Psycho
Release Date: 21st September 1960 - Australia
Production Companies
Shamley Productions
Distribution
Universal Pictures Australia
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Rating: M
Runtime: 109 minutes
Budget: $806,947
Box Office Gross: $50,053,793 (Worldwide)
Plot Summary
Unhappy with her job as a secretary in a real estate
office in Phoenix, Arizona
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romance with a hardware
store manager, Marion
Crane steals $40,000
from her employer and
flees from Phoenix to
settle a new life with the
stolen money. Marion
decides to spend the
night at the dilapidated
Bates Motel after 36
hours of paranoia and
exhaustion. She meets the
polite but highly-strung
proprietor Norman Bates,
for taxidermy and who has
a complicated relationship
with his mother.
Marion's journey ends with
her taking a shower when
she meets her grisly demise
in the hands of an unknown
assailant. First, a private
detective, then Marion's
sister and lover search for
unravel the identity of her
mysterious killer.
Cast
Anthony Perkins - Norman Bates
Janet Leigh - Marion Crane
Vera Miles - Lila Crane
John Gavin - Sam Loomis
Patricia Hitchcock - Caroline
Martin Balsam - Milton Arbogast
Simon Oakland - Dr Fred Richman
John McIntire - Sheriff Al
Chambers
Vaughn Taylor - George Lowery
Lurene Tuttle - Mrs Chambers
John Anderson - California Charlie
Mort Mills - Highway Patrol Officer
Virginia Gregg - Norma Bates (Voice) (Uncredited)
Alfred Hitchcock - Man Outside
Real Estate Office (Cameo) (Uncredited)
Paul Jasmin - Norma Bates (Voice)
(Uncredited)
Jeanette Nolan - Norma Bates (Voice)
(Uncredited)
Ted Knight - Policeman in Hallway
Opening Door (Cameo) (Uncredited)
Crew
Producer (Uncredited)/Director -
Alfred Hitchcock
Assistant: Mr Hitchcock - Peggy Robertson
(Uncredited)
Based on the Novel - Robert Bloch
Screenplay - Joseph Stefano
Art Directors - Robert Clatworthy and
Joseph Hurley
Costume Designer/Wardrobe: Women -
Rita Riggs (Uncredited)
Costume Supervisor - Helen Colvig
Makeup Supervisors - Jack Barron
and Robert Dawn
Director of Photography - John L. Russell
Camera Operator - Leonard J. South
(Uncredited)
Assistant Director - Hilton A. Green
Film Editor - George Tomasini
Pictorial Consultant/Titles Designer - Saul Bass
Music - Bernard Herrmann
Awards
1961 Academy Awards
Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Janet Leigh
(Nominated)
Best Director - Alfred Hitchcock (Nominated)
Best Cinematography, Black-and-White -
John L. Russell (Nominated)
Best Art Direction-Set Decoration -
Joseph Hurley, Robert Clatworthy and
George Milo (Nominated)
Review
On a rainy evening at Halloween 2022, I began watching PSYCHO, which is said to have been a breakthrough of a modern thriller and is Alfred Hitchcock's landmark masterpiece. For years, I've never seen it. I thought it would be a great experience since I'm old enough to endure its terrifying psychological themes. What began as an episode for Alfred Hitchcock Presents in pre-production has evolved into groundbreaking. It's impressive that a movie on a lower scale could become a milestone.
Almost everything in PSYCHO makes it work, from Hitchcock's artful direction to the groundbreaking camerawork to Bernard Herrmann's identifiable music score. My only complaint about the movie was that the first half was slow, but it got better once it started to get into its tense atmosphere. The film has a few incredibly shocking plot twists, but I won't spoil them since this is my critique. I loved the iconic shower scene, which has become a staple in pop culture and was spoofed multiple times in numerous TV shows and films. The acting performances were fantastic, especially Anthony Perkins, who did great as Norman Bates.
PSYCHO is not just a pinnacle in Hitchcock's career as a director but is a suspenseful movie with a mystery tied into the storyline. I say this because it is not a horror film, as many would believe. It is a terrific classic despite the slow first half. I'd still recommend PSYCHO to anyone who hasn't seen it or any classic filmgoer.
Star rating: (8/10) Very Good Movie
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