Step two: In the comments section below, post a perspective/reaction you have not just to the film, but to the article. Your post should be thoughtful and thorough, and grammar and spelling counts. Once you've posted your comment, you're ready for step three: extra credit. You may comment on your peers' responses as much as you'd like. Feel free to agree, disagree, build, re-direct, etc. Just keep it friendly.
Once again, we are conducting a discussion here. Ask questions. Respond to others. Respond to people who have responded to you. Etc.
Once again, we are conducting a discussion here. Ask questions. Respond to others. Respond to people who have responded to you. Etc.
I thought it was cool how the article explained how outsiders were not allowed anywhere near the set. This forced a very mysterious feel on the public about Psycho. Hitchcock made this movie into the first psychological horror movie. He played with the audience's mind when he was constantly confusing us with what the focus of the movie was. Personally, I am terrified with the movie because I watched it when I was very young and it has scared me ever since.
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing the control Hitchcock had over the entire film--filming and in the general public. He made sure the entire film plot stayed a secret to ensure the twist by not allowing the actors to talk about the details at all. However within the film, he already knew the camera angles and the effects he wanted to create using them before talking to the actors (specifically Janet Leigh). He knew the exact effect of every shot and how to use it to get the reaction from the audience that he wanted. Hitchcock was an amazing director and made amazing movies like Psycho because he was able to completely control the movies.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, and aside from knowing the camera angles and effects and whatnot, I liked how he knew every little thing about his characters, even down to what Marion was packing in her suitcase. I think he was just an expert with detail.
Deletei agree with you. Alfred Hitchcock knew exactly what angles and affects he wanted to use to make the audience feel a certain way.He also new exactly who he wanted to cast for the character to be the best fit.
DeleteI strongly agree. Things like that are what made Hitchcock a legendary director.
DeleteIt's interesting to see the extreme commitment Hitchcock had to this film- and the boundaries he was willing to push to get his vision across, exactly how he intended it. That being said, I was surprised at the seeming-contradiction in Hitchcock's casting and other aspects of the production. For example, he had such planned, precise ideas about camera work, yet he casted John Gavin under the pretense of "I guess he'll be alright," and was hugely disappointed and unhappy with his performance. Even the anecdote about Anthony Perkins suggesting new dialogue, and Hitch being so cavalier and accepting - that seemed out of character to me.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. The whole situation with Gavin surprised me too because of his huge efforts to make everything in the film perfect. I think the other time that I was surprised how "care-free" Hitchcock was was when he allowed for Tony to change the script. He did not check it at all which surprised me. Hitchcock seems like he has very firm opinions so it is strange to see some of these breaks in his character and decisions.
DeleteI thought it was very interesting to see Hitchcock's level of commitment towards the film. The amount of time he put into casting the right people to fit the budget proves his ability to work with anything. It was surprising to see how much trust he had in some of the actors. He was completely open to Anthony Perkins dialogue suggestions without having to read them. If Perkins truly believed that his changes were right then Hitchcock did not seem to have a problem.
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DeleteAlfred Hitchcock put a lot of time in to finding the characters in the movie Psycho. He looked at their personalities and studied their expressions to determine who could play each character the best. He had good timing on each effect to make the audience feel as they were part of the scene.
DeleteI agree Johnson. The commitment needed in order to make a movie like this is insane. He also realized that the movie wasn't going to be good unless everyone was giving 100% all the time. He says he doesn't deal with people who are undercutters. He cuts them out of his life.
DeleteDefinitely the most impressive aspect to Hitchcock's film making skills is his ability to work with anything. He created one of the most popular films of all time with a small budget and little star power
DeleteI was thinking about how Hitchcock decided on the cast. I thought it was interesting that Shirley Jones was mentioned for the part of Marion Crane, partly because I used to watch the Partridge Family and the idea of the mom playing any other role in any other film/TV show is like picturing the mom from Wizards of Waverly Place in American Sniper. I also thought it was interesting that Hitchcock picked Janet Leigh as his "special pet", especially since he didn't seem to like huge movie stars. I thought it was funny that he didn't seem to care much about who played Sam. I feel like maybe he took a shine to Janet Leigh simply because Marion was arguably the most important character.
ReplyDeleteI think that he may have liked Janet more than the others because she was the most interested in the film before it even started. He seems to like the actors who were trying harder to play their characters to the fullest like Janet and Tony rather than those who were basically chosen for him like John Gavin and were not as invested.
DeleteIt is interesting how Hitchcock chose his cast. He purposely chose a star that would die early on in the film in order to shock us. He also was very smart in his spending and picked actors that were cost efficient. He also wasn't afraid to try casting one person and then to ditch them if he thought someone else would be better.
ReplyDeleteYeah I agree. I think Hitchcock was kind was iffy on a lot of things, but at the same time he was very confident with his actions. I feel that in the end he didn't regret a thing. Sure their were problems with actors and actresses, but I think that the main impact the movie did in general was just more important than the problems. But that's just what I think.
DeleteYeah I agree. I think Hitchcock was kind was iffy on a lot of things, but at the same time he was very confident with his actions. I feel that in the end he didn't regret a thing. Sure their were problems with actors and actresses, but I think that the main impact the movie did in general was just more important than the problems. But that's just what I think.
DeleteI think that having black and white was a smart move by Hitchcock. Yes, he didn't have the money to film this in color, but based on the time period, I think it worked well for the story itself. A black and white picture about a psychotic person killing people who he's aroused to. If i was in that time, I'd be intrigued by the movie being in black and white.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Hitchcock had many problems with set, actors, and money. He really wanted to make a movie that was seen to make it no where, to accomplish something that has never been done before. Problems for example, the relationship with Sam and Marion. He wanted a scene where it wouldn't look silly, to the point where children would think so, but a scene where all age could perceive it as a serious scene.
ReplyDeleteI agree and I really like how Hitchcock expected everyone to give their full efforts and to be doing their best. I think this really helped to get this movie to where it is today, and is one of the reasons why Hitchcock is one of the best.
DeleteI agree and I really like how Hitchcock expected everyone to give their full efforts and to be doing their best. I think this really helped to get this movie to where it is today, and is one of the reasons why Hitchcock is one of the best.
DeleteDid Hitchcock really expect a full effort from the camera crew? I mean, he wasn't paying them like professionals, he knew it wasn't going to be in color, do you really think he expected his TV crew to give 110%? Honestly, I don't think he did. I think it just so happened to be very successful with the plot.
DeleteIt was interesting to see how and why Hitchcock cast characters the way he did in the film. For example, Janet Leigh (who played Marion) was cast due to the fact that she was already a famous Hollywood actress at the time and her abrupt death would add shock value to the movie which in turn would provide Americans a reason to see the film. Also, Anthony Perkins was cast as Norman Bates. Perkins was a relatively unknown actor at the time so no one knew what to expect. In other words, killer-esque oriented demeanor was unknown going into the film.
ReplyDeleteI agree Kasper. I like your thought process on this.
DeleteThe way Hitchcock makes his films is very interesting. He does everything for a reason, and it is shown in the Norman Bates character. Norman Bates is played by Tony Perkins. The entire movie Norman is chewing on candy, and this gives the audience a sense that Norman has no bad intentions. When we find out he's the one killing everyone, it comes as a surprise. Hitchcock puts in the dedication in order to make a good movie.
ReplyDeleteI agree Jake. It was very interesting how Perkins played his character. He completely fooled the audience.
Deletelooking back at the movie, I'm a little frustrated that I didn't catch onto the hints that were dropped throughout the movie.
DeleteOverall I enjoyed this movie. I don't watch very many horror movies, but this is one of the best I've seen. This movie was released back in 1960 and it was still interesting to watch. Even though some of the actions that occurred were a little bit "dated" due to the lack of technology, they still had a dramatic effect on the movie and audience. There was nothing in the movie that scared me, but I liked it because of how the story was played throughout the movie and how twisted it was by making you "root" for the different people and sides.
ReplyDeleteWhat I find most interesting is the fact that we spent over half the movie asking ourselves what the plot of the movie was
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