Rebellos anecdotal approach could well have been entitled the saga of psycho. In the case of the 1960 film psycho by director alfred hitchcock, a tale of murder and taxidermy inspired by the notorious mass murderer. Despite the irresistibly juicy way its written, alfred hitchcock and the making of psycho offers a thorough, careful examination of every step of the preproduction, production and postproduction aspects of film creation. Stephen rebellos groundbreaking book offers the complete inside story on the making of alfred hitchcocks original psycho, now seen as the forerunner of all. Rare is the hitchcock makingof book that includes an interview with the director, and rare is the makingof book, regardless of subject matter, as good as this one. The film classics library and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Books by alfred hitchcock author of alfred hitchcock. Amanda wells does a great job of laying out the basics on why psycho has been so well received by the public, the critics, and film studies. Hitchcock shows 6 ways psycho slashed hollywoods rule book. He had an enthusiasm for an impossible film alfred hitchcock and the making of psycho by stephen rebello. Sequence from alfred hitchcocks psycho showing the murder of the private detective arbogast played by martin balsom. Her explanations are clear and to the point, placing the film in its historical context to show how the film deviated from other films at the time, and why the film has maintained such high praise and. Psycho, both the book by robert bloch and the movie directed by alfred hitchcock, once consumed are hard to forget.
The audiences sympathy toward marion is heightened with the introduction of cassidy whose crude boasting encourages the audiences dislike of his character. Stephen rebello, author of alfred hitchcock and the making of psycho, describes his reaction the first time he saw psycho and the cultural impact of alfred hitchocks film. Alfred hitchcock has 576 books on goodreads with 46693 ratings. Alfred hitchcock too was captivated, and turned the book into one of the most loved classic films of all time the year after it was released. Psycho is one of the most twisty, sneaky film plots ever snuck and twisted onto a movie screen. First released in june 1960, psycho altered the landscape of horror films forever. Phoenixbased marion crane, who has for ten years worked as an assistant to real estate agent george lowery, laments the fact she and her divorced boyfriend, sam loomis, cant get married due to money issues, he a penniless hardware store clerk whose debt is a result of having to pay alimony. A meticulous history of the classic suspense film based on exclusive interviews with the director, writers, cast, and crew the new york times. The mass appeal that psycho has maintained for over three decades can undoubtedly be attributed to its universality.
The modernistic version of psycho would be hitchcocks own story of mortgaging his house to make psychoand making clear. The book that gets inside alfred hitchcocks mind the. Meet the inspiration for alfred hitchcocks psycho tweet share post bookmark subscribe last week june 16th to be specific was the 51st anniversary of. Just take a look at the table of contents brackets are mine. The dark side of genius supplies the necessary information from hitchcocks personal life.
As spectators, watching impassively, we cannot always see the careful plotting behind each shot. It details the creation of director alfred hitchcocks 1960 thriller psycho. Psycho was a joke this article is more than 7 years old in a newly discovered 1964 tape from the bbc archives, the director makes the remarks about his most shocking film. Over half a century on, psycho is a tremendous inspiration to low budget filmmakers, as hitchcock shot the film on a shoestring budget of under a million dollars admittedly, to generate the marketing and awareness of the film at the time, studios today would have to spend blockbuste. Alfred hitchcocks movie, psycho and its impact on the film industry the 1960s marked a big change in american cinema.
Jun 21, 2011 meet the inspiration for alfred hitchcocks psycho tweet share post bookmark subscribe last week june 16th to be specific was the 51st anniversary of the theatrical release of psycho. So im rather surprised that a silver screen adaptation of stephen rebellos alfred hitchcock and the making of psycho has been such a long time coming. Writers who want to write lasting dark, and macarbe stories are encouraged to read stephen rebellos alfred hitchcock and the making of psycho. Hitchcock later said, thirtythree percent of the effect of psycho was due to the music. Alfred hitchcocks psycho has been commended for forming the archetypical basis of all horror films that followed its 1960 release. The book is set between the events of the original novel and psycho ii, recounting the events which took place in a state hospital for the criminally insane where bates is a patient. It also factored into my grade for the dvds extras. Psycho is a 1960 american psychological horrorthriller film directed and produced by alfred hitchcock, and written by joseph stefano.
Sanitarium written by chet williamson, was released in 2016. For example, most people remember psycho for the shower scene, but in this book we can see how, step by step, hitchcock constructed each shot, before the shower scene, so we actually participate in janet leighs experience. In some ways a groundbreaking film, psycho has been extensively written about and minutely analyzed. The novel tells the story of norman bates, caretaker at an isolated motel who struggles under his domineering mother and becomes embroiled in a series of murders. Alfred hitchcock and the making of psycho audiobook, by stephen rebello. Rebello, clearly an enthusiastic fan of psycho, charts the films course from its origins as an unheralded suspense novel through the intricacies. The 2012 american biographical drama film directed by sacha gervasi, based on this nonfiction book is titled hitchcock. Alfred hitchcock and the making of psycho wikipedia. Cmrra, sony atv publishing, solar music rights management, and 2 music rights societies. Apr 01, 2000 donald spotos excellent biography alfred hitchcock. Prior to psycho, hitchcock made two films about serial killers, the lodger 1928 and shadow of a doubt 1943, which he often rated as his favorite film. The 1990 nonfiction book has been very well received over the years, as its infinitely readable, meticulously researched and wonderfully enlightening. When alfred hitchcocks psycho opened on june 16, 1960, the.
Psycho 1959 by robert bloch the alfred hitchcock wiki. When the cast and crew began work on the first day, they had to raise their right hands and promise not to divulge. Gothic horror alfred hitchcocks psycho pictures cbs news. Alfred hitchcock has a lot of incredible films to his credit, but few are as iconic as the. Psycho, american suspense film and psychological thriller, released in 1960, that was directed by alfred hitchcock and is loosely based on the reallife killings of wisconsin serial murderer ed gein. The following is a list of mostly nonfiction english language titles relating to the life and career of alfred hitchcock. Heres the director on psycho, explaining his frequent balletic use of overhead cameras to prime the movies final revelation. Aug 12, 2016 the book that gets inside alfred hitchcocks mind.
According to the 1990 book alfred hitchcock and the making of psycho often considered the definitive history of the movie hitchcock made one more investment in blochs novel. Sep 22, 2008 psycho original soundtrack theme licensed to youtube by. The film stars anthony hopkins, helen mirren as hitchcocks wife, alma reville, and scarlett johansson as janet leigh. The novel is considered as being blochs most enduring work and one of the most influential horror books of the 20th century. Seriously, go watch the film, get surprised by the surprises, then come back. Heres the director on psycho, explaining his frequent balletic use of overhead cameras to. Alfred hitchcocks movie, psycho and its impact on the. In the case of the 1960 film psycho by director alfred hitchcock, a tale of murder and taxidermy inspired by. Jun 12, 2017 hitchcock talks about lights, camera, action june 12, 2017 herb a. The following is a list of mostly nonfiction english language titles relating to the life and career of alfred hitchcock hitchcock remains the most studied and writtenabout film director of all time and there are very few aspects of his life and work that remain undocumented. In the opening sequence of psycho, hitchcock succeeds in capturing the audiences initial senses of awareness and suspicion while allowing it to identify with marions helpless situation.
Nov 30, 2012 this is a book for movie lovers, but its not fluff. Speaking of terrific, the psycho dvd also includes hitchcocks fabulous trailer. News about alfred hitchcock, including commentary and. Alfred hitchcock and the making of psycho audio book store. Alfred hitchcock and the making of psycho by stephen rebello here is a gripping, behindthescenes look inside the classic suspense shocker psycho and the creative genius who revolutionized filmmaking. News about alfred hitchcock, including commentary and archival articles published in the new york times. Psycho revised draft, 01dec1959 the hitchcock zone. Psycho is a 1959 thriller novel by american writer robert bloch. This was a great introductory critical work on psycho. Hitchcock remains the most studied and writtenabout film director of all time and there are very few aspects of his life and work that remain undocumented. It is appalling that, a selfregarded psycho fan as i am, this book would have escaped my notice if not for the movie hitchcock 2012.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. With the collapse of the hollywood studio system came a weakening of censorship laws. Alfred hitchcocks most popular book is alfred hitchcock presents. Alfred hitchcock and the making of psycho home facebook. Hitchcock talks about lights, camera, action the american. The film was released on november 23, 2012 the book was first published on april 15, 1990, by dembner books, and. Psycho revised draft, 01dec1959 this version of the script for psycho 1960. Alfred hitchcock went to great lengths to keep psycho plot secret. Controversy abounds with both this book and the movie that is loosely based upon it. Aug, 1999 he had an enthusiasm for an impossible film alfred hitchcock and the making of psycho by stephen rebello.
Lightman hitchcock, above, with rear window 1954 stars jimmy stewart and grace kelly, and, at top, behind the scenes on the films elaborate apartment building set. It was a fun movie that got me curious enough to want to read both the bloch and the rebello books. Here is a gripping, behindthescenes look inside the classic suspense shocker psychoand the creative genius who revolutionized filmmaking. A casebook collects some of the finest essays on this groundbreaking filma film that is ideal for teaching the language of cinema and the ways in which strong filmmakers can break hollywood conventions. Alfred hitchcock and the making of psycho by stephen rebello.
Hitchcock also included gothic horror touches looking back to stories like dracula. For this alfred hitchcock masterpiece collection, they sent this program to a separate disc of extras. Some of the highest art comes from the lowest of sources. Then he took a quantum leap to further greatness with a lowbudget, blackand.
It stars anthony perkins, janet leigh, john gavin, vera miles, and martin balsam, and was based on the 1959 novel of the same name by robert bloch. Psycho at 61, alfred hitchcock was reaching what many saw as the end of an illustrious career. Alfred hitchcock and the making of psycho is a nonfiction book by stephen rebello. Cnn alfred hitchcock and the making of psycho august. The book that gets inside alfred hitchcocks mind the new. After secretary marion crane played by janet leigh impulsively absconds from her job with. His books include the awardwinning reel art great posters from the. The movie which centres around the brilliant mr and mrs hitchcock played by the equally brilliantly matched anthony hopkins and helen mirren is based on rebellos very book. In psycho, hitchcock allows the audience to become a subjective character within the plot to enhance the. Stephen rebellos nonfiction classic alfred hitchcock and the making of psycho is in print in the u. A casebook collects some of the finest essays on this groundbreaking filma film that is ideal for teaching the language of cinema and the ways in which strong.
Books by alfred hitchcock author of alfred hitchcock presents. It details the creation of director alfred hitchcock s 1960 thriller psycho. Its loosely based on stephen rebellos alfred hitchcock and the making of psycho. When robert blochs novel was published in 1959, hitchcock bought all.
928 864 1504 431 288 589 803 1052 1417 675 1307 655 779 1587 294 222 1259 766 531 1540 882 132 1320 1188 1149 372 1243 427 507 891 968 491 333 788 732