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I love it when he goes to put the car in the mudpit and it stops. His reaction after it starts sinking again is priceless. What a son of a gun.
Psycho (1960)
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I think Vertigo is around 7 or 8 for me Camo. I still like it a great deal though. I can perhaps round up some Hitchcock rankings soon.
01.North By Northwest
02.Vertigo
03.Notorious (I love these all equally practically)
04.Rebecca (i'm with you Citizen amazing film
05.Dial M For Murder
06.The Wrong Man
07.Shadow of a Doubt
08.Psycho
09.Strangers On A Train
10.Frenzy
11.Suspicion
12.Saboteur
13.The 39 Steps
14.Rope
15.The Lady Vanishes
16.Rear Window
17.The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)
18.Marnie (Want to rewatch this)
19.The Birds
20.The Trouble With Harry
I think The Wrong Man is pretty underrated, or maybe just underseen? Really great film that i don't see mentioned much.
Going to watch The Kid shortly then hopefully Vertigo tomorrow so i can get my write-up up when Sean opens the thread.
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Another topic I came across when listening to the Hitchcock/Truffaut interviews, was the element of humor in his films.
Hitchcock claimed he failed to bring humor into films like The Wrong Man and I Confess and insisted on the fact that they therefore partly failed, because he wasn't good at being a truly serious director.
He said Psycho was way more effective, because it's full of humor. The whole twist wouldn't be revealed like it was if Psycho was a serious picture. It was a sadistically humoristic game he played with the audience. I mean, imagine Perkins talking to himself like his mother. There's something inherently funny about that.
I agree that Hitchcock was at his best when his films had that (cruel) humoristic subtext. Rear Window is one of those other succesful films that is deeply humoristic and full of irony.
Hitchcock claimed he failed to bring humor into films like The Wrong Man and I Confess and insisted on the fact that they therefore partly failed, because he wasn't good at being a truly serious director.
He said Psycho was way more effective, because it's full of humor. The whole twist wouldn't be revealed like it was if Psycho was a serious picture. It was a sadistically humoristic game he played with the audience. I mean, imagine Perkins talking to himself like his mother. There's something inherently funny about that.
I agree that Hitchcock was at his best when his films had that (cruel) humoristic subtext. Rear Window is one of those other succesful films that is deeply humoristic and full of irony.
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Cobpyth's Movie Log ~ 2019
Cobpyth's Movie Log ~ 2019
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I've seen 19 Hitch's. Here is my order:
1. Rear Window
2. North by Northwest
3. Psycho
4. Dial M for Murder
5. Shadow of a Doubt
6. Foreign Correspondent
7. Vertigo
8. Strangers on a Train
9. Notorious
10. The Birds
11. To Catch a Thief
12. Rope
13. Marnie
14. Rebecca
15. Frenzy
16. The Man Who Knew Too Much
17. I Confess
18. 39 Steps
19. Stage Fright
I without a doubt need to see Rebecca again as well as To Catch a Thief. Only seen them once and a long time ago.
1. Rear Window
2. North by Northwest
3. Psycho
4. Dial M for Murder
5. Shadow of a Doubt
6. Foreign Correspondent
7. Vertigo
8. Strangers on a Train
9. Notorious
10. The Birds
11. To Catch a Thief
12. Rope
13. Marnie
14. Rebecca
15. Frenzy
16. The Man Who Knew Too Much
17. I Confess
18. 39 Steps
19. Stage Fright
I without a doubt need to see Rebecca again as well as To Catch a Thief. Only seen them once and a long time ago.
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Never thought about it but yeah The Wrong Man was very serious, i still liked it alot. Definitely want to listen to those interviews, i've watched quite a few interviews with him, not the Truffuat ones however. Hitch is like a cartoon character i can't believe such a man existed, everytime he opens his mouth i'm taken aback haha.
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The Wrong Man takes the spot of Shadow of a Doubt for me, the biggest named Hitchcock I've yet to see.
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I said it 100 times but I will say it again, I need to watch more intervirws and behind the scenes stuff. I always love it when I do. Those interviews sound great.
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The Wrong Man takes the spot of Shadow of a Doubt for me, the biggest named Hitchcock I've yet to see.
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It was in a HOF that I missed! Oh well!
I think there is a lot of unseen Hitch I could still like. The Wrong Man, The Lady Vanishes, Sabateour, and Spellbound to name a few.
I think there is a lot of unseen Hitch I could still like. The Wrong Man, The Lady Vanishes, Sabateour, and Spellbound to name a few.
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The Wrong Man takes the spot of Shadow of a Doubt for me, the biggest named Hitchcock I've yet to see.
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Forgot about that. Daniel told me i should watch it, definitely will over the next month or at least before the 40's Countdown.
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I hope to get a viewing of Psycho in tomorrow. Been busy this weekend.
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Suspect's Reviews
"A laugh can be a very powerful thing. Why, sometimes in life, it's the only weapon we have."
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I watched Psycho a few days ago, anyone have any questions for me?
Rewatched and did my write-up of Vertigo ready to post when Sean starts the thread. Looking forward to it
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Better late than never right?
I was first introduced to Psycho when I rented the Gus Van Sant 1998 shot for shot remake. I grew up with Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer as my slasher films, so imagine my disappointment when I rented the slasher flick Psycho and was subjected to mediocre imitation of something I didn't know was infinitely better. I remember a few things from that film; laughing at William H. Macy's death sequence and laughing even more at Vince Vaughn in drag. I expected murder and mayhem!!! A killer at a hotel, a remake of what is considered one of the most shocking films of all-time???? Yes, I was severely let down, even for an 11 year old.
So I guess I put off watching the original because I had already seen it, kind of. It was a shot for shot remake, so why bother with it when I didn't like what I originally saw? Obviously that was a big mistake.
I watched Hitchcock's Psycho a few years ago and was taken back by how enthralled I was. Immediately took notice to the black and white photography, giving the film a timeless feeling that fish are to come by. Hitchcock frames his camera percisely and asks us to follow Janet Leigh as our heroine. Yes, we know she won't survive to the see second half of the film, but I can only imagine at the time what a shock that must have been for people. I remember being confused about why Anne Heche was being killed off after spending so much time with the character. It doesn't have the same feeling to it. Hitchcock cleverly builds unknowing suspense and tension with our on the run lady. The cops becomes suspicious, the used car salesman senses something off and finally the weather decides to give her a detour. Right into the hands of Norman Bates.
In a memorable performance from Perkins, we are given a classic horror villain. He has the boy next door attitude down pat, that we seem to forget his sinister secret, maybe even on repeat viewings.
The sex and violence in this film is quite tame, but back then it was considered taboo. It's easy to see how influential the film is, as it has had many imitators, but very few equals. The film is not perfect, I still find the private investigator's death to be comical and they do beat us over the head with the explanation at the end, but these are minor. Psycho is a classic horror film that literally defined a genre.
My Hitchcock viewings:
1. Rear Window
2. Dial M For Murder
3. Rope
4. Psycho
5. Vertigo
6. Shadow of a Doubt
7. Saboteur
Hmm, yeah, that looks about right.
I was first introduced to Psycho when I rented the Gus Van Sant 1998 shot for shot remake. I grew up with Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer as my slasher films, so imagine my disappointment when I rented the slasher flick Psycho and was subjected to mediocre imitation of something I didn't know was infinitely better. I remember a few things from that film; laughing at William H. Macy's death sequence and laughing even more at Vince Vaughn in drag. I expected murder and mayhem!!! A killer at a hotel, a remake of what is considered one of the most shocking films of all-time???? Yes, I was severely let down, even for an 11 year old.
So I guess I put off watching the original because I had already seen it, kind of. It was a shot for shot remake, so why bother with it when I didn't like what I originally saw? Obviously that was a big mistake.
I watched Hitchcock's Psycho a few years ago and was taken back by how enthralled I was. Immediately took notice to the black and white photography, giving the film a timeless feeling that fish are to come by. Hitchcock frames his camera percisely and asks us to follow Janet Leigh as our heroine. Yes, we know she won't survive to the see second half of the film, but I can only imagine at the time what a shock that must have been for people. I remember being confused about why Anne Heche was being killed off after spending so much time with the character. It doesn't have the same feeling to it. Hitchcock cleverly builds unknowing suspense and tension with our on the run lady. The cops becomes suspicious, the used car salesman senses something off and finally the weather decides to give her a detour. Right into the hands of Norman Bates.
In a memorable performance from Perkins, we are given a classic horror villain. He has the boy next door attitude down pat, that we seem to forget his sinister secret, maybe even on repeat viewings.
The sex and violence in this film is quite tame, but back then it was considered taboo. It's easy to see how influential the film is, as it has had many imitators, but very few equals. The film is not perfect, I still find the private investigator's death to be comical and they do beat us over the head with the explanation at the end, but these are minor. Psycho is a classic horror film that literally defined a genre.
My Hitchcock viewings:
1. Rear Window
2. Dial M For Murder
3. Rope
4. Psycho
5. Vertigo
6. Shadow of a Doubt
7. Saboteur
Hmm, yeah, that looks about right.
Last edited by TheUsualSuspect; 02-22-17 at 08:24 AM.
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Good write-up. Nearly had a heart attack when i saw that poster. No Suspect, this isn't the Van Sant Club Discussion haha.
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I could have wrote twice as much! There's a lot to say about Psycho...and I didn't even mention the toilet
Psycho (Hitchcock, 1960)
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Writers: Joseph Stefano (screenplay), Robert Bloch (novel)
Cast: Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Vera Miles
Genre: Horror,Mystery, Thriller
Fans of Hitch's 1960 horror cult classic, have watched Psycho so many times that they know by heart every scene, every word of dialogue and each nervous glance by Norman Bates. Hitch is the master, so what else can be said?
A lot! as Psycho is the result of many talented people who came together to tell one of screen's most vivid horror stories.
Psycho starts not with Hitchcock, but with a real life, grisly murderer
Ed Gein, who in 1957 was arrested for the murders of two women. In his home police found artifacts made from his victims body parts. Most disturbing was clothing made of human skin. Psychiatrists came to the conclusion that the psychotic murderer was trying to make a woman suit to wear, so that he could become his dead mother! His mother had dominated him in life...and also in death.
Living just miles away from the murder, was a novelist working on a suspense thriller, murder book. Robert Block published his novel Psycho in 1959. Also in 1959, Hitch was nearing completion on North by Northwest and was looking around for his next project. Reading the book Psycho on a flight over to England, Hitch then decides that, this would be his next movie.
Hitch Goes Roger Corman style, Hitch notices that a certain movie producer is churning out, low budget, low quality horror films and making lots of money. The fans love them, though the critics don't.
Paramount studio, has Hitch under contract for one more movie but they're nervous about making a big budget film from such a controversial book. This forces Hitch to use his own production company, Shamley Productions, which gave him the opportunity to make one of those movies, with a small budget, under a million dollars. Hitch feels with the right directorial choices his B budget horror film can make a big splash.
Joseph Stefano, most people don't know that name but they should. He's the screen writer who created Norman Bates and wrote the screenplay for Psycho. Some of the film's legendary status rightly belongs to him.
Stefano was a new kid on the block and Hitch disliked working with new writers, so Stefano knew he had to sell Hitch on his story treatment. He did that by solving one of the stories main problems: how to keep the audience feeling empathy after Marion Crane is killed off in the first quarter of the film.
The original Normal Bates in the novel, and in an earlier screenplay had been a middle aged, balding, quiet man who was a homicidal murder. Hardly the kind of character the audience would warm up to...but they needed to do just that, as Marion is out of the picture right at the start...So out of the need is born a young, quirky and even likable Norman Bates, who exist thanks to Joseph Stefano.
Hitch's style, Hitch is known as a technical director who creates his movies in his head even before he starts shooting. Hitch works from storyboards and plots out each camera shot, leaving nothing to chance. The camera angle, the distances to the actors, the lighting, the lens focal length and camera movement is all done according to Hitch's master plan.
One thing Hitch is not known for is micro managing the film. He takes a hands off approach to both the script and the acting. Relying instead on choosing talented people who can do their job well.
Screenwriter Joseph Stefano tells the story that: one day in Hitch's office, he ask Hitch about one of the story character's motivation for doing what they do. Hitch replied in his usual calm and cool manner, 'Joseph, that is for you to decide.'
Janet Leigh, also said in an interview, that Hitch wouldn't give her specific acting directions. Which is something I've heard other actors say about him. Instead he left it up to her to interpret the script as she seen fit. He was strict about one thing! Janet had to stay within the camera frame and not improvise by moving out of the frame. The camera dictated the scene, not the other way around.
Alma Hitchcock, Hitch's wife and partner in the movie making business. Alma had a big influence on Hitch's film including Psycho. She would let Hitch know if his next movie idea was a good one. If Alma liked it, it got made. She read and approved of Stefano's script and the next day Hitch tells Stefano that Alma liked the script.
Alma was also in on casting and approved of the actors selected. Hitch always listened to her. In some ways, Alma is the chairman of the board. She even set in on editing, much of the Hitch touch is Alma's.
Anthony Perkins, when Stefano was writing his updated script of Psycho he had in mind a young stage actor as Norman Bates. At the start of production Hitch tells Stefano that Anthony Perkins is going to play Bates. Stefano couldn't believe the coincidence.
Make no mistake about it, if Anthony Perkins hadn't been cast as the twisted but likable Norman Bates, I wouldn't be writing this review. Perkins performance is the soul of Psycho! His improvisations of a nervous stuttering young man, under the thumb of his mother, is the stuff of legends. Reportedly Perkins engrossed himself so deep in the role he had a hard time shaking the specter of Bates.
Janet Leigh, Hitch decided the role of Marion called for star power. No doubt he was familiar with her work in Orson Welles' Touch of Evil (1958), in which Janet Leigh played a woman held captive in a hotel room, while wearing not much more than her lingerie. Poor Janet, needed to stay away from motels!
Her role is brief as she's killed off towards the start of the film, but her part is pivotal. We get to see her at work at a bank, as she takes a wad of money from a rich and leering Texan. This is also when we see Hitch's daughter Pat Hitchcock, who provides some lighter moments that helps to take us off guard so that when the infamous shower scene takes place it has maximum slash.
Other Actors...It's easy to focus on Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh but there were other actors who helped shape the movie. Vera Miles plays Lila Crane, the sister of Marion who goes looking for her. Vera was slated to star in Vertigo but had to drop out due to a pregnancy. The Vertigo role went to new comer Kim Novak. Vera has a small but pivotal role and adds to the film. I can't say the same for the actor who played Marion's boyfriend John Gavin...who comes across more like a Hollywood leading man than an actual character. What Gavin lacks, Martin Balsam makes up for in his role as an investigator who's come looking for Marion and the $40,000 in cash she has stolen.
Bernard Herrmann...his name might not ring a bell but his music score for Psycho sure does...rheee! rheee! rheee! We all know that music from the shower scene that screeches terror at us. Herrmann made a bold decision and scored the movie only with string instruments. He explained he wanted a stark black & white sound to match the starkness of the movie. The screeching violins give an effect of fingernails being raked across a chalk board...very effective!
The other big factor, that made Psycho an instant hit was it's highly creative and unusual ad campaign. Hitch insisted that all the theaters showing Psycho would agree to, not allow anyone to be seated once the movie had started. This was a very big deal, it was on the posters at the theater, in the newspaper ads. In some cases people even stood in a special queue line with prepaid tickets, just to make sure the policy was adhered to. The public were also told not to reveal the ending. This much sensationalized hype, generated even more interest in Psycho.
Does Psycho deserve all the praise that's been heaped on it over the years?...Well we're still watching it! and still being amazed by it! and that says a lot!
Writers: Joseph Stefano (screenplay), Robert Bloch (novel)
Cast: Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Vera Miles
Genre: Horror,Mystery, Thriller
Psycho...the guts of the movie
Fans of Hitch's 1960 horror cult classic, have watched Psycho so many times that they know by heart every scene, every word of dialogue and each nervous glance by Norman Bates. Hitch is the master, so what else can be said?
A lot! as Psycho is the result of many talented people who came together to tell one of screen's most vivid horror stories.
Psycho starts not with Hitchcock, but with a real life, grisly murderer
Ed Gein, who in 1957 was arrested for the murders of two women. In his home police found artifacts made from his victims body parts. Most disturbing was clothing made of human skin. Psychiatrists came to the conclusion that the psychotic murderer was trying to make a woman suit to wear, so that he could become his dead mother! His mother had dominated him in life...and also in death.
Living just miles away from the murder, was a novelist working on a suspense thriller, murder book. Robert Block published his novel Psycho in 1959. Also in 1959, Hitch was nearing completion on North by Northwest and was looking around for his next project. Reading the book Psycho on a flight over to England, Hitch then decides that, this would be his next movie.
Hitch Goes Roger Corman style, Hitch notices that a certain movie producer is churning out, low budget, low quality horror films and making lots of money. The fans love them, though the critics don't.
Paramount studio, has Hitch under contract for one more movie but they're nervous about making a big budget film from such a controversial book. This forces Hitch to use his own production company, Shamley Productions, which gave him the opportunity to make one of those movies, with a small budget, under a million dollars. Hitch feels with the right directorial choices his B budget horror film can make a big splash.
Joseph Stefano, most people don't know that name but they should. He's the screen writer who created Norman Bates and wrote the screenplay for Psycho. Some of the film's legendary status rightly belongs to him.
Stefano was a new kid on the block and Hitch disliked working with new writers, so Stefano knew he had to sell Hitch on his story treatment. He did that by solving one of the stories main problems: how to keep the audience feeling empathy after Marion Crane is killed off in the first quarter of the film.
The original Normal Bates in the novel, and in an earlier screenplay had been a middle aged, balding, quiet man who was a homicidal murder. Hardly the kind of character the audience would warm up to...but they needed to do just that, as Marion is out of the picture right at the start...So out of the need is born a young, quirky and even likable Norman Bates, who exist thanks to Joseph Stefano.
Hitchcock: "I don't care about the subject matter; I don't care about the acting; but I do care about the pieces of film and the photography and the sound track and all of the technical ingredients that made the audience scream.."
Hitch's style, Hitch is known as a technical director who creates his movies in his head even before he starts shooting. Hitch works from storyboards and plots out each camera shot, leaving nothing to chance. The camera angle, the distances to the actors, the lighting, the lens focal length and camera movement is all done according to Hitch's master plan.
One thing Hitch is not known for is micro managing the film. He takes a hands off approach to both the script and the acting. Relying instead on choosing talented people who can do their job well.
Screenwriter Joseph Stefano tells the story that: one day in Hitch's office, he ask Hitch about one of the story character's motivation for doing what they do. Hitch replied in his usual calm and cool manner, 'Joseph, that is for you to decide.'
Janet Leigh, also said in an interview, that Hitch wouldn't give her specific acting directions. Which is something I've heard other actors say about him. Instead he left it up to her to interpret the script as she seen fit. He was strict about one thing! Janet had to stay within the camera frame and not improvise by moving out of the frame. The camera dictated the scene, not the other way around.
‘The Hitchcock touch has four hands, and two of them are Alma’s.’ Charles Champlin, Los Angeles Times
Alma Hitchcock, Hitch's wife and partner in the movie making business. Alma had a big influence on Hitch's film including Psycho. She would let Hitch know if his next movie idea was a good one. If Alma liked it, it got made. She read and approved of Stefano's script and the next day Hitch tells Stefano that Alma liked the script.
Alma was also in on casting and approved of the actors selected. Hitch always listened to her. In some ways, Alma is the chairman of the board. She even set in on editing, much of the Hitch touch is Alma's.
Anthony Perkins, when Stefano was writing his updated script of Psycho he had in mind a young stage actor as Norman Bates. At the start of production Hitch tells Stefano that Anthony Perkins is going to play Bates. Stefano couldn't believe the coincidence.
Make no mistake about it, if Anthony Perkins hadn't been cast as the twisted but likable Norman Bates, I wouldn't be writing this review. Perkins performance is the soul of Psycho! His improvisations of a nervous stuttering young man, under the thumb of his mother, is the stuff of legends. Reportedly Perkins engrossed himself so deep in the role he had a hard time shaking the specter of Bates.
Janet Leigh, Hitch decided the role of Marion called for star power. No doubt he was familiar with her work in Orson Welles' Touch of Evil (1958), in which Janet Leigh played a woman held captive in a hotel room, while wearing not much more than her lingerie. Poor Janet, needed to stay away from motels!
Her role is brief as she's killed off towards the start of the film, but her part is pivotal. We get to see her at work at a bank, as she takes a wad of money from a rich and leering Texan. This is also when we see Hitch's daughter Pat Hitchcock, who provides some lighter moments that helps to take us off guard so that when the infamous shower scene takes place it has maximum slash.
Other Actors...It's easy to focus on Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh but there were other actors who helped shape the movie. Vera Miles plays Lila Crane, the sister of Marion who goes looking for her. Vera was slated to star in Vertigo but had to drop out due to a pregnancy. The Vertigo role went to new comer Kim Novak. Vera has a small but pivotal role and adds to the film. I can't say the same for the actor who played Marion's boyfriend John Gavin...who comes across more like a Hollywood leading man than an actual character. What Gavin lacks, Martin Balsam makes up for in his role as an investigator who's come looking for Marion and the $40,000 in cash she has stolen.
Bernard Herrmann...his name might not ring a bell but his music score for Psycho sure does...rheee! rheee! rheee! We all know that music from the shower scene that screeches terror at us. Herrmann made a bold decision and scored the movie only with string instruments. He explained he wanted a stark black & white sound to match the starkness of the movie. The screeching violins give an effect of fingernails being raked across a chalk board...very effective!
The other big factor, that made Psycho an instant hit was it's highly creative and unusual ad campaign. Hitch insisted that all the theaters showing Psycho would agree to, not allow anyone to be seated once the movie had started. This was a very big deal, it was on the posters at the theater, in the newspaper ads. In some cases people even stood in a special queue line with prepaid tickets, just to make sure the policy was adhered to. The public were also told not to reveal the ending. This much sensationalized hype, generated even more interest in Psycho.
Does Psycho deserve all the praise that's been heaped on it over the years?...Well we're still watching it! and still being amazed by it! and that says a lot!
Last edited by Citizen Rules; 02-22-17 at 03:12 AM.
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