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Classic movie that my youngest daughter had been wanting to see. She loved it and I loved that we watched it together. I am hoping to get her to watch all the Alfred Hitchcock classics. They are so much better than some of the films made today. I wish movies today were made as good as these made so many years ago. The DVD worked great, looked brand new and I couldn't be happier.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
The only reason why I bought this movie is because it is on the AFI's 100 years list. I think I may have seen this a long time, but am not a huge Horror buff at all. However, I have been watching more Alfred Hitchcock Films. This woman who rips off some money ends up at his desolate hotel. In the beginning, Norman Bates is a normal looking and acting man. For some reason the woman is murdered without a reason it seems. Is it his mother who did it, or Norman Bates or both? Watch the movie!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
Psycho may well be Hitch’s best movie. It is the culmination of all his great movies up to this point. In Shadow of a Doubt (1943), another of Hitch’s masterpieces, we are first introduced to a character who is dominated by his mother. Herb, the father’s friend, is a weak, shy fellow. Whenever he appears in the movie, he is always asked, “How’s your mother, Herb?” “Middling.” Then, in Hitch’s 1947 movie Notorious, meet another man dominated by his mother. Played by Claude Rains, the character—who is the head of some spy organization—is dominated by his mother. This is made obvious when she persuades him to poison the woman he loves. With Strangers on a Train (1951), we have another mother-dominated character. Robert Walker, cast against his usual type, plays a frightening, seductive and persuasive murderer who is dominated by his mother. And in North By Northwest (1957?), we meet another man who, while not dominated by his mother, is definitely influenced him. In one of the Alfred Hitchcock Presents episodes—which he himself directed—“Banquo’s Chair”, the theme of birds and bird-watching comes up repetitively. There are stuffed birds on the walls, the inspector is talking about birds and bird watching, and the word is used many times. So thus we are practically thrust into Psycho. When asked why he did Psycho, he said something like, “Oh, I just the suddenness of the murder. That’s all.” And that’s a great reason by itself. For the first thirty or forty minutes of the movie, we’re lead on a wild goose chase, watching as Marion Crane steals forty thousand dollars and escapes. Hitch does it so well that our sympathy remains with Marion as she’s chased and haunted by a cop and finally stops at the Bates Motel. “Twelve rooms, twelve vacancies,” Norman says when she gets there. “Since the highway closed, we aren’t that busy. But we try not to dwell on our losses,” he says. And then, in perhaps one of the most significant scenes of the movie, Marion has dinner with Norman. It’s loaded, simply loaded with double meaning. “Mother…what’s the phrase? Mother’s not herself today.” Norman says, “It’s stuffy in here.” Then, “I think we’re all a little crazy sometimes.” Then she’s murdered. The stabbing scene in the shower is vicious, ruthless, cruel and sudden. All this Hitch conveys. Then Hitch smoothly directed the audience’s sympathy toward Norman Bates as he comes in and sees what “mother” has done. Most directors—if not all—would have fumbled this. With the main character murdered, the movie would have ended weakly. But not Hitch. We watch anxiously as the car stops sinking in the river and sigh with relief as it finally disappears. (This scene, by the way, is perhaps one of the most puzzling of all movies. How can we, as the audience be so appalled by the murder and then eagerly hope that the murder isn’t discovered later?) The rest of the movie succeeds as well. Arbogast’s murder is done masterfully, and the suspense builds until the sheer terror of Mother's face. And then, the scene in the end where we see Norman’s face interposed with Mother’s skull. This is a man who is dominated by his mother even in her death. The cinematography is magnificent, the acting superb (Anthony Perkins may have given the best performance of all time), and the directing excellent. Too bad Perkins didn’t win an Oscar—he sure as heck deserved it. One of Hitch’s best.Read full review
Psycho DVD Hitchcock Horror Film 1960 They don't make scary movies like they used to! This classic Alfred Hitchcock film based on a novel by Robert Bloch proves you can make a horror movie without the sex, violence & nudity etc that todays films have. Although in it's time this move was considered quite bold & risque. About once a year my kids wanted to have their friends over to watch Psycho. Alot of the younger generation haven't even seen it. Possibly Hitchcock's best film Psycho stars Janet Leigh & Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates. Leigh plays a young woman that is on the run after stealing $40,000 from her employer. Needing to stop after a long drive & a terrible downpour of rain she happens upon the now famous Bates Hotel. The Bates Hotel is run by a peculiar man that appears to be dominated by his cruel or crazy mother. In reality his mother is dead. Norman murders Marion Crane, Leigh's character in the now famous shower scene. It's probably one of the most well known movie murder scene. I learned on a tour of Universal Studios that since the film is black & white Hershey Syrup was used for the blood! During the shooting of the shower scene, Hitchcock arranged for the water to suddenly go ice-cold when the attack started. In the rather twisted plot you think it is Bate's mother that did the killing. With some sleuth detective work of a private eye, Marion's sister & her boyfriend the truth becomes known. Norman has not only murdered her, but his own mother. The music from the movie is quite interesting & it stays with you for days! This movie was produced & directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Hitchcock was nominated for best director & Leigh was nominated for best actress, but neither won. Classic suspenseful horror movie, a must for any collection. Enjoy!Read full review
PLOT:Mama's Boy~ NORMAN Bates has his own hotel, while taking care of his Mother along comes Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) on the run from robbing her boss~ HITCHCOCK BEST~ This movie stands up over time~ I CONSIDER THIS THE BEST OF ALL THE HITCHCOCK FILMS~ Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) is having an affair~ her lover (John Gavin) is broke from his Divorce~ the only thing that keeps him from marriage to Marion is money~ so Marion has a BAD idea~ rob her boss~ she helps herself and leaves town~ now the fun begins...clever Marion trades cars~ attracts a cop who follows her on the lonely highway~at long last she ditches the cop... but eventually she ends up the the BATES MOTEL~ ah The Bates Motel where you check in and do NOT check out! one of the MOST scary and fascinating performances ever in a horror movie is Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) as the quiet shy young man 'devoted' to his Mother~ the Bates Motel is a old fashion hotel where the rooms are plain~ Marion is given room 1~ where Norman can keep an "eye" on her~ LOL....the Lobby Office is Full of stuffed animals..Marion admires Norman's Hobby ...Taxidermy he is very good at it~ his speciality is Birds (ah ..marion 'CRANE') more symbolism~ every one has heard of the legendary shower scene where "someone sneaks IN AND SURPRISES MARION~ just watch it~ scary no matter how many times you have scene it~ now the missing Marion has her sister (Vera Miles) and an insurance company private detective looking for the "missing Marion".POOR MARION SHE IS JUST "SWAMPED".......mean while Norman and "Mother" are not getting along. Mother is jealous if any female Norman LOOKS at~ the scene stealers in this movie are Norman'S brilliant.... absolutly brilliantly played by Perkins~ his low key start and his sudden changes make us feel scared of Norman~ we need to be! Nearly everyone has seen this great movie but the best is when you see it years later and know how it ends and are JUST AS SCARED~ Hitchcock would not allow any one to enter the movie theatre after the movie started so no one would spoil the ending. filmed in black and white which ONLY adds to the dark horror~ now back to the other scene stealer "MOTHER" the one we see very little...we hear her talking whiney, clingy MOTHER~ SHE MAKES US 'CRINGE'~ excellent ending ** look for ** young TED KNIGHT (TED BAXTER the Mary Tyler Moore Show as one of the police guards at the end he is only on for a few seconds but you know his voice** Mama's Boy Norman and "Mother"..excellent~~ this is a "cut" above the rest~ I GIVE PSYCHO A HIGH 20 OUT OF 10 FOR HORROR HITCHCOCK FUN~ HIS "MASTERPIECE"~ I have seen the other Psycho 2 & 3 I also recommend Psycho 2...has some of the orig actors and characters and flare~ a great "double twist" ending~ very effective~ IF YOU FOUND THIS REVIEW HELPFUL PLEASE REMEMBER TO VOTE~Read full review
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