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Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho
The Film Classics Library present the most accurate and complete reconstruction of a film in book over 1,300 frame blow-up photos shown sequentially and coupled with the complete dialogue from the original soundtrack, allow you to recapture this film classic in its entirety - at your leisure.
- GenresFilm
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1974
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29 people want to read
About the author
Alfred Hitchcock
1,145 books774 followersSir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock KBE (1899-1980) was an iconic and highly influential film director and producer, who pioneered many techniques in the suspense and thriller genres.
Following a very substantial career in his native Britain in both silent films and talkies, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood and became an American citizen with dual nationality in 1956, thus he also remained a British subject.
Hitchcock directed more than fifty feature films in a career which spanned six decades, from the silent film era, through the invention of sound films, and far into the era of colour films. For a complete list of his films, see Alfred Hitchcock filmography.
Hitchcock was among the most consistently recognizable directors to the general public, and was one of the most successful film directors during his lifetime. He continues to be one of the best known and most popular filmmakers of all time.
Following a very substantial career in his native Britain in both silent films and talkies, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood and became an American citizen with dual nationality in 1956, thus he also remained a British subject.
Hitchcock directed more than fifty feature films in a career which spanned six decades, from the silent film era, through the invention of sound films, and far into the era of colour films. For a complete list of his films, see Alfred Hitchcock filmography.
Hitchcock was among the most consistently recognizable directors to the general public, and was one of the most successful film directors during his lifetime. He continues to be one of the best known and most popular filmmakers of all time.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 5, 2021
Over 1300 frame blow-ups. Every scene. Every word of dialogue. (You can add in your own screams!)
Spread over 256 large-sized pages, Alfred Hitchcock's great classic comes to life via this frame by frame, word by word compilation.
This was one of a series of complete reconstructions of individual films in book form, edited by film historian Richard J. Anobile for The Film Classics Library, published in the mid 1970's.
This is probably the best in the series mainly because the frame blow-ups have been reproduced in pristine condition and all the memorable scenes are so easy to follow. No one could frame or story-book a movie like Hitchcock!
The only thing missing is Bernard Herrmann's immortal music score. Suggest you pop in your record player, the complete soundtrack for a total appreciation of the film while reading this book.
And best to read AFTER you've had your shower!
Spread over 256 large-sized pages, Alfred Hitchcock's great classic comes to life via this frame by frame, word by word compilation.
This was one of a series of complete reconstructions of individual films in book form, edited by film historian Richard J. Anobile for The Film Classics Library, published in the mid 1970's.
This is probably the best in the series mainly because the frame blow-ups have been reproduced in pristine condition and all the memorable scenes are so easy to follow. No one could frame or story-book a movie like Hitchcock!
The only thing missing is Bernard Herrmann's immortal music score. Suggest you pop in your record player, the complete soundtrack for a total appreciation of the film while reading this book.
And best to read AFTER you've had your shower!
Read
April 29, 2024Bon chu traumat
July 25, 2024
What a treat!
One of the greatest films ever made, laid out in still, with accompanying dialogue.
The ability to marvel at the editing, really take in some of the shots and angles is a joy, but what really shines through is the paucity of dialogue. Hitchcock always stated that silent cinema is the purest form, and this is, essentially, a silent.
Magic.
One of the greatest films ever made, laid out in still, with accompanying dialogue.
The ability to marvel at the editing, really take in some of the shots and angles is a joy, but what really shines through is the paucity of dialogue. Hitchcock always stated that silent cinema is the purest form, and this is, essentially, a silent.
Magic.
April 14, 2025
Perhaps one of the more difficult films to be presented in Richard J. Anobile's series of film classics recreated in book form.
The author as in all this series of film books has done a terrific job in presenting the Alfred Hitchcock masterpiece via 1300 frame blow-ups featuring every scene and every word of dialogue. All reproduced in flawless fashion.
"Psycho" when released in 1960 was a momentous event. Despite being made on the cheap with Hitchcock using his Universal TV crew, the Master turned what many would consider B-movie material into an instant masterpiece. With Hitch's ballyhoo at a premium, the film was also an instant box office hit. Worth looking at the promotional advertising and Hitch's ingenious trailers to get an idea how brilliant he was at capturing an audience, both in front of and behind the camera.
Film also earned four Academy Award nominations: Best Direction, Supporting Actress (Janet Leigh), black and white Cinematography (John L. Russell) and Art Direction.
Also received Writers Guild nomination for Best Written Drama (Joseph Stefano, based on Robert Bloch's novel) and a Directors Guild nomination for Hitchcock. Plus a Golden Globe win for Janet Leigh as Best Supporting Actress.
"A close look at PSYCHO reveals many of Hitchcock's secrets of film suspense. Storywise, the film is simple. But Hitchcock gives his audience a grand runaround and systematically catches the viewer off guard."
"The shower scene is a classic. Over seventy camera setups of varying lengths come together to give cinema history one of its most harrowing sequences. Hitchcock was tampering with a personal, yet very common activity of everyday life. With forty-five seconds of grueling terror, he mesmerized viewers and imbued them with an immediate awareness of their own daily vulnerability during such an innocent habit."
I imagine just about everyone reading this review has seen the original film. But although there have been umpteen copies and a remake, and a long list of many scarier suspense films, nothing comes close to the mastery of Hitch and the artistry of "Psycho."
Why read this book? For me, just a wonderful way to relive every moment of this classic movie in the relaxed format of flicking through the pages of this lovingly presented book. No doubt most film fans has seen the film multiple times and devoted admirers own the DVD or Blu-Ray but somehow having this book seems like a personal piece of Hitchcock memorabilia.
The only thing missing from this experience is Bernard Herrmann's brilliant music score - in my opinion one of the greatest in cinema history - but fear not. There are numerous versions available of the complete score, so my suggestion is to double the pleasure by listening to this unique music as you read along. "Psycho" is only half the film without Herrmann's unique score.
Review based on original hardcover edition, 1974. (Darien House/Universe Books, New York.) 256 pages.
The author as in all this series of film books has done a terrific job in presenting the Alfred Hitchcock masterpiece via 1300 frame blow-ups featuring every scene and every word of dialogue. All reproduced in flawless fashion.
"Psycho" when released in 1960 was a momentous event. Despite being made on the cheap with Hitchcock using his Universal TV crew, the Master turned what many would consider B-movie material into an instant masterpiece. With Hitch's ballyhoo at a premium, the film was also an instant box office hit. Worth looking at the promotional advertising and Hitch's ingenious trailers to get an idea how brilliant he was at capturing an audience, both in front of and behind the camera.
Film also earned four Academy Award nominations: Best Direction, Supporting Actress (Janet Leigh), black and white Cinematography (John L. Russell) and Art Direction.
Also received Writers Guild nomination for Best Written Drama (Joseph Stefano, based on Robert Bloch's novel) and a Directors Guild nomination for Hitchcock. Plus a Golden Globe win for Janet Leigh as Best Supporting Actress.
"A close look at PSYCHO reveals many of Hitchcock's secrets of film suspense. Storywise, the film is simple. But Hitchcock gives his audience a grand runaround and systematically catches the viewer off guard."
"The shower scene is a classic. Over seventy camera setups of varying lengths come together to give cinema history one of its most harrowing sequences. Hitchcock was tampering with a personal, yet very common activity of everyday life. With forty-five seconds of grueling terror, he mesmerized viewers and imbued them with an immediate awareness of their own daily vulnerability during such an innocent habit."
I imagine just about everyone reading this review has seen the original film. But although there have been umpteen copies and a remake, and a long list of many scarier suspense films, nothing comes close to the mastery of Hitch and the artistry of "Psycho."
Why read this book? For me, just a wonderful way to relive every moment of this classic movie in the relaxed format of flicking through the pages of this lovingly presented book. No doubt most film fans has seen the film multiple times and devoted admirers own the DVD or Blu-Ray but somehow having this book seems like a personal piece of Hitchcock memorabilia.
The only thing missing from this experience is Bernard Herrmann's brilliant music score - in my opinion one of the greatest in cinema history - but fear not. There are numerous versions available of the complete score, so my suggestion is to double the pleasure by listening to this unique music as you read along. "Psycho" is only half the film without Herrmann's unique score.
Review based on original hardcover edition, 1974. (Darien House/Universe Books, New York.) 256 pages.
July 8, 2018
This is not the book I had which I think was the screenplay/story accompanied by stills from the movie. I think... I was mostly interested in shots of Janet Leigh in her underwear. A truly great but utterly idiosynchratic film. Date read is a guess.
January 15, 2013
This book and others like it, mostly edited by Richard J. Anobile, were all we had before home video.
February 18, 2024
The whole series provided a way to study a classic frame by frame before computers.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews