The 1960 film Psycho by Hitchcock
Psycho Midterm
5-6 pages
1960’s Psycho could be said to be the most culturally important film Hitchcock made in a long career of producing masterpieces. In Truffaut/Hitchcock, Hitchcock tells Truffaut something very interesting about his aim as a filmmaker in his most famous film: “Psycho has a very interesting construction and that game with the audience was fascinating. I was directing the viewers. You might say I was playing them, like an organ.” Describe the “construction” of the film (two parts, two “main” characters, two cars, two crimes, two buildings, etc.) and its impact on the viewer. (You may want to explore Hitchcock’s interest in the “Double.”)
Describe the Shower Scene. How was it filmed? How does Hitchcock describe it to Truffaut? Describe the impact Psycho had on the Slasher genre and New Hollywood directors.
