Psycho (1960)

Director:

Alfred Hitchcock

Writers:

Joseph Stefano (screenplay)
Robert Bloch (novel)

Release Date:

8 September 1960 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

The Essential Alfred Hitchcock.

Plot:

A thirty-something secretary steals $40,000 from her employer's client, and subsequently encounters a young motel proprietor too long under the domination of his mother.

Plot Keywords:

Motel | Money | Shower | California | Alimony

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 6 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Anthony Perkins	...	Norman Bates
Vera Miles	...	Lila Crane
John Gavin	...	Sam Loomis
Janet Leigh	...	Marion Crane
Martin Balsam	...	Det. Milton Arbogast
John McIntire	...	Sheriff Al Chambers
Simon Oakland	...	Dr. Fred Richman
Frank Albertson	...	Tom Cassidy
Patricia Hitchcock	...	Caroline (as Pat Hitchcock)
Vaughn Taylor	...	George Lowery
Lurene Tuttle	...	Mrs. Chambers
John Anderson	...	California Charlie
Mort Mills	...	Highway Patrol Officer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Fletcher Allen	...	Policeman on Steps (uncredited)
Prudence Beers	...	Extra (uncredited)
Kit Carson	...	Extra (uncredited)
Francis De Sales	...	Deputy District Attorney Alan Deats (uncredited)
George Dockstader	...	Extra (uncredited)
George Eldredge	...	Police Chief James Mitchell (uncredited)
Harper Flaherty	...	Extra (uncredited)
Sam Flint	...	County Sheriff (uncredited)
Virginia Gregg	...	Norma Bates (voice) (uncredited)
Alfred Hitchcock	...	Man Outside Real Estate Office (uncredited)
Paul Jasmin	...	Norma Bates (voice) (uncredited)
Lee Kass	...	Extra (uncredited)
Frank Killmond	...	Bob Summerfield (uncredited)
Ted Knight	...	Policeman in Hallway Opening Door (uncredited)
Pat McCaffrie	...	Police Guard (uncredited)
Jeanette Nolan	...	Norma Bates (voice) (uncredited)
Lillian O'Malley	...	Extra (uncredited)
Fred Scheiwiller	...	Extra (uncredited)
Helen Wallace	...	Hardware Store Customer (uncredited)

Directed by
Alfred Hitchcock

Writing credits
Joseph Stefano		(screenplay)
Robert Bloch		(novel)

Produced by
Alfred Hitchcock	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Bernard Herrmann

Cinematography by
John L. Russell		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
George Tomasini

Casting by
Jere Henshaw		(uncredited)

Art Direction by
Robert Clatworthy
Joseph Hurley

Set Decoration by
George Milo

Costume Design by
Rita Riggs		(uncredited)

Makeup Department
Jack Barron	....	makeup supervisor
Florence Bush	....	hairstylist
Robert Dawn	....	makeup supervisor
Larry Germain	....	hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Lew Leary	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Hilton A. Green	....	assistant director
Lester Wm. Berke	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Curtis Baessler	....	assistant props (uncredited)
Bob Bone	....	props (uncredited)
George Cook	....	assistant prop shop (uncredited)
Dave Lee	....	prop shop (uncredited)
Harold Wolf	....	leadman (uncredited)

Sound Department
William Russell	....	sound recordist
Waldon O. Watson	....	sound recordist
Robert R. Bertrand	....	mike technician (uncredited)
John Ruth	....	cable man (uncredited)
Harold Tucker	....	sound recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Clarence Champagne	....	special effects
Walter Hammond	....	special effects (uncredited)
Don Wolz	....	special effects (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Robert Aldridge	....	grip: Phoenix (uncredited)
Jack Austin	....	grip: Phoenix (uncredited)
Eugene Barragy	....	key grip: Phoenix (uncredited)
Walter Bluemel	....	assistant camera: Phoenix (uncredited)
Robert Burkett	....	camera operator: Phoenix (uncredited)
Norman Cassidy	....	best boy electric (uncredited)
William N. Clark	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Eugene Cook	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Bill Craemer	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Alan Davey	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Bobby Greene	....	first assistant camera (uncredited)
Frank Harper	....	key grip (uncredited)
George H. Merhoff	....	gaffer (uncredited)
Saul Selznick	....	second company grip (uncredited)
Jim Sloan	....	first assistant camera (uncredited)
Leonard J. South	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Richard Sutton	....	best boy grip (uncredited)
Tommy Wilson	....	electrician (uncredited)
Rex Wimpy	....	director of photography: Phoenix (uncredited)
Rex Wimpy	....	second camera operator (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Helen Colvig	....	costume supervisor
Joan Joseff	....	costume jeweller (uncredited)
Theodore R. Parvin	....	wardrobe: men (uncredited)

Music Department
Israel Baker	....	musician: violin solo (uncredited)

Other crew
Saul Bass	....	pictorial consultant
Saul Bass	....	titles designed by
Virginia Boyle	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Everett W. Brown	....	technical advisor (uncredited)
John 'Bud' Cardos	....	bird handler (uncredited)
Frank da Vinci	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Anne Dore	....	double: Anthony Perkins (uncredited)
John Drake	....	stand-in: Anthony Perkins (uncredited)
Margo Epper	....	body double: Mother in shower sequence (uncredited)
June Gleason	....	stand-in: Vera Miles (uncredited)
Charles S. Gould	....	location director (uncredited)
Melvin Hilgenfeld	....	technical advisor (uncredited)
William T. Hurtz	....	director: animated titles (uncredited)
Myra Jones	....	body double: Janet Leigh (uncredited)
Myra Jones	....	stand-in: Janet Leigh (uncredited)
Richard Kindelon	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Harold Lockwood	....	stand-in: Martin Balsam (uncredited)
Paul Mathews	....	stand-in: John Gavin (uncredited)
Jim Merrick	....	unit publicist (uncredited)
Marli Renfro	....	shower scene double: Janet Leigh (uncredited)
Peggy Robertson	....	assistant: Mr. Hitchcock (uncredited)
Marshall Schlom	....	script supervisor (uncredited)
Herb Steinberg	....	publicity director: Paramount (uncredited)
Dolores Stockton	....	secretary: Mr. Hitchcock (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Shamley Productions

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1960) (USA) (theatrical) (as A Paramount Release)
• Les Films Paramount (1960) (France) (theatrical)
• Paramount Film Service (1960) (UK) (theatrical)
• Paramount Films (1960) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Paramount (1960) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Paramount-Films (1960) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Paramount Pictures (1961) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Paramount Pictures (1965) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release) (as A Paramount Release)
• Universal Pictures (1968) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Esselte Video (1980) (Finland) (VHS)
• MCA Videocassette (1980) (USA) (VHS)
• Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1981) (Finland) (theatrical) (re-release)
• MCA Home Video (1984) (USA) (VHS)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1988) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1992) (USA) (VHS)
• Pioneer Entertainment (1997) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Universal Studios Home Video (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• Universal Home Entertainment (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Action Gitanes (1999) (France) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1999) (UK) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (1999) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Universal Pictures (1999) (Germany) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures (1999) (Germany) (VHS)
• Universal Studios Home Video (1999) (USA) (VHS)
• Universal Pictures (Spain) (2003) (Spain) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (2003) (Germany) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures (2005) (UK) (DVD) (Special Edition)
• Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2008) (Greece) (DVD)
• Asociace Ceských Filmových Klubu (ACFK) (2009) (Czech Republic) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Universal Pictures International (UPI) (2010) (UK) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (2010) (Germany) (DVD) (Limited Quersteelbook)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2010) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray) (50th Anniversary Edition)
• Eye Film Instituut (2012) (Netherlands) (theatrical) (digitally restored version)
• Argentina Video Home (1999) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Argentina Video Home (2012) (Argentina) (DVD) (Colección Hitchcock)
• Emerald (2013) (Argentina) (DVD) (Edición Especial de Colección Alfred Hitchcock)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1974) (1984) (1993) (Finland) (TV)
• Midas Filmes (2013) (Portugal) (all media)
• Nelonen (1997) (2004) (2006) (Finland) (TV)
• Time-Life Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2002) (2004-2006) (Finland) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Phoenix Film Office  special thanks (uncredited)

Also Known As:

"Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho" - UK (complete title), USA (complete title)

Runtime:

109 min | Germany:108 min (cut)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

USA:R (re-rating) (1984) | USA:TV-14 (TV rating) | USA:Approved (certificate #19564) (original release) | USA:M (re-rating) (1968) | Argentina:13 (re-rating) | Argentina:16 (original rating) | Australia:M | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | France:12 (re-release) | France:16 (original rating) | Israel:16 | Norway:15 | Norway:16 (1960) | Peru:14 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 (re-release) | UK:15 (video rating) (1986) (1999) (2003) | UK:X (original rating) | Chile:14 (re-rating) | Chile:18 (original rating) | Germany:12 (re-rating) (2006) | Portugal:M/12 | West Germany:18 (original rating) (nf) | Netherlands:12 | Iceland:16 | Finland:K-16 (heavily cut) (1960) | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1965) | Finland:K-16 (uncut) (1969) | South Korea:15 | Brazil:14 | Czech Republic:U | New Zealand:R16 | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:18A (British Columbia) (2010) | Germany:12 (re-rating) (2004) | Netherlands:18 (original rating) (1960) | Italy:16+ (original rating) | Italy:T (re-rated) | UK:15 (re-release: re-rating) (1998) | UK:15 (tv rating) | Portugal:M/12 (Qualidade) | Japan:G (2013) | Argentina:13 (DVD rating) | Argentina:16

Filming Locations:

4270 Lankershim Boulevard, North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Shamley Productions

Trivia:

Marion's white 1957 Ford sedan is the same car (owned by Universal) that the Cleaver family drove on "Leave It to Beaver" (1957).

Goofs:

Continuity: As Marion falls out of the shower, her hair is soaking wet. But in the famous still shot of her lying on the floor, her hair is relatively dry.

Quotes:

Tom Cassidy:I'm buying this house for my baby's wedding present. Forty thousand dollars, cash! Now, that's... not buying happiness. That's just... buying off unhappiness.
[waves money in front of Marion]
Tom Cassidy:I never carry more than I can afford to lose! Count 'em.
Caroline:I declare!
Tom Cassidy:[staring at Marion] I don't! That's how I get to keep it!
George Lowery:Tom, uh... cash transactions of this size! Most irregular.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in No Direction Home (2012)

The More I See This, The Better It Gets

When I watched this for the first time in over 30 years, I was surprised how little action there was since I had remembered this as some intense horror movie. Of course, I was young and more impressionable so I guess I just remembered those few dramatic, sensational scenes such as Janet Leigh murdered in the shower and the quick other murder at the top of the stairs. Basically, that was about it, action-wise, BUT I have no complaints because the more I watch this film, the more I like it. It has become my favorite Alfred Hitchcock movie, along with Rear Window.

I mention the lack of action, and blood, too, because younger people who might be watching this for the first time are not going to see the kind of horror film they're accustomed to seeing. A generation back, movie makers tended to build up characters and suspense, so there was a lot more storytelling and less action than you see today. Also, this movie doesn't have the shock value today for audiences, either, not after years of Freddie Krueger-type blood-and-guts seen in the past 30 years.

But, what you WILL see in this movie is (1) superb acting; (2) a fascinating lead character; (3) excellent photography, and (4) a bizarre story.

"Norman Bates" is one of the most famous fictional names in film history, thanks to this film and the great work portraying him by Anthony Perkins. "Norman" is a nutcase, as it turns out and the more you know all about him, the more fun it is to study Perkins and his character "Norman" in subsequent viewings. He really has the guy down pat. However, it isn't just Perkins' film; the supporting is just fine with Leigh, whose figure is still awesome no matter how many times you see it; Martin Balsam as the private detective; Vera Miles and John Gavin. Everyone contributes.

What makes me really enjoy this movie is the cinematography. I bought this on VHS when it became available on widescreen. Later, of course, I got the DVD. Each time, I appreciate John Russell's camera-work and Hitchcock's direction more and more. I wonder if this isn't Hitchcock's best job of directing as his camera angles and lighting are outstanding. On the DVD, the blacks, whites and grays are just super and the famous house next to the Bates Motel never looked better. That house really looks eerie.

The sound effects in here don't hurt. When Balsam is attacked, the accompanying frightening music never fails to bring chills down my spine. The music literally "screams" at you.

I went 35 years between showings but now have watched this five times in the past four years. I love it and look forward to seeing it again. Many people here think this is Hitchcock's greatest film. Add me to that list.