Director Alfred Hitchcock (“North by Northwest” 1959) pushed the limits of acceptable filmmaking with “Psycho.” Unprecedented depiction of violence and sexuality made its way into Hitch’s patented suspense-filled story telling. Today this motion picture seems very mild. The plot centers on an on-the-run embezzler taking refuge in a cheap motel, manned by a nervous clerk. Things go from bad to worse as the film progresses, superbly handled by the Master of Suspense himself, from a well-penned screenplay by Joseph Stefano.
The stars of the show are Janet Leigh as Marion Crane and Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates. They turn in some humdinger performances. Co-stars include Vera Miles, John McIntire, Simon Oakland, Frank Albertson, Vaughn Taylor, Lurene Tuttle, John Anderson, Pat Hitchcock (the only child of the director and Alma Reville), and Mort Mills as the California Highway Patrol officer. Virginia Gregg, Jeanette Nolan, and Paul Jasmin had shared uncredited parts as the voice of Mother Bates.
The watchable thriller “Psycho” was a huge blockbuster at the box office for producer Alfred Hitchcock, Shamley Productions, and Universal Pictures. It was nominated for four Oscars, including Best Picture (Hitchcock), Best Supporting Actress (Leigh), Best Art Direction, and Best Cinematography. “Psycho” was the second highest grossing film of 1960, after “Spartacus.”
Three sequels were released after Hitchcock’s passing, including “Psycho II” (1983), “Psycho III” (1986), and “Psycho IV: The Beginning” (1990). In 1998, a remake called “Psycho” came out starring Vince Vaughn. In 2012, a film about the production of “Psycho” was released called “Hitchcock,” starring Anthony Hopkins as the director, Helen Mirren as Reville, Scarlett Johansson as Leigh, James D’Arcy as Perkins. The television series “Bates Motel” ran for five seasons (2013-2017) on A&E as a prequel story starring Freddie Highmore and Vera Farmiga.
Psycho (1960)
cinema
My Review
Director Alfred Hitchcock (“North by Northwest” 1959) pushed the limits of acceptable filmmaking with “Psycho.” Unprecedented depiction of violence and sexuality made its way into Hitch’s patented suspense-filled story telling. Today this motion picture seems very mild. The plot centers on an on-the-run embezzler taking refuge in a cheap motel, manned by a nervous clerk. Things go from bad to worse as the film progresses, superbly handled by the Master of Suspense himself, from a well-penned screenplay by Joseph Stefano.
The stars of the show are Janet Leigh as Marion Crane and Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates. They turn in some humdinger performances. Co-stars include Vera Miles, John McIntire, Simon Oakland, Frank Albertson, Vaughn Taylor, Lurene Tuttle, John Anderson, Pat Hitchcock (the only child of the director and Alma Reville), and Mort Mills as the California Highway Patrol officer. Virginia Gregg, Jeanette Nolan, and Paul Jasmin had shared uncredited parts as the voice of Mother Bates.
The watchable thriller “Psycho” was a huge blockbuster at the box office for producer Alfred Hitchcock, Shamley Productions, and Universal Pictures. It was nominated for four Oscars, including Best Picture (Hitchcock), Best Supporting Actress (Leigh), Best Art Direction, and Best Cinematography. “Psycho” was the second highest grossing film of 1960, after “Spartacus.”
Three sequels were released after Hitchcock’s passing, including “Psycho II” (1983), “Psycho III” (1986), and “Psycho IV: The Beginning” (1990). In 1998, a remake called “Psycho” came out starring Vince Vaughn. In 2012, a film about the production of “Psycho” was released called “Hitchcock,” starring Anthony Hopkins as the director, Helen Mirren as Reville, Scarlett Johansson as Leigh, James D’Arcy as Perkins. The television series “Bates Motel” ran for five seasons (2013-2017) on A&E as a prequel story starring Freddie Highmore and Vera Farmiga.