The Psycho File: A Comprehensive Guide to Hitchcock's Classic Shocker

by Joseph W. Smith III

Overview

An examination of the groundbreaking 1960 film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, including the story's origins in real-life graverobber Ed Gein. The book presents material from the script and how it was adapted from Robert Bloch's novel; details of the film's production, particularly the shower scene and other technical difficulties; actors and the challenges of their roles; extended literary analysis of the film covering such devices as irony, symbol, theme, motif and foil; and the film's effect on audiences. Features 16 photographs, notes, bibliography and index.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780786444878
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date:	09/30/2009
Series:	Performing Arts/Film
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	226
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 9.32(h) x 0.54(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Joseph W. Smith III is a teacher, journalist and public speaker in Pennsylvania.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments     

Part 1. Before Committing Yourself: A Few Preliminaries
Introduction: We All Go a Little Mad Sometimes     
1. He Stole Her Corpse: Gein and Bloch     
2. Do You Mind If I Look at Your Book? Stefano and Hitchcock     
3. The Nuts and Bolts: Hitchcock and His Crew     

Part 2. Look at the Picture, Please: A Detailed Analysis of the Film
4. I Hate Having to Be with You in a Place Like This: Titles and Windows     
5. Let’s All Talk About Marion, Shall We? Marion and Sam     
6. She Sat There While I Dumped It Out: Caroline and Cassidy     
7. Am I Acting As If There’s Something Wrong? Marion and Marion     
8. Dirty Night: Marion and Norman     
9. Blood! Blood! Marion and Mom     
10. He Had to Erase the Crime: Norman and Us     
11. If You Still Haven’t Come to Your Senses: Sam and Arbogast     
12. People Just Come and Go: Arbogast and Norman     
13. A Bad Day Coming: Sam and Lila     
14. I Can Handle a Sick Old Woman: Lila and Mom     
15. As If from a Deep Sleep: Richmond and Norman     
16. Two Personalities: Psycho and Psycho     
17. Want to Check the Picture Again? Psycho and Its Themes     
18. The Whole Story: Psycho and Its Moral Implications     

Part 3. And That Still Wasn’t Enough: Aftermath
19. They’ll See and They’ll Know: Psycho and Its Viewers     
20. After the Murder, Norman Returned: Sequels and Spin-Offs     

Appendix: Cast and Credits     
Sources     
Bibliography     
Index     

Editorial Reviews

This is the book to have if you want to understand Psycho’s standing in popular culture and film history. Smith has done Hitchcock fans, scholars, and critics an invaluable service in providing a comprehensive, richly detailed, and eminently practical guide to this seminal film.”—Philip J. Skerry, author of Psycho in the Shower: The History of Cinema’s Most Famous Scene.

From the Publisher

This is the book to have if you want to understand Psycho's standing in popular culture and film history. Smith has done Hitchcock fans, scholars, and critics an invaluable service in providing a comprehensive, richly detailed, and eminently practical guide to this seminal film.

author of Psycho in the Shower: The History of Cinema's Most Famous Scene - Philip J. Skerry