Psycho (1960)
If you’ve never seen Psycho, you either don’t like movies or Alfred Hitchcock. As you might know from watching the making-of movie Hitchcock, there’s a host of trivia behind the scenes of the Psycho set. From Janet Leigh’s ample bosom that could barely be contained in the frame (or could it), to Hitchcock’s control of his audience (from not letting them into the theater late, to specifically asking them to keep the plot to themselves), it’s understandable why it was such a smash hit. Dark, gritty true crime movies weren’t made very often – but they had been made. The previous year’s Compulsion, starring Dean Stockwell, fit into that genre and was a precursor to the senseless crime spree of Bonnie & Clyde.
While everyone would argue that Psycho ruined Anthony Perkins’s career, not everyone feels that way. I actually have a friend who has never seen Psycho, and she doesn’t think of Anthony Perkins the way the rest of the world does. She always calls him “the handsome actor who sings Stephen Sondheim songs” – I’m not kidding. But the rest of world remembers him transitioning from the sweet, nonviolent Quaker from Friendly Persuasion to Norman Bates four years later and never looking back. If you’re looking for it, though, you can find a sprinkling of roles in his post-1960 career that weren’t villains: Catch-22, Lovin’ Molly, and Goodbye, Again.
What I love most about this classic thriller is Bernard Herrmann’s music. Like the greatest of themes, it sounds exactly like what it’s describing. You can tell what the movie is about by just listening to the score. You hear the knife, the scream, the heartbeat, and the inner-workings of the psychotic mind. But for non-music fans, there’s a lot more to love about it. The iconic Bates Motel setting, Hitchcock’s careful directing, Perkins’ subtle performance, and the overall creepiness that lingers in the air. It’s no wonder this is a classic.
Kiddy Warning: Obviously, you have control over your own children. However, due to violence and adult content, I wouldn't let my kids watch it.
Want to watch it? Click here to see it on ok.ru and thanks "Welcome to the Movies and Television" for posting!
More Martin Balsam movies here!
While everyone would argue that Psycho ruined Anthony Perkins’s career, not everyone feels that way. I actually have a friend who has never seen Psycho, and she doesn’t think of Anthony Perkins the way the rest of the world does. She always calls him “the handsome actor who sings Stephen Sondheim songs” – I’m not kidding. But the rest of world remembers him transitioning from the sweet, nonviolent Quaker from Friendly Persuasion to Norman Bates four years later and never looking back. If you’re looking for it, though, you can find a sprinkling of roles in his post-1960 career that weren’t villains: Catch-22, Lovin’ Molly, and Goodbye, Again.
What I love most about this classic thriller is Bernard Herrmann’s music. Like the greatest of themes, it sounds exactly like what it’s describing. You can tell what the movie is about by just listening to the score. You hear the knife, the scream, the heartbeat, and the inner-workings of the psychotic mind. But for non-music fans, there’s a lot more to love about it. The iconic Bates Motel setting, Hitchcock’s careful directing, Perkins’ subtle performance, and the overall creepiness that lingers in the air. It’s no wonder this is a classic.
Kiddy Warning: Obviously, you have control over your own children. However, due to violence and adult content, I wouldn't let my kids watch it.
Want to watch it? Click here to see it on ok.ru and thanks "Welcome to the Movies and Television" for posting!
More Martin Balsam movies here!
Hot Toasty Rag Nominations:
Best Director of 1960: Alfred Hitchcock
Best Actor: Anthony Perkins
Best Musical Score: Bernard Herrmann