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Film Review - Psycho

Psycho is a 1960 American horror film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, starring Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh. The film is based on the 1959 novel of the same name and depicts the encounter between a secretary hiding from embezzlement at a motel and the motel's disturbed owner Norman Bates. While Psycho did well at the box office, it received mixed critical reviews upon release - some critics found it shocking and technically brilliant, while others felt it was overlong and did not care about the characters. Debate continues over Psycho's artistic merits.

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109 views3 pages

Film Review - Psycho

Psycho is a 1960 American horror film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, starring Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh. The film is based on the 1959 novel of the same name and depicts the encounter between a secretary hiding from embezzlement at a motel and the motel's disturbed owner Norman Bates. While Psycho did well at the box office, it received mixed critical reviews upon release - some critics found it shocking and technically brilliant, while others felt it was overlong and did not care about the characters. Debate continues over Psycho's artistic merits.

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FILM

REVIEW: PSYCHO (1960) Dir. Alfred Hitchcock

CAST/CREW Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, Produced by Alfred Hitchcock Screenplay by Joseph Stefano Based on Psycho by Robert Starring Anthony Perkins, Vera Miles, John Gavin, Martin Balsam, John McIntire, Janet Leigh Music by Bernard Herrmann Cinematography John L. Russell Editing by George Tomasini Psycho is a 1960 American suspense/horror film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh. The screenplay by Joseph Stefano is based on the 1959 novel of the same name by Robert Bloch. The novel was loosely inspired by the crimes of Wisconsin murderer and grave robber Ed Gein who lived just 40 miles from Bloch. The film depicts the encounter between a secretary, Marion Crane (Leigh), hiding at a secluded motel after embezzling money from her employer, and the motel's disturbed owner and manager, Norman Bates (Perkins), and the aftermath of their encounter. [WIKIPEDIA]

Psycho did well at the box office but opened to mixed reviews.

Reviewing Psycho on its release, Observer writer C Lejeune (1960) describes it as feeling overlong, and said, Psycho is not a long film but it feels long. I grew so sick and tired of the whole beastly business that I didn't stop to see it. However critic Roger Ebert felt it had great impact and was the most shocking film its original audience members had ever seen. Lejeune argues that the director dawdles over technical effects, however Psycho has received numerous technical awards and was nominated for Oscars for its cinematography, set direction and direction (IMDB) Finally Lejeune suggests that it is difficult, if not impossible, to care about any of the characters, but this is disputed by Ebert who believes that Psycho continues to work as a frightening, insinuating thriller. That's largely because of Hitchcock's artistry in two areas that are not as obvious: The setup of the Marion Crane story, and the relationship between Marion and Norman. Both of these elements work because Hitchcock devotes his full attention and skill to treating them as if they will be developed for the entire picture.

ILLUSTRATIONS FIG 1 - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054215/[accessed on 20/02/12] FIG 2 - http://www.chud.com/78379/franchise-me-psycho/[accessed on 20/02/12] FIG 3 - http://www.fanpop.com/spots/psycho/images/5893942/title/psycho- wallpaper-wallpaper[accessed on 20/02/12] REFERENCES Ebert, R (1998) Psycho Review http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19981206/REVIE WS/812060301 [accessed on 20/02/12] Lejeune, C A (1960) Psycho online at http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2010/oct/22/psycho-hitchcock-archive- review-horror [accessed on 20/02/12] Psycho Awards online at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054215/awards [accessed on 20/02/12]

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