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114th out of 300 books
—
97 voters
Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho
Stephen Rebello's groundbreaking book offers the complete inside story on the making of Alfred Hitchcock's original Psycho, now seen as the forerunner of all modern horror thrillers. Rebello takes us behind the scenes for every step in the creation of this cinematic masterpiece-from the story's original inspiration to the controversy surrounding the creation of the famous...more
Paperback, 240 pages
Published
December 15th 1998
by St. Martin's Press
(first published 1990)
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Jun 16, 2011
Wendy Darling
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Hitchcock fans, film buffs
Shelves:
adult,
icky-subjects,
non-fiction,
read-2011,
ebook-egalley,
2011-favorites,
2011-publication
After three decades, Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho still stands out as a masterpiece of suspense. June 16 marks the anniversary of the movie's 1960 release and it's a good opportunity to dive into the impressive story behind the film. I don't always have the patience to sit down and read an entire exhaustive biography, so I really enjoyed reading this fairly short, focused piece on one particular project.
The Crime Behind the Film
Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho traces the origin of the sto...more
The Crime Behind the Film
Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho traces the origin of the sto...more
This is a good and very detailed "making of" book on Alfred Hitchcock's most notorious, if not necessarily his best, film Psycho. It's quite an interesting story on why Hitchcock made this film and covers pretty much all the areas of making the movie from the book it was based on to the marketing and its reception. But it's a snapshot from a much bigger life and if the reader would like something more substantial about the director I would recommend Hitch: The Life And Times And Alfred Hitchcock...more
From my blog: (\__/)nymfaux
...
I was absolutely super-psyched to find Stephen Rebello’s Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho.
I’ve watched Psycho before—Or, that is, I thought I’d watched it. But reading Rebello’s account was like watching the movie for the very first time.
...
I was absolutely drawn in from the very first page, from the horrifying real-life inspiration of the story, to the best-selling novel, throughout the amazing efforts that it took to make Psycho into Psycho, and the insta...more
...
I was absolutely super-psyched to find Stephen Rebello’s Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho.
I’ve watched Psycho before—Or, that is, I thought I’d watched it. But reading Rebello’s account was like watching the movie for the very first time.
...
I was absolutely drawn in from the very first page, from the horrifying real-life inspiration of the story, to the best-selling novel, throughout the amazing efforts that it took to make Psycho into Psycho, and the insta...more
So did you know that today - March 12th - is Alfred Hitchcock Day? I didn't! But in staying with tradition, I've decided to review a recently released e-book on Hitchcock and the making of the movie Psycho. (P.S. - If you haven't seen this movie yet, I think you've been living in a cave - go watch it now!!)
I found this book to be just as riveting, interesting, and unique as Psycho itself! From the very first chapter, where you learn how the story of Pyscho came out (did you know it was based on...more
I found this book to be just as riveting, interesting, and unique as Psycho itself! From the very first chapter, where you learn how the story of Pyscho came out (did you know it was based on...more
ALFRED HITCHCOCK and the making of PSYCHO is an extremely interesting account of the machinations behind the genius of the man who created the movie Psycho. The story is informative and tells us those "secret" tidbits of information that make these kinds of non-fiction stories successful. Stephen Rebello takes us on a walk behind the scenes and into the minds of the people responsible for the cult classic movie, "Psycho".
The making of Psycho takes the reader to the root of the "inspiration" of t...more
The making of Psycho takes the reader to the root of the "inspiration" of t...more
Ever since I first saw the movie, I've always been particularly taken with Hitchcock's Psycho. When I was younger I'd pour over the movie details, especially when I managed to get my hands on a book that gave a scene by scene guide of the movie. (It was all done picture by picture. I wish I could find a copy of that now!) The first time I watched it I still managed to be surprised by everything even when I knew the outcome. It was just that much of a testament to the genius & talent of Hitch...more
I read this book in order to prepare for the upcoming "true" movie with Scarlett Johannsen, Jessica Biels, and Anthony Hopkins, which details the film-maker's transition from romantic comedy suspense stories to darker, more serious matter. Psycho, to me, is a classic thriller, not a horror movie; the breakaway knife only makes contact with flesh once and without blood. This movie is a character study and mystery, but told in a much different manner. . . after the financial disappointment of Vert...more
This book was written about twenty years ago, so quite a lot of what is discussed is well-known to Hitchcock fans and afficionados. However, this is such a detailed and focused look at the background of the film, the piecing together of support and crews to make the film, the financial constraints on the film and why Hitchcock agreed to them, its marketing and enormous, unanticipated success that there is still much to learn from the story Rebello tells. Of particular interest to this reader is...more
I decided to go ahead and read Stephen Rebello's chronicle of the making of Alfred Hitchcock's game-changing movie "Psycho" before the new movie starring Anthony Hopkins comes out. So far it is very engaging and fascinating. I'm reading a first printing hardcover, originally published in 1990, and boy, the design really screams "1990s." That doesn't detract from the reading experience at all, fortunately.
I have been a fan of Alfred Hitchcock and his many movies for years, and among my favorites is 'Psycho'.
Filmed in 1959, with Janet Leigh & Anthony Perkins in what has to be one of the most iconic movies of any genre.
This was a movie ahead of its time as it concerned issues such as Motherlove, Transvestitism and a graphic murder. There was strict censorship laws at the time and it was debated whether Leigh would appear nude in the shower, and how much the viewer would see, as it transpired...more
Filmed in 1959, with Janet Leigh & Anthony Perkins in what has to be one of the most iconic movies of any genre.
This was a movie ahead of its time as it concerned issues such as Motherlove, Transvestitism and a graphic murder. There was strict censorship laws at the time and it was debated whether Leigh would appear nude in the shower, and how much the viewer would see, as it transpired...more
SO so so boring...I couldn't bring myself to finish it. I'm a fan of Psycho but not a HUGE fan but the bottom line was that I didn't like the author's writing style at all!
Read my review @ Shivers of Horror
Read my review @ Shivers of Horror
I love the book and the movie "Psycho." When I found out that the current movie "Hitchcock" was based on this book, I wanted to read it (especially given the fact that the movie concentrated on the relationship between Alfred and Alma while the making of the movie was shunted to the background).
This book was interesting, but it tended to be repetitive, with the same anecdotes cropping up again and again. The battles to get the film made were fascinating, especially given the censorship restricti...more
This book was interesting, but it tended to be repetitive, with the same anecdotes cropping up again and again. The battles to get the film made were fascinating, especially given the censorship restricti...more
This book, on which the recent film "Hitchcock" was based, is the reader's version of the extra features on the DVD. It chronicles in good (but fairly dry) detail of the pre-production, production, and influence of what many consider Alfred Hitchcock's best film. I have not seen the film, but there is enough interesting detail in this book that I'm sure the film is interesting. The descriptions of casting, writing, and filming "Psycho" made me wish I had thought to queue up the DVD so I could go...more
Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho by Stephen Rebello opens with Ed Gein. Taxidermy, furniture and clothing made of human flesh and bone, cannibalism and run down cluttered homes. If you see any of these motifs in film you owe them to one real life monster named Ed Gein. And Psycho was the first to draw creative inspiration from his crimes. Ed Gein, though, makes Norman Bates look like a pussycat.
From the true crime this reissued book about the making of Psycho goes through all the steps...more
From the true crime this reissued book about the making of Psycho goes through all the steps...more
Nice book on the development and making of PSYCHO and how Hitchcock approached this movie differently than others he had made to that time. No one at the studio believed in it, and he had to finance the production (~$800K) himself. Needless to say, he had the last laugh when it made it him a fortune. His goal was to try to make a 'high-quality' movie inexpensively. He wasn't sure it could be done, but wanted to try. It worked. The book provides background on how he selected the writer to adapt t...more
This book recounts the pressure and problems Hitchcock and crew encounter while making the film (Psycho). It all begins when Ed Gein, a serial killer who is brought to justice, it is all over the news and media. Then along comes Robert Bloch, author of Psycho, which I am yet to read. Bloch bases his characters on Ed Gein and his victims, not wanting to make it sound exactly like what really happened but after his book is published many things about the case are revealed and it turns out that a l...more
This book is a clear winner. The first non-fiction I've read. But, the efforts taken by the author to collect this humongous amount of information about the movie and present it by way of an interesting narrative has to be lauded.
Although the book deals with the making of just one of his movies, you get to understand Alfred Hitchcock like you've lived alongside him.
Until now, Psycho, for me, was just another critically acclaimed movie of its times, which is just an OK picture now. But, this book...more
Although the book deals with the making of just one of his movies, you get to understand Alfred Hitchcock like you've lived alongside him.
Until now, Psycho, for me, was just another critically acclaimed movie of its times, which is just an OK picture now. But, this book...more
About 25% through. Really great read so far - lots of detail on production company machinations, writing and designing, etc. Now they're about to start shooting. This book has been an excellent companion while I battle an apocalyptic bellyache.
And it's on sale now for less than $4 at the Kindle store - getting more than my money's worth :)
UPDATE: Finished! Great read for the holiday weekend. Just one final observation: Hitchcock was an extraordinarily funny man. I chuckled several times at quote...more
And it's on sale now for less than $4 at the Kindle store - getting more than my money's worth :)
UPDATE: Finished! Great read for the holiday weekend. Just one final observation: Hitchcock was an extraordinarily funny man. I chuckled several times at quote...more
Książka stała się podstawą scenariusza do filmu "Hitchcock" Z Anthony Hopkinsem i Hellen Mirren. Stanowi wgląd w życie prywatne i zawodowe reżysera, jego obsesję na punkcie kamery, walkę z cenzorami, wytwórnią filmową oraz problemami.
Co najbardziej do mnie przemówiło, to duch epoki, który daje się wyczuć, choć książka nie skupia się na nim. Ameryka lat pięćdziesiątych jawi się niczym ziemia obiecana, której fasada zaczyna się kruszyć. Sztywny gorset norm moralnych, wyniesiony jeszcze z lat trzyd...more
Co najbardziej do mnie przemówiło, to duch epoki, który daje się wyczuć, choć książka nie skupia się na nim. Ameryka lat pięćdziesiątych jawi się niczym ziemia obiecana, której fasada zaczyna się kruszyć. Sztywny gorset norm moralnych, wyniesiony jeszcze z lat trzyd...more
An interesting glance into the pre and post production, not to mention the
production itself, of that greatest of horror class acts - PSYCHO.
With so much detail to gloss over, and the writing style, it doesn't make
for an easy read, but if you're a PSYCHO fan, like myself, it was obligatory
to read it.
Having seen the film, and the significant part played by Helen Mirren as
Hitchcock's wife, it came as a rather rude surprise that Hitchcock's wife is
hardly mentioned at all in the book.
Strangely though...more
production itself, of that greatest of horror class acts - PSYCHO.
With so much detail to gloss over, and the writing style, it doesn't make
for an easy read, but if you're a PSYCHO fan, like myself, it was obligatory
to read it.
Having seen the film, and the significant part played by Helen Mirren as
Hitchcock's wife, it came as a rather rude surprise that Hitchcock's wife is
hardly mentioned at all in the book.
Strangely though...more
For people who read this on their Kindle:
The book itself ends at 75% done. The last quarter is bibliography, index, credits, biographies, etc.
(Just in case you're trying to decide how late to stay up reading, this will give you a better idea of how near you are to the end.)
Thoughts while reading:
Every once in a while I hit something that makes me wonder if the author actually READ Robert Bloch's story, which is somewhat disconcerting...
The screenwriter seems very, one might even say overly, ple...more
The book itself ends at 75% done. The last quarter is bibliography, index, credits, biographies, etc.
(Just in case you're trying to decide how late to stay up reading, this will give you a better idea of how near you are to the end.)
Thoughts while reading:
Every once in a while I hit something that makes me wonder if the author actually READ Robert Bloch's story, which is somewhat disconcerting...
The screenwriter seems very, one might even say overly, ple...more
A relatively brief yet exceedingly thorough analysis of the history, production, and impact of one of the great Hitchcocks-- and, a sort of case study of the director's mind and motives, as filtered through his experiences making this single film. The book is written in a journalistic style, heavy on quotations to back up its claims, and it covers everything from the real-life crimes that inspired Psycho to the critical reception, marketing campaign, and Oscar politicking of the movie. In betwee...more
Extremely interesting to anyone interested in the genesis of the first modern slasher/shocker film. What sets Psycho apart is the style and the lack of gore. Because you really see so little action and blood, the horror takes place in your mind, the most terrifying place b/c you cannot escape any more than Marion can escape. This book shows how Hitchcock ingeniously achieved that effect.
Making Psycho was a milestone for Hitchcock, but unfortunately, that deal led to a soul crushing contract with...more
Making Psycho was a milestone for Hitchcock, but unfortunately, that deal led to a soul crushing contract with...more
I probably liked this more than most would, since I studied Hitchcock in college. But it wasn't as insightful as I would have liked and perhaps ironically, it could have used some serious editing.
But seeing glimpses of personalities was interesting, like the screenwriter who thought the movie would have been better if his dialogue were used verbatim. And the title guy who thinks the shower scene was all him. Hitchcock himself of course was interesting, in terms of knowing exactly how everything...more
But seeing glimpses of personalities was interesting, like the screenwriter who thought the movie would have been better if his dialogue were used verbatim. And the title guy who thinks the shower scene was all him. Hitchcock himself of course was interesting, in terms of knowing exactly how everything...more
I am a big fan of Alfred Hitchcock and the film "Psycho." I have read a lot about the making of the film and as such, I went into this book not knowing whether I would learn anything new about the film. Honestly, I was aware of much of what was discussed in this book, but what made this book such a great reading experience for me was the fact that it brought together all the different aspects that went into the making of the film together in one place in a way that allows one to truly appreciate...more
Another re-read from my childhood. If you have even a slight interest in Psycho, you need to check this out. This is an incredibly in depth but fast moving look at the making of a movie that changed the face of cinema. Rebello takes you through the whole experience from the optioning of the book to the filming of the movie to the secrecy surrounding the twist (spoiler alert!). There are few other works that really take you inside the mind of a true genius. I only wish Rebello would write about R...more
May 17, 2013
Aussiescribbler Aussiescribbler
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
movie-books
This book, originally published in 1990, was the credited inspiration for Sacha Gervasi's film Hitchcock. Reading it confirmed my original suspicion that that film was almost entirely a work of fiction. The film centres around Hitchcock's relationship with his wife Alma Reville. Whitfield Cook, the screenwriter who did the original adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's Strangers on a Train for Hitchcock, is also a major character. Alma is only referred to a handful of times in the book, and Cook is...more
May 01, 2013
Ollie
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Horror buffs and storytellers
Recommended to Ollie by:
my bookclub
On one level, this book is about the making of "Psycho" - from the story based on Ed Gein's killings that germinated the novel of the same name to the massive cultural phenomenon it became upon release, almost turning into a success Hitchcock could never escape from. On another level, this book was to me a great example of how storytelling should work; how to craft a narrative, how to create characters, setting, plot and suspense - all through observing how Hitchcock handled his material.
Film bu...more
Film bu...more
Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho by Stephen Rebello
Open Road
99 pages
Non-fiction; Hollywood
4/5 stars
Source: Received a free e-copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Read: Today is Alfred Hitchcock Day and I recently rewatched Psycho so I thought this would be a good way to celebrate.
This book is a good summation of the path Psycho took to becoming film. First a real-life crime inspired novelist Robert Bloch to write the novel that Hitchcock would end up optioning in order to...more
Open Road
99 pages
Non-fiction; Hollywood
4/5 stars
Source: Received a free e-copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Read: Today is Alfred Hitchcock Day and I recently rewatched Psycho so I thought this would be a good way to celebrate.
This book is a good summation of the path Psycho took to becoming film. First a real-life crime inspired novelist Robert Bloch to write the novel that Hitchcock would end up optioning in order to...more
This is a well-written, thoroughly researched, unpretentious and interesting book - although it may be of more interest to serious film buffs than the casual reader. I can't say I'm particularly interested in seeing the film though, as I suspect that a good deal of liberty must have been taken in order to turn it into a workable drama. And Anthony Hopkins looks more like an overweight Frank Bough than Hitchcock to me...
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
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| Careful how you review this one, might get flamed! | 3 | 10 | Feb 02, 2013 09:03pm |
Stephen Rebello is a screenwriter, journalist, and the author of such books as Reel Art: Great Posters from the Golden Age of the Silver Screen, which was honored by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1999. Based in Los Angeles, he has contributed feature stories to such magazines as Cosmopolitan, GQ, More, and The Advocate, and currently serves as a Playboy contributing editor. St...more
More about Stephen Rebello...
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updated Feb 02, 2013 09:19pm