Psycho is one of the most widely known horrors in cinema history. The film’s iconic shower scene and its huge twists led to it becoming Alfred Hitchcock’s most financially successful film and a cult classic. Released back in 1960, the film still thrills people today more than 50 years after its release. Here are 9 facts about the horror classic…
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Hitchcock financed the film himself
Because Paramount was hesitant about financing the film, Hitchcock decided to do it himself, so he funded its production and even declined a director’s fee.
2. One Norma Bates wasn’t enough
A total of three actresses were hired to voice Norma Bates; their voices were blended together and different tones were selected for different scenes.
3. A very long shower
The shower scene, widely regarded as one of the finest and most influential scenes in cinema history, took seven days to shoot.
4. The shower scene could have been silent
Hitchcock had initially wanted the shower scene to be completely silent, though after hearing the score Bernard Herrmann, he liked it so much he included it in the scene.
5. Spoiler alert
The film’s stars Anthony Hopkins and Janet Leigh, were forbidden from doing the usual press interviews because Hitchcock didn’t want to risk one of them accidentally leaking spoilers.
6. Switching to baths
Shooting the shower scene didn’t bother Janet Leigh, though when she watched the film back and saw her character get stabbed in the shower, she realised how vulnerable women in showers are and reportedly chose baths instead of showers from then on.
7. No late admissions
Hitchcock wanted all cinema-goers to experience the film in its entirety, so cinemas showing the film were specifically instructed not to let anyone in once the film had started.
8. An Oscar nomination, but never a win
The film earned Hitchcock his fifth Oscar nomination for directing, though he didn’t win – in fact, he never won an Oscar for directing in his life.
9. The first on-screen toilet
It was also the first film to feature the sound of a toilet being flushed; it contained rolled-up bits of note paper.
