This thread is a bit belated, as the actual anniversary date occurred in June, but since there’s a thread on the anniversary of “Airplane!” I thought it ought to be commented on:
The movie Psycho was released 50 years ago (don’t have the exact date, but it was the last weekend of June.) Not as many quotable one-liners, but still ought to be mentioned.
Now if you’ll excuse me folks, I’m going to take a shower…
“Norman…it’s your mother…”
A great movie, but once you’ve seen it, that’s pretty much it.
Of course, we all know the trivia (the “blood” in the shower was chocolate syrup because it photographed better in black and white; Hitchcock superimposed a grinning skull over Anthony Perkins’ face for one frame only at the end of the movie during Norman’s jailhouse monologue; viewers were admonished not to give the ending away).
It wasn’t Hitchcock’s best, and the dialogue is a little clumsy about the whole transvestitism subject, but the acting was quite masterful, and the cinematography was, on the whole, very nicely done (save for that scene where Martin Balsam gets stabbed on the stairs and the camera follows his “fall”).
What the hell… Happy Birthday, Psycho!
Although I think anyone would go crazy if they were referred to as “Master Bates” before they had reached the age of majority…
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Mrs. FtG was an usher at a theater when it debuted. So she saw it many, many times. In bits and pieces. I’m sure she’ll feel so young when I mention it’s been 50 years.
The "No one will be admitted … " stuff was just a placard in the lobby. No one actually enforced it at the theater.
My favorite trivia about the film: Ted Night briefly appears as a policeman.
It is still quite a fine film even after seeing it numerous times and 50 years later.
Janet Leigh was a fine looking woman.
You can still see the Bates Motel and the hilltop Bates house – the one used in the exterior shots – on the Universal Studios tour in Hollywood. It’s not built full-size.
Usually I don’t mind knowing about the tricks used in a film, in fact I almost always like learning about them. But this is one that I wish I never knew. After seeing film of the house without the camera angle trick, it jars me when watching the movie because I can’t help thinking how small it really is.
Another factoid from Mrs. FtG’s ushering days: People really did get sick and hurl due to the shower scene. How things have changed over the years. Really tame stuff by today’s standards.