Psycho: Historical and Institutional Influences

Historical and Institutional Influence

Unlike Walt Disney, Alfred Hitchcock was considered “as a creator of narratives” (459) rather than a figure of popular culture. Hitchcock came into the world of film through design, not writing. He attended a technical college, where “he learned the methodical perfectionism that is the hallmark of all his work” (461). Shortly after, Hitchcock created his first film, The Lodger, where Hitchcock’s “fascination with heightened emotional states, the imaginative coordination of set design and camerawork, and an almost musical rhythm to the sequence of shots mark Hitchcock as the last of the great German Expressionists” (461) came through. In Psycho, the dinner scene in the beginning of the movie with Marion and Norman highlight Hitchcock’s perfectionist methods, learned from his technical background, such as the attention to the stuffed birds in the background. Despite the reputation this film has earned, in the time period, no production company wanted to produce it due to its “psychotic” themes. After going to many big studios and proposing his ideas for his film, Hitchcock was given a chance by Paramount Studios. However, this deal was only for the screening and distribution of the film and not the actual making or production of the film. Film society was against the inception of the film. Even the government was against the idea of Psycho.The government wanted to filter anything that might cause controversy including nudity, sexual appeal, violence, bloodshed, or incorrect ideologies portrayed within the film. Nevertheless, Psycho left its mark on the future for filmmaking. Slasher films such as Scream or Halloween series all have elements from this era of film and the techniques used then are still used in films that we know very well today.