stabs her to death in the now-infamous "shower scene" (with its trademark score by Bernard Herrmann, featuring screeching violins). Norman is horrified when he finds the corpse, but he quickly cleans everything up as if he is accustomed to doing so. Marion's body, her car, her belongings and the money are sunk in a swamp behind the Bates' property.
The rest of the film deals with the search for Marion. Marion's sister Lila (Miles) drives to Fairvale to confront Sam, unable to believe that her sister took the money. As they talk, another individual arrives, a private detective named Milton Arbogast (Balsam) who has been sent by Tom Cassidy to recover his money. Arbogast explains that he was following Lila in hopes that she would lead him to Marion. It soon becomes clear, however, that Sam is unaware of either Marion's whereabouts or the theft. Arbogast is then able to trace her to the Bates Motel, calling Lila and Sam to let them know. But Arbogast's curiosity proves fatal when, upon returning to the motel, he climbs up to the old house to talk with Norman's mother, but before he reaches her room, she slashes his face, causing him to lose his balance and fall down the stairs. While he is laying the ground, Norman's mother stabs him repeatedly.
When the detective fails to report back, Sam and Lila become convinced that he must have discovered something important, possibly from Norman's mother, and decide it is time to involve the law. But the local sheriff is skeptical of their story and does not see how Norman's mother could have any important information. Norman, he explains, lives alone at the Bates Motel, his mother having died 10 years earlier in a particularly gruesome murder/suicide.
Lila and Sam realize that they must go to the motel themselves to see what Arbogast had discovered. While Sam distracts Norman at the office, Lila goes up to the house to talk with his mother. Sam tries to pressure Norman into admitting that he stole Marion's money, but the argument escalates into violence, and Norman is able to knock Sam unconscious and flee up to the house. Hearing Norman enter, Lila slips down to the basement only to find the semi-preserved corpse of Norman's mother (a scene ranked #4 in Premiere' list of the 25 most shocking moments in movie history). At that moment, the killer is revealed to be Norman himself (cross-dressed in his mother's clothing, complete with wig). Sam also appears at this moment and is able to wrestle the butcher's knife away from Norman.
At the end of the film, a forensic psychiatrist (Oakland) explains to Lila, Sam and the police that Bates' mother, though dead, lives on in Norman's psyche. Norman was so dominated by his mother while she was alive, and so guilt-ridden over having murdered her 10 years earlier when it appeared she was about to remarry, that he tried to "erase" the crime from his mind by bringing his mother back. Physically, this was done by exhuming her corpse and preserving it with his taxidermy skills, but mentally this was accomplished by allocating half his mind to the persona of his mother. He acts as he believes she would, talks as she did, even dresses as her in an attempt to erase her absence. And because Norman was so very jealous of his mother, he assumes she will also be jealous of any woman to whom he might be attracted. The Norman persona is convinced that his mother is not dead, and he has no knowledge of "her" crimes. The last scene shows Norman Bates in a cell, his mind now completely dominated by the persona of his "mother."
Psycho in film history
Psycho is often seen as a turning point in film history, representing the shift from Classical to the more experimental "Post-Classical" film. Psycho's unconventional storytelling and stylized photography and editing show the influence of the French New Wave and the European art films that Hitchcock admired.In his novel, Bloch used an uncommon plot structure: he repeatedly introduced sympathetic protagonists, then killed them off. This played on his reader's expectations of traditional plots, leaving them uncertain and anxious. Hitchcock recognized the effect this approach could have on audiences, and utilized it masterfully in his adaptation.
The most original and influential moment in the film is the "shower scene," which became iconic in pop culture because it was one of the most terrifying scenes ever filmed. Part of its effectiveness was due to the use of startling editing techniques borrowed from the Soviet Montage filmmakers, and to Bernard Herrmann's bizarre but effective musical score.
Psycho is a prime example of the type of film that appeared in the 1960s after the erosion of the Production Code. It was unprecedented in its depiction of sexuality and violence (and, in addition, is thought to be the first film ever to depict a flushing toilet onscreen). Its box office success helped propel Hollywood toward more graphic displays of previously-censored themes.
It is represented in the following of the American Film Institute's lists:
- #18 on the list of the 100 Greatest American Movies.
- #4 on the list of Bravo Channel 100 Scariest Movie Moments.
- #1 on the list of the 100 Most Thrilling Movies Ever.
- Norman Bates was ranked the second best villain on their list of the 50 Best villains in cinema history.
- The music in the film was ranked #4 in the list of the 25 best film scores of all time.
- Norman's famous line "A boy's best friend is his mother" was 56th on the list of the 100 Most memorable movie quotes in history.
Myths and legends
As one of the most iconic of all movies in film history, Psycho has had its share of myths and legends.
- It was rumored that Janet Leigh was not in the shower the entire time and a body double was used. There is some truth to this. In an interview with Roger Ebert, Leigh stated that she was there the entire time but it was a mannequin which Bates wrapped up. [link]
- Another popular myth claims that, in order for Janet Leigh's scream in the shower scene to sound realistic, Hitchcock made sure the water was ice-cold. This was denied by Leigh on numerous occasions. In fact, the warmth of the shower water caused the moleskin coverings (meant to hide her nudity) to peel off during one take.
- Yet another myth is that the Hays Office held back the release of the film because their censors were able to see one of Janet Leigh's nipples during the shower scene. According to the legend, when the print was returned, Hitchcock held onto it for several days, then resubmitted it for approval. The censors passed the film, assuming that Hitchcock had made the changes they had ordered.
- The most notorious and by far the most controversial urban legend which has risen out of the production of Psycho occurred when Saul Bass, the graphic designer who designed many title sequences of Hitchcock's films in addition to storyboarding a few of his scenes, claimed that he had directed the shower scene. However, this claim has been refuted by several people associated with the film. Leigh, who was present during the scene, stated furiously, "I've said it in
[Bass's] face in front of other people.... I was in that shower for seven days, and, believe you me, Alfred Hitchcock was right next to his camera for every one of those seventy-odd shots." Hilton Green, the assistant director and cameraman, also denies this claim: "There is not a shot in that movie that I didn't roll the camera for. And I can tell you I never rolled the camera for Mr. Bass." Ebert, a long-time fan of Hitchcock's work, was also bemused by the rumor, stating, "It seems unlikely that a perfectionist with an ego like Hitchcock's would let someone else direct such a scene." [link]
Sequels and remakes
- The film spawned three sequels: Psycho II (1983), Psycho III (1986), and [[Psycho IV: The Beginning]] (1990); the last one being a TV movie. Anthony Perkins returned to his role in all three sequels, and Vera Miles returned to hers in Psycho II. Psycho IV was written by Joseph Stefano, who wrote the original film. The sequels are generally considered weak and unimaginative in comparison to the original.
- Bates Motel (1987) is a TV movie (a failed TV pilot) in which the motel is taken over by a new, equally mentally ill owner.
- In 1998, Gus Van Sant remade Psycho. The remake is in color and features a different cast, but aside from this it is a virtually shot for shot remake that copies Hitchcock's camera movements and editing. (See Psycho (1998 film).)
- A Conversation With Norman (2005), a film directed by Jonathan M. Parisen, was inspired by Psycho. It premiered in New York City just three days short of the 45th anniversary of the premiere of the original film. It starred Christopher Englese as Norman, Grace Orosz as Marion and Tom Loggins as Sam.
- In the television show Passions, the characters Tabitha and Timmy stayed at the Bates Motel, now run by Norman's daughter Norma, who is very much like her father, including making attempts to kill her guests. Some months later, Norma returned to stalk the teenage characters while they vacationed on an island, and was captured by police. She has appeared occasionally since as a patient at the local mental hospital, still as delusional and murderous as ever.
Trivia
- Robert Bloch lived in Weyauwega, Wisconsin, close to Ed Gein's stalking grounds in 1957, when the Gein murders were discovered. According to Bloch, the idea that "the man next door may be a monster unsuspected even in the gossip-ridden microcosm of small-town life" [link] took root in Bloch's subconscious at the time. Bloch states that he did not realize "how closely the imaginary character I'd created resembled the real Ed Gein both in overt act and apparent motivation" until years later, at least in part because Gein's behavior was so bizarre and grisly that news outlets at the time refused to report everything he had done. The novel's Bates, who does not resemble Perkins, was physically and perhaps in some other ways modeled on writer and magazine publisher Calvin Thomas Beck.
- When production on Psycho began back in mid-1959, George Reeves was considered for the role of Detective Aborgast.
- Psycho was the first film to introduce a single main character and then kill her halfway into the film - a rather shocking turn of events in 1960, with no apparent indication of how the story might progress after her death.
- Psycho was the first film to show a toilet being flushed onscreen. This upset the censors since, at that time, the idea of seeing a toilet onscreen--let alone flush--was taboo in American movie and TV shows.
- Although there is little visible gore portrayed on the screen, the infamous "shower scene" is often regarded as one of the most frightening sequences in cinema history, in large part due to the soundtrack, an original piece by composer Bernard Herrmann entitled "The Murder."
- It has long been claimed that, despite its graphic nature, the "shower scene" never once shows a knife puncturing flesh or a bare breast. However, a frame-by-frame analysis shows that the knife does indeed visibly penetrate the skin by a fraction of an inch, albeit only once, and so briefly (just three frames of film, or about an eighth of one second) as to be subliminal.
- The "shower scene" was imitated in an episode of [[Kirby: Right Back at Ya!]] when Escargoon was repeatedly bashed with a hammer by King Dedede while taking a shower in a haunted house. Mel Brooks spoofed the shower scene and other famous Hitchcock scenes in High Anxiety. Brian De Palma spoofed the scene to good effect in Phantom of the Paradise. Tobe Hooper parodied it in the opening of The Funhouse. Ren & Stimpy featured a parody of the shower scene in one episode. The shower scene has been parodied in [[Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol]], Tiny Toon Adventures, Colonel's Bequest, National Lampoon's Vacation, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (film), the gay exploitation horror film City In Panic,That '70s Show, [[Looney Tunes: Back In Action]],Dexter's Lab,and a vast array of other media.
- To test the scare factor of the "mother's corpse" prop, Hitchcock placed it in Janet Leigh's dressing room and listened to how loud she screamed when she discovered it.
- After that prank, Leigh took the joke in the good sense as it was intended. They got along very well during filming despite Hitcock's known difficulties with many of his leading ladies. He later stated that she was one of the best actresses he worked with.
- According to the book The Dark Side of Genius, Hitchcock's wife, Alma Reville, spotted a now-infamous faux-blooper before the movie's release. It is said that, at one of the last screenings of Psycho before its official release, she flatly stated that there was no way the movie could be released in this condition. Her fellow viewers, who were understandably flabbergasted at the idea, asked her why; she responded that, after Marion was supposedly dead, one could see her blink. The post-mortem blink was edited out and has never been officially released. However, confusion surrounding what it was Alma said have led many fans of the film to erronously believe that the blooper actually showed Marion swallowing after she died, and that it is still in the film.
- Bosco Chocolate Syrup, which shows up better than stage blood on black-and-white film, was used as the blood for the infamous shower scene. A knife wielded by Hitchcock himself, plunging into a casaba melon, was the source of the sound effect.
- Psycho is consistently in the top 25 on the Internet Movie Database's list of top 250 films. It was #18 on American Film Institute's 100 Years, 100 Movies list and #1 on its 100 Years, 100 Thrills list, and has been deemed "culturally significant" by the United States Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.
- In 1966, CBS had planned to air Psycho. However, the September 18 murder of Valerie Percy, 21, one of the twin daughters of then-U.S. Senator Charles H. Percy (R, Il) days before its scheduled airing caused CBS to cancel this plan. Percy was killed at night at home by an unknown intruder wielding a hammer and a knife. Despite a US $50,000 reward and an international investigation, the case is still unsolved. Her murder remains a mystery.
- In 1993, the video artist Douglas Gordon exhibited a version of Alfred Hitchcock's 1960 film which was slowed down so that it lasted for 24 hours.
- In order to get Psycho made, Hitchcock had to personally finance its creation. In exchange, Paramount agreed to distribute the film to theaters. As a result, when the film became a major hit, Hitchcock received a much larger share of the profit than he otherwise would have.
- Hitchcock himself is standing outside the office window when Janet Leigh enters. You can see glimpses of Hitchcock in almost every movie he has made.
- Patricia Hitchcock, Alfred Hitchcock's daughter, plays the other secretary. There is a subtle poke at her plain looks when she explains away Tom Cassidy's inattention with "he must have seen my wedding ring."
- The voice of Norman Bates' mother throughout the Psycho movie series was that of noted radio actress Virginia Gregg.
- Anthony Perkins did not participate in the shower scene. He was in New York preparing for a stage play.
- When Gus Van Sant was asked by a journalist why he was remaking Psycho shot-for-shot, he responded, "So nobody else had to."
- Passions, a soap opera shown on NBC, has had a subplot inspired by Psycho. When they visit an old motel, Tabitha and the late Timmy encounter its insane owner, a woman named Norma who was mentally dominated by a deranged "father." Norma's "father" even tries to chop up Tabitha in the shower with a hatchet. Norma has been a recurring character on the show since she debuted in 2001.
- The Simpsons character of Principal Skinner, and his relationship with his overbearing mother, was originally a satire of Psycho. A scene in the episode Brother from the Same Planet shows Skinner opening the blinds in his office. From the window, he sees the Bates house on a hill and says "There's Mother now." The writers later dropped this subplot.
- In The Simpsons episode Itchy & Scratchy & Marge, after Maggie hits him in the head with a mallet in the garage, Homer rips the table cloth and falls to the ground, knocking over a paint bucket that spills its content into a water hole on the floor. This is a parody of the scene after Marion is stabbed in the shower.
- Cape Feare, another episode of The Simpsons, had a scene where the character Sideshow Bob was planning the murder of Bart at the Bates Motel during a bad storm.
- During the release of Psycho, Hitchcock purchased as many copies of the novel as he could in order to keep the ending a secret.
- Part of the title's musical theme is sampled in Busta Rhymes' hit, "Gimmie Some More."
- In a strange case of life imitating art, Janet Leigh's stand-in, Myra Davis, was murdered (stabbed) in her home in 1988. She was also sexually assaulted. The case, which was profiled on Cold Case Files on A&E, was solved in 1998 when another woman, Jean Orloff, was found assaulted and murdered in a similar way. Subsequent investigation, circumstantial evidence, and DNA evidence from both scenes brought Kenneth "Sonny" Hunt to justice and death row for both those crimes.
- In the final scene, Norman Bates sits inside the insane asylum with the voice of his mother in his head. As the scene blurs out to a shot of the police pulling Marion Crane's car from the swamp, Hitchcock overlaps the image of Norman Bates' mother's skull onto his face.
See also
External links
- [Bright Lights Film Journal article on Psycho]
- [Filmsite: Psycho] In-depth analysis of the film.
- [Psychohouse WebSite]
- [The Psycho Movies Web Site]
- [Classic Movies: Psycho (1960)]
- [Psycho and other serial killer films]
- [Classic Film Reviews: Psycho]
References
- Stephen Rebello. Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho. Fireside Publishing, 1998. ISBN 0312207859.
- Janet Leigh. Psycho : Behind the Scenes of the Classic Thriller. Harmony Press, 1995. ISBN 051770112.
| Psycho Series |
|---|
| Films: Psycho | Psycho II | Psycho III | [[Psycho IV: The Beginning]] Psycho (1998) |
| Robert Bloch's novels: Psycho | Psycho II | Psycho House |
| Other: Bates Motel | Robert Bloch's Psychos |
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