Alfred Hitchcock was so determined to make Psycho (1960), against the refusal of Paramount Studios, that he made some of the greatest concessions of his career... at one point even offering to finance the production himself. Paramount was fairly certain the film would be a flop, so in the end, they agreed to Hitchock's offer to waive his $250,000 director's fee in exchange for 60% ownership of the Psycho film negative. This arrangement worked out delightfully in Hitchcock's favor. The film was a huge success, now considered amongst Hitchcock's very best artistic works, and Paramount had to wait over 20 long years (after Hitchcock's death in 1980) to capitalize and start making their drivel of lackluster sequels and a pointless remake. Shooting in black and white and using a large number of the staff from his TV show, Hitchcock was able to keep costs down considerably. This gritty feel in Psycho also lent itself well to the subject matter, which pushed the envelope in terms of violence and sexuality. Norman Bates (very loosely based serial killer Ed Gein) is one of the most recognizable cinematic characters of the era... and the shower murder scene, with it's frightening musical score, is one of the most memorable moments ever caught on film.
Eager to offer financial help to her boyfriend, secretary Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) absconds with $40,000 from one of her employer's clients and flees...
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| Psycho. 1960. Alfred Hitchcock: Janet Leigh |
Scared and caught in inclement weather, Marion decides to stay the night at the isolated "Bates Motel", off the beaten path, and run by a curious man with a taxidermy hobby named Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins)...
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| Psycho. 1960. Alfred Hitchcock: Anthony Perkins |
and his invalid mother, who lives in the adjacent house...
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| Psycho. 1960. Alfred Hitchcock: Anthony Perkins |
After a conversation with Norman, Marion retires to her room and decides to take a shower...
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| Psycho. 1960. Alfred Hitchcock: Janet Leigh |
It is a horrific...
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| Psycho. 1960. Alfred Hitchcock: Mother |
and tragically grave decision...
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| Psycho. 1960. Alfred Hitchcock: Janet Leigh |
Marion's disappearance and the knowledge of the money she stole sends along a Private Investigator (Martin Balsam), who meets a grisly end as well. Now Marion's boyfriend and her sister are curious as well. Norman Bates is getting nervous...
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| Psycho. 1960. Alfred Hitchcock: Anthony Perkins |
and beginning to unravel. What is to be done...
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| Psycho. 1960. Alfred Hitchcock: Anthony Perkins |
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| Psycho. 1960. Alfred Hitchcock: Janet Leigh |
