PSYCHO (1960, USA, 109m, 15) *****
Horror, Mystery, Thriller
dist. Paramount Pictures; pr co. Shamley Productions; d. Alfred Hitchcock; w. Joseph Stefano (based on the novel by Robert Bloch); pr. Alfred Hitchcock (uncredited); ph. John L. Russell (B&W | 1.85:1 (USA); 1.66:1 (Europe)); m. Bernard Herrmann; ed. George Tomasini; ad. Robert Clatworthy, Joseph Hurley.
cast: Anthony Perkins (Norman Bates), Vera Miles (Lila Crane), John Gavin (Sam Loomis), Janet Leigh (Marion Crane), Martin Balsam (Det. Milton Arbogast), John McIntire (Sheriff Al Chambers), Simon Oakland (Dr. Fred Richman), Frank Albertson (Tom Cassidy), Patricia Hitchcock (Caroline), Vaughn Taylor (George Lowery), Lurene Tuttle (Mrs. Chambers), John Anderson (California Charlie), Mort Mills (Highway Patrol Officer).
Hitchcock’s ground-breaking redefinition of the horror genre sees Phoenix secretary Marion Crane (Leigh), on the run after stealing $40,000 from her employer to be with her boyfriend, Sam Loomis (Gavin). Travelling on the back roads and exhausted on a rainy night she stops for the night at the ramshackle Bates Motel. There she meets the polite but highly-strung proprietor Norman Bates (Perkins), a young man with an interest in taxidermy and a difficult relationship with his mother. Playfully manipulating narrative form Hitchcock skilfully wrong-foots his audience as the story takes a darker turn. Full of memorable set-pieces – notably the shower scene – the film would inspire a generation of moviemakers. Hitchcock’s creative use of camera set-ups, close-ups and overhead shots helps build the tension as does Herrmann’s now iconic score and Russell’s black and white photography. Perfectly judged right through to the chilling climax, this is an enduring masterpiece of filmmaking. Followed by PSYCHO II (1983) and PSYCHO III (1986) as well as the TV movies BATES MOTEL (1987) and PSYCHO IV: THE BEGINNING (1990). Gus Van Sant remade the film in 1998 shot for shot. In 2013 a prequel TV series BATES MOTEL appeared and ran until 2017.
AAN: Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Janet Leigh); Best Director (Alfred Hitchcock); Best Cinematography, Black-and-White (John L. Russell); Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and-White (Joseph Hurley, Robert Clatworthy, George Milo).
