Twelve Cabins, Twelve Vacancies

Hitchcock broke innumerable rules with his first entry in the horror genre. The film's lead abruptly changes from Leigh to Perkins, with early scenes of a foolish rich braggart and a suspicious policeman proving to be red herrings. The film opens with an unmarried couple in a sleazy motel room (very risque in 1960) and was the first film to show a flushing toilet. Touches of Hitchcock's black humor are spread throughout the film. There's also the shop customer who doesn't want her garden insects to suffer from poison. Norman makes endless double-meaning references to his mental condition and relationship with his mother. All of this adds to the pleasure of seeing the film again. You know all the surprises but you notice the bits of business in the background. Plus Anthony Perkins performance is among the most amazing in film history. Perkins had previously made a mark in "Friendly Persuasion," "Fear Strikes Out" and "On The Beach" but he will be forever identified as the twitchy motel owner Norman Bates. When the car stops submerging halfway in the swamp,the audience sees Norman's nervous indecision and is breathless for a moment until the car continues to sink. Bernard Hermann's iconic score is unusual as it consists entirely of strings.

"Psycho" was a major change from recent Hitchcock films, which were big budget Technicolor films featuring major stars such as James Stewart and Cary Grant. In contrast, "Psycho" was a low budget movie filmed on the Universal back lot using crew from Hitchcock's television series. However, it became one of the biggest grossing films of the year and was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Director, Best Supporting Actress (Leigh), Best B & W Cinematography (John L. Russell) and Best Art Direction. It failed to win any Oscars, which were largely swept by Billy Wilder's The Apartment (1960). 

Random trivia: Hitchcock tested the shock value of the mummified remains of Mother by placing them in Janet Leigh's dressing room, strategically placed to be seen when she first turned on the light. John Gavin, who plays Leigh's boyfriend, later became the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico. Perkins was not present for the filming of the shower scene. As it was among the last things shot Perkins had finished his part and was appearing in a play on Broadway so an unknown stand-in replaced him as Mother Bates.