Psycho (1960 movie)
| Psycho | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Alfred Hitchcock |
| Produced by | Alfred Hitchcock (uncredited) |
| Written by | Joseph Stefano (screenplay) Robert Bloch (novel) |
| Starring | Anthony Perkins Janet Leigh Vera Miles John Gavin Martin Balsam John McIntire |
| Music by | Bernard Herrmann |
| Cinematography | John L. Russell |
| Edited by | George Tomasini |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures Universal Pictures |
Release date | June 16, 1960 |
Running time | 109 |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $806,950 (estimated) |
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 films 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.[1]
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]
Other websites[change | change source]
 |
Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Psycho (1960 film) |
- Psycho (1960) on IMDb
- Psycho (1960) at Rotten Tomatoes
- Alfred Hitchcock Fans Online - Psycho (1960) Archived 2008-11-06 at the Wayback Machine
- Bright Lights Film Journal article on Psycho[permanent dead link]
- Filmsite: Psycho In-depth analysis of the movie.
- Psychohouse WebSite Archived 2007-11-30 at the Wayback Machine
- The Psycho Movies Web Site
- Review of the UK Special Edition DVD release, by Brian Elliott of DVD Reviewer
- English-language movies
- 1960 movies
- 1960s crime movies
- 1960s horror movies
- 1960s thriller movies
- American crime thriller movies
- American horror thriller movies
- American mystery movies
- American serial killer movies
- Cross-dressing in movies
- Dissociative identity disorder in movies
- Movies based on books
- Movies composed by Bernard Herrmann
- Movies directed by Alfred Hitchcock
- Movies set in Arizona
- Movies set in California
- Phoenix, Arizona in fiction
- United States National Film Registry movies