Psycho (1960) | |
Director(s) | Alfred Hitchcock |
Producer(s) | Alfred Hitchcock (uncredited) |
Top Genres | Film Adaptation, Horror, Mystery, Thriller/Suspense |
Top Topics | Book-Based, Hotels, Money, Mother/Son, Psychological Thrillers, Secretaries |
Featured Cast:
Psycho Overview:
Psycho (1960) was a Horror - Mystery Film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and produced by Alfred Hitchcock.
The film was based on the novel of the same name written by Robert Bloch published in 1959.
SYNOPSIS
Hitchcock's mesmerizing thriller broke the rules of filmmaking with its cunning, psychologically-based plot, and changed the perception of Hollywood horror films forever. On a relatively small budget, Hitchcock carefully constructs a maze that leads to an inevitable, gruesome conclusion, a conclusion that the audience has seen coming and dreads. From the first shot, a magnificent crane shot whose camera perches on a hotel window from which we can observe an adulterous affair between Marion Crane (Leigh) and Gavin, the audience is complicit in the action, voyeurs who can't look away. After impulsively stealing a bundle of cash, Leigh heads for the highway. When she wearies and is advised to find a room, she turns into the Bates Motel, where she first encounters the nervously birdlike proprietor, Norman Bates (Perkins). Perkins's sly, almost charming performance as the haunted momma's boy builds a near-sympathy that is quickly erased by the famous shower scene, the most graphic depiction of a murder scene on film to that time. Through careful shooting and editing, the intensity of the act is multiplied in the minds of the audience until the last traces of blood swirl down the drain. As Crane's sister, Miles, and Detective Balsam uncover her fate, one more shock remains. A blueprint for cinema terror, which has been followed, discussed, and now remade almost shot for shot by Gus Van Sant in 1998 (he also followed Hitchcock's promotional blueprint, not allowing critics to pre-screen the film). Hitchcock had the last laugh on Paramount when they insisted that he finance much of the budget: Psycho was an international sensation that made him a wealthy man. Herrmann's chilling score, one of his finest, remains ever recognizable. Followed by three sequels and the 1998 remake. Though the film was nominated for Oscars for Best Director, Cinematography, Supporting Actress, and Art Direction, it received none, though it won a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress: Janet Leigh.
(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).
.Psycho was inducted into the National Film Registry in 1992.
Academy Awards 1960 --- Ceremony Number 33 (source: AMPAS)
Award | Recipient | Result |
Best Supporting Actress | Janet Leigh | Nominated |
Best Art Direction | Art Direction: Joseph Hurley, Robert Clatworthy; Set Decoration: George Milo | Nominated |
Best Cinematography | John L. Russell | Nominated |
Best Director | Alfred Hitchcock | Nominated |
BlogHub Articles:
Anthony Perkins, Vera Miles, John Gavin, and Janet Leigh star in Alfred Hitchock’s suspense classic “Psycho”
By Stephen Reginald on Mar 19, 2024 From Classic Movie ManAnthony Perkins, Vera Miles, John Gavin, and Janet Leigh star in Alfred Hitchock’s suspense classic “Psycho” Psycho (1960) is an American suspense thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Anthony Perkins, Vera Miles, John Gavin, and Janet Leigh. The supporting cast i... Read full article
4K UHD Blu-ray Review: Psycho
By Devon Powell on Jun 4, 2021 From Hitchcock MasterDistributor: Universal Pictures Release Date: May 25, 2021 Region ? 4K UHD: Region Free Blu-ray: Region A Length ? Original Theatrical Version: 01:49:04 Censored Re-release Version: 01:48:51 Video? 4K UHD: 2160P (HEVC, H.265) Blu-ray: 1080P (MPEG-4, AVC) Main Audio ? 4K UHD: English DTS X Blu-ray... Read full article
Blu-ray Review: Psycho ? 60th Anniversary Edition
By Devon Powell on Nov 1, 2020 From Hitchcock MasterDistributor: Universal Pictures Release Date: September 08, 2020 Region: Region A Length ? Psycho (Original Theatrical Version): 01:49:04 Psycho (Censored Re-release Version): 01:48:51 Video: 1080P (MPEG-4, AVC) Main Audio: English DTS X 7.1 English DTS-HD Master Audio Alternate Audio: 2.0 Mono Spa... Read full article
The Directors’ Chair: Psycho
By Theresa Brown on Mar 21, 2020 From Classic Movie Hub BlogThe Directors’ Chair: Psycho (1960) Some directors specialize in comedy, others in suspense. Still others delve in horror, romance or westerns. There are directors known for many films and some known only for one. Directors can put their stamp all over their films, while others get the ... Read full article
So Crazy It Works – Psycho II (1983)
By Michael on May 25, 2018 From Durnmoose Movie MusingsOkay, here’s the short version of this review: Psycho II is a much better movie than any movie calling itself Psycho II should be. Alright, let’s go a bit deeper, then. When a movie calls itself Psycho II and opens with the classic and infamous shower scene from the 1960 original, it is ... Read full article
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Quotes from
Marion Crane: I better get back to the office. These extended lunch hours give my boss excess acid.
Sam Loomis: Why don't you call your boss and tell him you're taking the rest of the afternoon off? It's Friday anyway, and hot.
Marion Crane: What do I do with my free afternoon? Walk you to the airport?
Sam Loomis: We could laze around here a while longer.
Marion Crane: Checking out time is 3 P.M. Hotels of this sort are interested in you when you come in, but when your time is up... oh Sam, I hate having to be with you in a place like this.
Sam Loomis: Married couples deliberately spend occasional nights in cheap hotels like this.
California Charlie: [Marion is imagining various conversations between the people she believes will be looking for her] Heck, Officer, that was the first time I ever saw the customer high-pressure the salesman! Somebody chasin' her?
Highway Patrol officer: I better have a look at those papers, Charlie.
California Charlie: She look like the wrong-one to you?
Highway Patrol officer: Acted like one.
California Charlie: The only funny thing, she paid me seven hundred dollars in cash.
Caroline: [Marion imagines another conversation] Yes, Mr. Lowery?
George Lowery: Caroline? Marion still isn't in?
Caroline: No, Mr. Lowery. But then, she's always a bit late on Monday mornings.
George Lowery: Buzz me the minute she comes in. Then call her sister - if no one's answering at the house.
Caroline: [Marion imagines the conversation later resuming] I called her sister, Mr. Lowery, where she works, - the Music Makers Music Store, you know, - and she doesn't know where Marion is any more than we do.
George Lowery: You'd better run out to the house. She may be, well - unable to answer the phone.
Caroline: Her sister's going to do that. She's as worried as we are.
George Lowery: [Marion imagines Lowery speaking to her sister Lila] No, I haven't the faintest idea. As I said, I last saw your sister when she left the office on Friday. She said she didn't feel well and wanted to leave early; I said she could. That was the last I saw... Now wait a minute. I did see her sometime later, driving - Ah, I think you'd better come over here to my office - quick! Caroline, get Mr. Cassidy for me!
[pause]
George Lowery: [Marion imagines another conversation] After all, Cassidy, I told you - all that cash! I'm not taking the responsibility! Oh, for heaven's sake! A girl works for you for ten years, you trust her! All right. Yes. You better come over.
Tom Cassidy: Well, I ain't about to kiss off forty thousand dollars! I'll get it back, and if any of it's missin' I'll replace it with her fine, soft flesh! I'll track her, never you doubt it!
George Lowery: Oh, hold on, Cassidy! I-I still can't believe - it must be some kind of mystery. I-I can't...
Tom Cassidy: You checked with the bank, no? They never laid eyes on her, no? You still trustin'? Hot creepers! She sat there while I dumped it out! Hardly even looked at it! Plannin'! And - even flirtin' with me!
Norman Bates: I don't set a fancy table, but the kitchen's awful homey.
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Facts about
One of the reasons Alfred Hitchcock shot the movie in black and white was he thought it would be too gory in color. But the main reason was that he wanted to make the film as inexpensively as possible (under $1 million). He also wondered if so many bad, inexpensively made, b/w "B" movies did so well at the box office, what would happen if a really good, inexpensively made, b/w movie was made.
Considered for the role of Marion were: Angie Dickinson, Piper Laurie, Martha Hyer, Hope Lange, Shirley Jones, and Lana Turner.
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