Psycho
1960 1 hr 49 min
R
Straight from the mind of Alfred Hitchcock — PSYCHO changed horror films forever. Marion Crane, played by original scream queen Janet Leigh, makes a fateful decision to spend the night at the Bates Motel, run by a peculiar young man named Norman (Anthony Perkins) and his “mother,” who remains ominously off-screen. Bernard Herrmann’s legendary score heightens the tension in this thrilling film to a fever pitch. Rated R.
Event Details
About the Score. Constrained by a limited budget and unable to secure a full symphonic orchestra, in contrast to Hitchcock's desire for a jazz score, Bernard Herrmann opted for a string orchestra featuring piercing violins, violas, and cellos to craft the now legendary score to PSYCHO. By muting the strings with sordinos, he achieved a darker and more intense auditory experience. Herrmann employed dissonant harmonies, recurring motifs, and startling cues during violent sequences to compliment Hitchcock's surreal visuals. Initially, Hitchcock planned to exclude music from the notorious shower scene; however, Herrmann's persuasive composition won him over and when paired with that specific scene, it would ultimately establish PSYCHO’S score as one of the most iconic in cinema history.
Credits
Director Alfred Hitchcock
Cast Janet Leigh, Anthony Perkins
Country USA
Language English
Aspect 1.37
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