6) The World of Imagination

Psycho

 

Psycho is a thriller directed by ''The Master of Suspense'' Alfred Hitchcock. The budget is around 806 000$.

I. Biography

 

Alfred Joseph Hitchcock nicknamed ''The Master of Suspense'', was born on 13 August 1899 in London. His father named William Hitchcock (1862-1914) which was wholesaler and his mother named Emma Jane Hitchcock (1863-1942). 

His childhood was very lonely and sheltered, a situation complicated by his obesity. When he was five years old, he was sent by his father to the police station with a note. When the policeman read the note, Hitchcock was enclosed in a cell for few minutes. The policeman said before his liberation :

'' That's what happens to bad boys ''

His first film was Number Thirteen which was realized in 1922 but the movie was canceled. In 1929 he had already directed ten films. The second version of The Man Who Knew Too Much was his first sucess. The 39 Steps (1935) is considered the best of his early period.

He then left England during the war and went to Hollywood; Rebecca (1940) was his first American Film. Strangers on a Train (1951) marked the beginning of the golden age of Hitchcock's American Career. Later he realized many films such as North by Northwest (1959) Psycho (1960) The Birds (1963). This movies are very importants for the cinema because they inspired many film director like John Carpenter or the famous Steven Spielberg. Frenzy (1972) was the last movie of Hitchcock. He died on 29 April 1980 in Los Angeles. 

II. Psycho 

 

This is the synopsis of Psycho.Anthony Perkins is the troubled Norman Bates, whose old dark house and adjoining motel are not the place to spend a quiet evening. No one knows that better than Marion Crane (Janet Leigh), the ill-fated traveler whose journey ends in the famous shower scene. First a private detective, then Marion's sister (Vera Miles) and his lover Sam Loomis research Marion Crane.

Thera are many themes in Psycho. First, the theme of the death is present along the film with characters such as Norman Bates whose the passion is the stuffing of animals but he doesn't like kill them, very strange. Secondly, the suspens is the main character from beginning to end like the music . Which increases the suspens and the terror until the final revival. Finally, the theme of supenatural because at a moment of this film a character appears whereas he was died since 10 years but the story is most complicated.

Alfred Hitchcock is also famous for his appearances in all movies, the cameo appearences. In Psycho , he appears with a cowboy hat at the seventh minute behind the window when Marion Crane returns to her offfice.

 

For the realisation of Psycho, Hitchcock would the perfection. The house of Norman Bates is inspired by the painting of Edward Hopper,House by the Railroad .The character Marion Crane is inspired by women, Hitchcock met many women to know the clothes, the baggages or the room in order to create a character which ressembles at American Women. During the shooting, Hitchcock wore a dark suit and all the team of the film wore also a dark suit. It was an atmosphere '' old fashioned''.

An anecdote the shower scene cost 62 000$. A character in this film is inspired by the serial killer Ed Gein.

 

 I decided to take this film for many reasons. Psycho is certainely the most important film of Alfred Hitchcock. The shower scene, the music or the setting are very important for the cinema and are also famous. I love Alfred Hitchcock's film and Psycho is one of his best movies. The movie The Birds is also very good or even Rear Window. He had the gift to create suspense.