Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Writer: Joseph Stefano (screenplay), Robert Bloch (novel)
Budget: $806,947
Box Office Gross $50,000,000
Cast
Anthony Perkins - Norman Bates
Vera Miles - Lila Crane
John Gavin - Sam Loomis
Janet Leigh - Marion Crane
Martin Balsam - Detective Milton Arbogast
Simon Oakland - Dr. Fred Richman
Plot
A young woman steals $40,000 from her employer's client, and subsequently encounters a young motel proprietor too longer under the domination of his mother.
Something Generic about the film
It is the last film that Alfred Hitchcock filmed in Black and White before he filmed his films in Colour. He wanted to film Psycho in Black and White because he thought that it would have been gory and expensive.
Generic Characteristics of the film
- Innocent victims
- Psychotic Individuals
- Femme Fatales
- Psycho-fiends
One thing Psycho is most known for is the 'Shower Scene'.
Camera Angles and Movement
The scene first cuts to a close up shot of Marion (Janet Leigh) closing the door of the bathroom of the hotel room she is staying in. This shot allows the audience to establish what Marion's emotion. For example the close up shot shows how tired she looks.
The film then cuts to a Close-Up shot of Marion getting in the shower and turning the shower on and washing her whole body. The use of Close-Up shot allows the audience to see what Marion's emotions are. The use of the shower shows that she is washing away all of her sins and that everyone in Phoenix would forgive her which would be unlikely.
The film then cuts to a Medium close up of a mysterious character (which turns out to be Mother, who is actually Norman Bates) behind the shower curtain. This shot allows the film to have enigma; to allow them to think who is the character behind the shower curtain or if the audience knows that it is Mother then what does she look like?.
The film cuts to another close up shot of Marion when that mysterious character opened the shower curtain. This shows tthe emotions going on with Marion when that mysterious character opened the shower curtain. The shot mostly showed fear because Marion doesn't know who that person is it also shows her uncertainty will she get killed or injured?.
The film then cuts to an Extreme close up shot of Marion's mouth. this shot shows how scared Marion is of the mysterious person.
The film then cuts to a Low angle shot of Mother's face. This shot shows the dominanace/status of Mother/Norman and how she could do anything to Marion.
Hitchcock first uses a Medium Close-up of the interaction between Marion and Mother/Norman, Hitchcock also used a Bird's Eye View shot before the scene went on and showed close-up shots. The use of the Bird's eye view allows the audience to see the action in a different view.
The film then uses a variety of Extreme close-up shots of Marions body parts. These include her hands, and in the end when Hitcocks zooms out from Marion's Dead eye. The use of the Extreme close-up shots symbolises horror, especially when it was used to show Marion's dead eye. The use of the extreme close-up also helps the audience to identify with the character.
Lighting
In this scene, Hitchcock mostly uses natural ambient lighting. Hitchcock uses ambient lighting to increase the suspense of the scene to show what a nightmare it would be.
Location
The shower scene was filmed in a bathroom which is a thriller convention. It is a thriller convention because the bathroom is a claustrophobic location. Which creates suspense because no one else is seeing what happens and no one is there to help her.
Sound
Psycho was effective as a thriller film is because of the sound (score) especially during the shower scene. It invovles screeching violins with the volume increasing up until the murder and the suspense of the music decreasing after the murder has happend. The score of the music is considered to be one of the most scariest theme by the PRS based on a survey.
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