Alfred Hitchcock's Prologue to Psycho (1960)

Psycho is a 1960 American film directed by Alfred Hitchcock. The film is based on the screenplay by Joseph Stefano, who adapted it from the 1959 novel of the same name by Robert Bloch. The novel was based on the crimes of Wisconsin serial killer Ed Gein.

The film depicts the encounter between a secretary, Marion Crane (Janet Leigh), who is in hiding at a motel after embezzling from her employer, and the motel's owner, Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins), and the aftermath of their encounter.

Psycho initially received mixed reviews, but outstanding box office returns prompted a re-review which was overwhelmingly positive and led to four Academy Award nominations. Psycho is now considered one of Hitchcock's best films and is highly praised as a work of cinematic art by international critics. The film spawned two sequels, a prequel, a remake, and a television movie spin-off.

The film is often categorized by multiple sources as a drama, horror, mystery and thriller film.

The film's original trailer features a jovial Hitchcock taking the viewer on a tour of the set, and almost giving away plot details before stopping himself. It is "tracked" with Bernard Herrmann's Psycho theme, but also jovial music from Hitchcock's comedy The Trouble with Harry; most of Hitchcock's dialogue is post-synchronized. The trailer was made after completion of the film, and since Janet Leigh was no longer available for filming, Hitchcock had Vera Miles don a blonde wig and scream loudly as he pulled the shower curtain back in the bathroom sequence of the preview. Since the title, "Psycho," instantly covers most of the screen, the switch went unnoticed by audiences for years. However a freeze-frame analysis clearly reveals that it is Vera Miles and not Janet Leigh in the shower during the trailer.

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  Film & Animation

[Alf Naruda]

Did you know that the screaming lady at the end is NOT Janet Leigh? It's actually Vera Miles in a wig. Look again.

[33hegemon]

"She was the weirdest, most....well, let's go have a look shall we."

Hahaha, cracks me up.

[Mike Williams]

Marli Renfro was Janet Leighs body double - not Vera Miles.

[Tedaus18]

do you know who originally said the quote you've written in the description?

[jinpayne]

I've never seen this because when I first watched Psycho it was on TV, and i haven't seen it sense then. Thanks.