HAPPY HALLOWEEN
Robert Bloch's Psycho captivated a nation when it appeared in 1959. The story was all too real-indeed this classic was inspired by the real-life story of Ed Gein, a psychotic murderer who led a dual life. Alfred Hitchcock too was captivated, and turned the book into one of the most-loved classic films of all time the year after it was released.
Norman Bates loves his Mother. She has been dead for the past twenty years, or so people think. Norman knows better though. He has lived with Mother ever since leaving the hospital in the old house up on the hill above the Bates motel. One night Norman spies on a beautiful woman that checks into the hotel as she undresses. Norman can't help but spy on her. Mother is there though. She is there to protect Norman from his filthy thoughts. She is there to protect him with her butcher knife.
Films:
.jpg)
Psycho
Released: August 8, 1960
Length: 109 minutes
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Cast:
Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates
Janet Leigh as Marion Crane
Vera Miles as Lila Crane
John Gavin as Sam Loomis
Martin Balsam as Milton Arbogast
John McIntire as Al Chambers
Simon Oakland as Dr. Fred Richmond
Frank Albertson as Tom Cassidy
Pat Hitchcock as Caroline
Vaughn Taylor as George Lowery
Lurene Tuttle as Mrs. Chambers
John Anderson as California Charlie
Mort Mills as Highway Patrol Officer
Virginia Gregg, Jeanette Nolan, and Paul Jasmin (uncredited) as voice of Norma Bates
Ted Knight (uncredited) as a policeman guarding Norman Bates
Trailer:
Rating: 
Psycho
Released: December 4, 1998
Length: 104 minutes
Director: Gus Van Sant
Cast:
Norman Bates--Vince Vaughn
Marion Crane--Anne Heche
Lila Crane--Julianne Moore
Sam Loomis--Viggo Mortensen
Milton Arbogast--William H. Macy
Al Chambers--Philip Baker Hall
Dr. Richmond--Robert Forster
Tom Cassidy--Chad Everett
Caroline--Rita Wilson
George Lowrey--Rance Howard
Mrs. Chambers--Anne Haney
California Charlie--James LeGros
Highway Patrol Officer--James Remar
Norma Bates (voice)--Rose Marie (uncredited)
Trailer:
Author Bio:
Robert Albert Bloch was a prolific American writer. He was the son of Raphael "Ray" Bloch (1884, Chicago-1952, Chicago), a bank cashier, and his wife Stella Loeb (1880, Attica, Indiana-1944, Milwaukee, WI), a social worker, both of German-Jewish descent.
Bloch wrote hundreds of short stories and over twenty novels, usually crime fiction, science fiction, and, perhaps most influentially, horror fiction (Psycho). He was one of the youngest members of the Lovecraft Circle; Lovecraft was Bloch's mentor and one of the first to seriously encourage his talent.
He was a contributor to pulp magazines such as Weird Tales in his early career, and was also a prolific screenwriter. He was the recipient of the Hugo Award (for his story "That Hell-Bound Train"), the Bram Stoker Award, and the World Fantasy Award. He served a term as president of the Mystery Writers of America.
Robert Bloch was also a major contributor to science fiction fanzines and fandom in general. In the 1940s, he created the humorous character Lefty Feep in a story for Fantastic Adventures. He also worked for a time in local vaudeville, and tried to break into writing for nationally-known performers. He was a good friend of the science fiction writer Stanley G. Weinbaum. In the 1960's, he wrote 3 stories for Star Trek.
Films
I've never read the book but I consider the 1960 film with Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh to be one of the scariest films ever made. Throw in Alfred Hitchcock for directing and you have one of the best films ever made. The shower scene alone makes the film but then add in Norman Bates, his mother, and the creepy house on the hill, it makes a complete package. When Janet Leigh sees the sign for Bates Motel through her rain pebbled windshield, you just know nothing good is going to happen. As for the 1998 remake, I haven't seen it nor do I have any wish to. I'm sure it's a fine film but to me, when Hollywood attempts to remake a classic all they do is look foolish.
No comments:
Post a Comment