Psycho (1960 movie)

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Psycho
The poster features a large image of a young woman in white underwear. The names of the main actors are featured down the right side of the poster. Smaller images of Anthony Perkins and John Gavin are above the words, written in large print, "Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho".
Theatrical release poster by Macario Gómez Quibus[1]
Directed byAlfred Hitchcock
Screenplay byJoseph Stefano
Based onPsycho
by Robert Bloch
Produced byAlfred Hitchcock
Starring
CinematographyJohn L. Russell
Edited byGeorge Tomasini
Music byBernard Herrmann
Production
company
Shamley Productions
Distributed byParamount Pictures[N 1]
Release dates
  • June 16, 1960 (1960-06-16) (New York City)
  • September 8, 1960 (1960-09-08) (United States)
[4]
Running time
109 minutes
CountryUnited States[5]
LanguageEnglish
Budget$806,947[6]
Box office$50 million[7]

Psycho is a 1960 American slasher movie directed by Alfred Hitchcock. It is set in Arizona and California. It is considered to be one of the first modern horror movies since modern horror began in the 1960s.

Plot[change | change source]

It tells the story of a young woman, played by Janet Leigh, who steals money from her workplace and runs away. When she stops at a motel for the night she is murdered by the hotel's owner, played by Perkins. The owner has dissociative identity disorder and is obsessed with his dead mother. The movie is famous for the unexpected death of Leigh's character early in the movie in the 'Shower Scene' which has in turn become very famous in popular culture. It is now known as the first "Slasher movie" and one of Hitchcock's greatest movies.

Background[change | change source]

The movie is based on the book of the same name by Robert Bloch. This was inspired by the real life crimes of Wisconsin serial killer, Ed Gein. The movie was nominated for four Academy Awards including Best Director. The movie was the first motion picture to feature a toilet flushing.[8]

Remake[change | change source]

The movie was remade in 1998.

Main cast[change | change source]

Actor Role
Anthony Perkins Norman Bates
Janet Leigh Marion Crane
Vera Miles Lila Crane
John Gavin Sam Loomis
Martin Balsam Detective Milton Arbogast
John McIntire Sheriff Al Chambers
Simon Oakland Dr. Fred Richmond
Pat Hitchcock Caroline
Ted Knight Policeman

References[change | change source]

  1. "Muere Mac, el mítico cartelista de 'Doctor Zhivago' y 'Psicosis'". El Periódico de Catalunya (in Spanish). July 21, 2018. Archived from the original on July 27, 2018. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  2. "Psycho (1960): Notes". tcm.com. Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  3. "Hitchcock's Psycho Premiered 50 Years Ago". Television Obscurities. Robert Jay. June 16, 2010. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  4. Hedrick, Lizzie (8 September 2015). "8 Reasons Psycho Taps into the Psyche". USC Dornsife. University of Southern California. Archived from the original on 18 June 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  5. "Psycho (1960)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on January 16, 2015. Retrieved December 30, 2014.
  6. "Psycho (1960)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
  7. Nixon, Rob. "The Critics' Corner: PSYCHO". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on December 30, 2014. Retrieved December 30, 2014.
  8. "42 Incredibly Weird Facts You'll Want to Tell All Your Friends". BuzzFeed.
Notes
  1. After the film's release, Paramount transferred the film rights to Hitchcock, who later sold the distribution rights to Universal Pictures in 1962.[2] Universal would in turn sublicense North American distribution rights to Paramount until 1968.[3]

Other websites[change | change source]