I've written about this to some extent before--I've definitely posted a scary gallery of film stills during Oscar season here. Based on the book Psycho by Robert Bloch, it was adapted for the screen by Joseph Stefano. It is well known that the book is loosely based on the eccentric killer Ed Gein, who was primarily a ghoulish grave robber. This being 1960, the film was shocking and controversial enough, without putting "grave goods" around, besides it would seriously detract from the moment when we "meet" mother! Instead, Norman Bates is made into an amateur taxidermist, with stuffed animals, well birds, lots creepy looking birds all around his office. It works as an effect well, especially with the black and white film stock! I mean it would take another 14 years before anyone would attempt to show objects like the ones found in Gein's home on film...in Tobe Hooper's Texas Chainsaw Massacre. The film famously stars Janet Leigh (at least until that infamous shower scene), Vera Miles as her concerned sister, John Gavin as the boyfriend and. of course, Anthony Perkins as Norman. The above trailer, is on set promo with Hitch on the set (in the same black and white stock) giving a show around. I will see if I can find some shots from the studio lot of the set.
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