The document discusses the 1960 film Psycho by Alfred Hitchcock. It provides context about the screenwriter, composer, novelist, and cinematographer who worked on the film. It also analyzes some key scenes from the movie, including establishing character motivations in an early dinner scene, the famous shower scene, and discussing how remaining characters try to solve the mystery after the murder. The document examines elements of mise-en-scene, character interactions, and the film's impact as an iconic defining moment in cinema history.
3. Psycho- 1960 Joseph Stefano
Screenwriter
Alfred Hitchcock
Director
Bernard
Herrmann
Composer
Robert Bloch
Novelist
John L. Russell
Cinematographer
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4. Good V. Evil and its dichotomy
Audience relating to and
sympathizing with one character,
then another.
Audience as voyeurs
Audience identifying with the
danger
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5. Rationale for this opening?
Specific place
and time
Random selection
of people
This situation
could be anyone’s
Establishes “us” as
voyeurs
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6. Narrative,
character,
theme and
motif
elements
established
here
Food as a motif Reference to a cheap hotel
Establishment of character dilemma and
perhaps making a case for our sympathy. lingerie
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7. Foreshadow
Reference to her mother.
Also establishes sister as a
factor
Character motivations
Marion- wants to get married
Sam- money problems
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8. Marion’s headache + thematic,
charater & motivational references
Famous cameo.
Reference to her
wedding
Reference to her
mother
Reference to
Marion’s sister
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9. Cassidy...motivations in the scene
“...oh, not you.”
Another
wedding
reference
“Happiness” in
its association
with money
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10. Marion’s dilemma...non-verbal
suggestion
Camera tells the
story
Lingerie
Self-reflection--
mirror
Her dichotomy
As the audience,
what is our
relationship with
her at this point?
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11. Mise-en-scène is a French
term and originates in the theater. It
means, literally, "put in the scene." For
film, it has a broader meaning, and
refers to almost everything that goes
into the composition of the shot,
including the composition itself:
framing, movement of the camera and
characters, lighting, set design and gen-
eral visual environment, even sound as
it helps elaborate the composition.
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12. 2:00- 8:49
What contributes to the Mise-en-scène in this clip?
Also what do we learn from character interaction
As an audience how do we feel about Marion...Norman as the result
of this scene
Discuss the parallels between Marion and Norman
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13. Shower Scene
90 + shot sequence
--Regarded as a defining cinematic moment--
Horrifically brings us, as audience members, into the
scene.
Maybe not what we saw, but what we thought we saw.
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14. Saul Bass's
storyboard
s for the
Psycho
shower
scene
Monday, April 5, 2010