Great Moments From Cinema - 23

Welcome To Bates Motel
Movie: Psycho (Shamley Productions; 1960)
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Screenplay: Robert Bloch (book), Joseph Stefano
Major Cast: Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh and Vera Miles

Film Synopsis: Leigh steals $40,000 from her employer and sets off in her car. Then, she stops for the night at a small motel run by a man called ‘Norman Bates’ (Perkins).

My Favorite Moment: The shower scene

Why I Like It: All I have to mention is ‘The shower scene’ and anyone who has even remotely heard of this movie knows exactly what I am talking about. Why, they can even hear that piercing music in their head. He had made more than 50 movies prior to this but Psycho is Hitchcock’s masterpiece and confirms his legacy as the ‘Master of suspense’. A spectacular thriller, Perkins gives one of the creepiest performances on screen and which must have led to countless roadside motels going out of business.

Leigh is tired of the dead end job in Phoenix and her only hope is to make a lot of money so that her married boyfriend can divorce his wife and then marry her. One day, as her boss gives her $40,000 to be deposited in bank, she sees a big opportunity and sets off for California with the money. However, she gets tired in the desert sun and is paranoid about being chased by a highway patrolman. So she stops for the night at ‘Bates Motel’, which is run by Perkins. He comes across as a nice young man who is devoted to his invalid mother and stays in the adjoining house. We often hear him arguing loudly with his mother, who although can be heard, is seen only in silhouettes. The motel is deserted and in the night over dinner, Perkins talks to Leigh about living with his mother and his creepy hobby of stuffing birds. He has a memorable dialogue where he tries to explain to her why he has never left home by saying, “A boy's best friend is his mother”. Perkins appears lonely and desperate for company and Leigh almost feels sorry for him. But being tired, she excuses herself and goes in for a shower to relax before sleeping. What follows is cinema history when, a figure that we assume to be ‘Mrs. Bates’, comes in and slashes Leigh in the shower. The movie is shot in B/W, perhaps due to the copious amount of blood which is washed down the drain. The music accompanying the scene has become as famous as the action itself. Later on we hear Perkins screaming in the house, “Mother! Oh God, mother! Blood! Blood!” But rather than call the police, he comes in, carefully wipes down the bathroom and gets rid of the body and all other evidence. He thinks that he has erased all trace of Leigh, but doesn’t count on her sister (Miles) coming to his motel. The second act of the movie is for the viewer’s eyes only and I will strictly obey the posters which ask us not to disclose the end.

The brilliance of this movie is not just in the mood in which Hitchcock sets the story, but also the acting, especially by Perkins. It is guaranteed to creep out the audience and in that respect, the movie succeeds beyond expectations. However, what makes it special is the unique concept in which the point of view changes midway from Leigh to Perkins. This unexpected turn in the film blindsides the viewer who is now completely hooked. Hitchcock plays us like puppets and why shouldn’t he? ‘The master of suspense’ has earned it with his genius.