Psycho (1960)

The screen's master of suspense moves his camera into the icy blackness of the unexplained
director	Alfred Hitchcock
producer	Alfred Hitchcock
writer	Joseph Stefano
story by	Robert Bloch (original novel)
starring	Janet Leigh Anthony Perkins John Gavin Vera Miles
original music	Bernard Herrmann
cinematographer	John L. Russell
editor	George Tomasini
running time	109 minutes
colour	black & white
sound mix	mono (Westrex Recording System)
aspect ratio	1.85:1
studio	Shamley Productions
distributor	Paramount Pictures
availability	DVD & Blu-ray
film-9773 (add your rating)

Synopsis

Phoenix officeworker Marion Crane is fed up with the way life has treated her. She has to meet her lover Sam in lunch breaks and they cannot get married because Sam has to give most of his money away in alimony. One Friday Marion is trusted to bank $40,000 by her employer. Seeing the opportunity to take the money and start a new life, Marion leaves town and heads towards Sam's California store. Tired after the long drive and caught in a storm, she gets off the main highway and pulls into The Bates Motel. The motel is managed by a quiet young man called Norman who seems to be dominated by his mother.

Production

Coming soon...

See Also...

For further relevant information about this film, see also...

• 1000 Frames of Psycho (1960)
• Articles about Psycho (1960)
• Awards and Nominations
• Books about Psycho (1960)
• Complete Cast and Crew
• Documentaries about Psycho (1960)
• Film scripts
• Production documents
• Publicity material (posters, lobby cards, etc)
• Soundtrack albums
• Trailers
• Trivia
• Web links to information, articles, reviews, etc

Blu-ray Releases

released in 2012

Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection - Universal (Blu-ray, 2012) box set released in various countries

released in 2010

	Psycho (1960) - Universal (Blu-ray, UK, 2010) Amazon (UK)
	Psycho (1960) - Universal (Blu-ray, USA, 2010) Amazon (USA)

DVD Releases

released in 2008

Psycho (1960) - Universal (USA, 2008) R1 NTSC 1.85 (anamorphic)

released in 2005

	Psycho (1960) - Universal (UK, 2005) PAL 1.85:1 (anamorphic) [01:43:52]
	Psycho (1960) - Universal (USA, 2005) as part of a box set NTSC 1.85:1 (anamorphic) [01:48:44]

...view older DVD releases

Image Gallery

Images from the Hitchcock Gallery (click to view larger versions or search for all relevant images)...

Film Frames

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Themes

• birds - Norman's stuffed birds and Marion Crane (from Phoenix) eating like a bird
• mother ...isn't quite herself
• multiple personalities - Norman and his mother
• taboo: bathrooms and flushing toilets!
• taboo: nudity - Marion taking her last shower
• the MacGuffin - $40,000 and the whereabouts of Marion Crane
• the knife as the main murder weapon
• voyeurism - Norman secretly watches Marion undress
• stairs - Arbogast's murder
• the double - Marion and Norman
• dark and light - Marion changes from a white to black bra after a shower early in the film during which she decides to go on the run with the money (pre-shower she was going to hand the money in)
• the Hitchcock cameo - outside Marion's office, wearing a cowboy hat (more details)
  

Cast and Crew

Directed by:

• Alfred Hitchcock
• Hilton A. Green - assistant director

Starring:

• Anthony Perkins - Norman Bates
• Janet Leigh - Marion Crane
• Vera Miles - Lila Crane
• John Gavin - Sam Loomis
• Martin Balsam - Detective Milton Arbogast
• John McIntire - Sheriff Al Chambers
• Simon Oakland - Doctor Richmond
• Vaughn Taylor - George Lowery
• Frank Albertson - Tom Cassidy
• Lurene Tuttle - Eliza Chambers
• Patricia Hitchcock - Caroline
• John Anderson - Charlie
• Mort Mills - Highway Patrol officer
• Sam Flint - Officer
• Jeanette Nolan - Norma Bates (uncredited voice)
• Virginia Gregg - Norma Bates (uncredited voice)
• Paul Jasmin - Norma Bates (uncredited voice)

Produced by:

• Alfred Hitchcock

Written by:

• Robert Bloch - original novel ("Psycho")
• Joseph Stefano

Photographed by:

• John L Russell

Edited by:

• George Tomasini

Music by:

• Bernard Herrmann

Costume Design by:

• Rita Riggs