This show is airing at 1130p, June 14, 2022 from NJ, and will be available for a very long time, and playable anytime, just click the link below.
This show is dedicated to the passing of a student named Jim/James he was very eager to attend the class; as this was his favorite movie, he died of a sudden heart attack about a week after this class. He stayed after the class ended for nearly 45-minutes asking informative questions about the film; the mics for recording were already turned off; hence his voice is not captured.
Psycho Introduction to the class – Covered these topics
Why does Hitchcock make Psycho? – first question asked to class
- Noting its 1959 – just made North by Northwest
- Studio of paramount wants him to make Dr. No – he’s thoroughly not interest, though unsure of next project
- While being driven home – sees long lines for House on Haunted Hill [1959]
- Mission to make a thrilling horror movie
- Also, a note of William Castle, future producer of Rosemary’s Baby [1968] vs. Hitchcock
- The movie is based from Robert Bloch’s book Psycho and the infamous mass murderer Ed Gein
Question from student – Why was it made in Black and White
- Cheaper film stock is what many point to
- Actually, the blood – no way with the censors to have that gruesome display
- The blood is chocolate syrup
Note about Paramount Studios
- Not happy about Hitchcock newest project
- Agree first to 1 theater premiere; but attention and acclaim cause frenzy resulted in a nationwide release
- Studio – stating never release such ghastly creations in the future – 20 years Friday the 13th [1980] released by them with long lasting franchise
Question from another student – Is it all from a book
- Bloch’s book
- Informing on process to obtain the book
Wimpy Film Title
- The first person to begin any filming on the movie was Rex Wimpy – director of photography: Phoenix (uncredited) / second camera operator (uncredited) – his only other horror movie was Mystery of the Wax Museum ~~ not stated on recording, just an added trivial note ~~
- Question – trying to keep the name secret?
- Yes, but Hollywood Reporter trades – broke the story – however no one really believe that Hitchcock was going to make a grisly horror movie, rather thought of it as false story
Note to a b-movie
- In 1954, a b-movie called “Target Earth”, directed by Sherman A. Rose, begins in exactly the same way, with an aerial camera approaching a building, entering through the window and revealing actress Kathleen Crowley laying on the bed.
- It likely Hitchcock didn’t know of this movie, and thought of introduction as a fine starting place; however if it he did then his version of using it works much better
Why December?
- The decorations were up – strung across the roads in town hence simply easy fix
PSYCHO FILM PLAYS
After film Discussion
Shadows and Duality
- Marion first time she takes the money
- All know about the undergarment which black BUT the pocketbook too
The Police Officer Encounter
- Curious and hints at staying a motel
- Those Mirror glasses
Used Car Sales-man
- More play of shadows
- Reflections – hint of duality
- Irrational thought of buying a paper as if her crime was sensational news
Discussion of Marion and she reacts – Noting Hitchcock is playing the dialogue she is hearing in her mind
Approx 26min Jim’s voice is heard
German Expressionism shown
- Bates Motel sign – Dutch tilt from German Expression – bad vibes, isolated – rainy night
- Noting – not mention but explain afterwards to Jim – it harkens back to the cliché used in cinema – On dark and stormy night… or old dark house
Meeting Norman
- Different angles – his bird like mannerisms
- Chicken to bird of prey
- Norman appears – with social awkwardness – not using the umbrella
Noting of Anthony Perkins
- I normally avoid actors’ personal lives – here to adds to his character traits
- Raised and supported by his mother – like Norman
- Seeing 3 images of Norman photo, explaining the three – ALMOST GAVE AWAY SECRET HINTED IN THE INTRO TO FILM
- In Parlor – Incredible layered scene from dialogue to set decoration
Other Items
Mother is taking over – Norman is never quite himself again for the rest of the film
The toilet – a taboo but Hitchcock overcame the censors
Dennis and Lisa and others (students) comments over all the little details – later in the film – records with Erotica or no name books Lila Crane (bird name) portrayed by Vera Miles – don’t understand reaction
- Its 1960 – the black book with no name is forbidden represents pornography
Shower Scene
- Noting the vanished shadow – a full cleanse – she’s decided to turn back to righteous
- Then he framing – we have large empty void – something to full it
Watch it play out!
The Television Theory
- Hitchcock never thought of this – his agent did – saw his commission vanishing
End Film Sequence
- Explain the psychology of what and who Norman became
- Modern audience dislike this, but its 1960 they don’t discuss it
- In fact, the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) from American Psychiatric Association, removed homosexuality and transvestite from their references in 1973
Note Perkins family
- Anthony Perkins 9/12/92
- Children: Oz Perkins, Elvis Perkins
- Spouse: Berry Berenson9/11/01 North Pool, on Panel N-76 died in terrorist Attacks
- Her bio found here: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0073550/
Close Discussions about various Scenes in the film
- Halloween H20 – Janet Leigh – Psycho theme music – at 1.28 it starts with video below
- More shower scene discussion – 6-days ending on December 23rd, and includes numerous angels (78 to be exact) and 52 editing cuts
- Mike (student) mentioning some interesting aspects
- A fully functioning shower
- She doesn’t care about the temperature – rather wash away her sins – religious moment of cleansing her corruption
- Noting the usage, a 50mm-lens close to the human vision
- As he knows we want to see
- Reinforces the concept of voyeurism making the audience an unbeknownst part of film
- Then Norman trap mentally bird the birds, in his mother’s nest
- Student notes Norman always eating
- Candy corn, like bird seed
- Bates Motel – series
- Money Envelope Meaning
- Torn from the innocence to guilty
- 3 Layered end shot – Norman, Mother’s Corpse and the chain which leads to his neck and links to the car of Marion
Other Tidbits