Hitchcock!
Let me guess, you said Psycho. When Hitchcock's name is said, more often then none, people will think about his most violent or terrifying films. The leading film of his and the most notorious of them all is Psycho which he directed in 1960. But did you know, though he is considered one of the fathers of suspense films, Hitchcock never won an Academy Award? He was nominated five times for best director, but even his most famous of films, Psycho, never won.
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Psycho is about a young woman takes off with $40,000 dollars that she stole and tries running from the police. In doing so she comes across the Bates Motel where she rest for the night. During her one night stay she meets the owner of the Motel, Norman Bates, and hears about his mother who lives at the top of the hill. The same night as her check-in, the young woman is stabbed to death in her shower. Who did it? What about the money? Will anyone find out? All questions that linger after her murder.
Did you know that Psycho was based off of a novel? The novel is based off of true events. The film was based off of a book of the same name by Robert Bloch. Bloch based his novel off of Ed Gein, a murderer and grave robber from Wisconsin. He was known for collecting body parts from graves and keeping them. When he was caught by the police he confessed to killing two women but it is thought that there may have been more.
From this story Hitchcock not only created one of the greatest horror films of all time, but one of the most famous villains of all time, Norman Bates. Anthony Perkins started in his hit role of Norman Bates when he was casted in Psycho. With his cross dressing and murdering and antics, he becomes balanced with his young, charming and awkward first appearances. When Norman Bates is first seen, it would be hard to think that such a young gentleman could hurt anyone, but at the same time, that is what makes hims so terrifying. Years after the films success, Anthony Perkins took part in creating the less successful sequels to Psycho which he stared in.
Though it is over 50 years later, Psycho remains one of the greatest horror/suspense films ever made. If ever you are looking for a good thrill or a film that will make you think, I recommend you have a night in and watch this film. But, next time you check into a hotel, watch out for any dark shadows on the shower curtain.
Very interesting. A friend told me that Hitchcock made silent films, is that true???
ReplyDeleteYes it is true! Hitchcock first started making films in 1922 when sound was not yet used in film. Films at the time would be shown in special theaters that had pianos in them so music could be played along with the film.
ReplyDeleteIn 1922 Hitchcock started making films when he directed "Number 13" which when unfinished. In 1923 he made a short film, "Always Tell Your Wife." His first full length film, "The Pleasure Garden" was released in 1925, and started his long rein in the film industry.
Of all his silent films, one of the most well known of them is "The Lodger" (1927.) A great murder/mystery, The Lodger tells the story of a series of murders that take place in London and a couple who things they are lodging the murderer.
Hitchcocks first "talkie" film did not come about until 1929 when he released "Blackmail." Hitchcock liked to experiment with different ways of adding sound and what sounds he could add. Fun fact about "Blackmail," The actress who played the main character of Alice in the film did not provide the voice heard. Hitchcock and many others agreed that she had a very heavy foreign accent so they found another woman to provide the voice.
I highly recommend looking into films such as the "The Lodger" and "Blackmail." Both contain an amazing story line and interesting plot twist, but be warned, sometimes watching old black and white silent films can be tough to get through, but as long as you have the time and patients, it is worth watching.
I love "The Lodger"! And let's not forget his early sound films in Britain, many of which he remade later in the USA -- such as the original version of "The Man Who Knew Too Much" starring Peter Lorre and recently re-released by Criterion, along with 1936's Sabotage, the best of his pre-WWII sound films IMHO -- the sequence with the boy with the bomb and the Lord Mayor's Parade is unforgettable, and almost caused the British censors to quash the film !
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