Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho" - Assignment

#1) This section of screenplay is almost identical to the finished movie. This demonstrates that Hitchcock had a very clear vision of what he wanted even before they started filming. It shows how much detail and planning went into every minute of the movie. The choice of music adds the the suspense of the scene. It reinforces the fact that something bad is about to happen. If Hitchcock had kept the camera stationary while filming the suspense would have been lost. If someone who had never seen any other part of that movie watched that clip they would know that Lila sneaking off to meet some sort of impending danger. Change the camera work and they might just see a girl walking up to a house.

LONG SHOT- NIGHT
The Bates house standing against the night sky.

CLOSE UP
Shadowy profile of Arbogast against side of motel.

LONG SHOT
Arbogast begins to climb stairs of Bates house, slows when reaches top.

LONG SHOT
Arbogast reaches creeps up to porch, glances back, then opens front door.

CLOSE UP
Filmed from inside of house, Arbogast enters through front door then stops.

LONG SHOT
View of the vacant Bates front hallway/staircase.

CLOSE UP
Arbogast closes front door, walks past camera.

#2) Shower Scene

1. From underneath shower head
2. Underneath shower head looking up at running water
3. Underneath shower head
4. From the nearest side of the shower (where shower curtain would be)
5. From war wall opposite shower curtain
6. From middle of tub
7. Back to same side as shower curtain
8. From the shower drain looking up (under shower head)
9. Back to same side as shower curtain
10. From far wall opposite shower curtain
11. Birds eye view from wall opposite shower head looking down on shower
12. Middle of shower
13. Shower curtain side looking down at Marion's feet
14. From shower looking into open door leading to Marion's room
15. Inside shower closely facing far wall
16. Shower curtain side
17. Birdseye view from shower head side
18. Inside shower looking up at shower curtain
19. From floor opposite toilet
20. Inside shower looking up at shower head

The camera crew would have first had to deal with fitting an entire film crew into such a tine space. The would have had to build the set with moving pieces so they could fit the camera in and get shots from different angles of the shower while still leaving enough room for the actors. While filming at those different angles they would have had to make sure they didn't get any shots of Marion in the nude. They also would have had to worry about the camera equipment getting wet and damaged. 

#3) First off the music helps to build the suspense leading up to the stabbing. As the pitch gets higher and speeds up the suspense intensifies. The high pitched shrieking sounds also correspond with the short choppy stabbing motion and help understand what is being implied since Hitchcock couldn't actually show it. 

#4) Character Emotions

1. Money on the bed

-feel guilty

2. Marion sees her boss

-feel guilty

-feel worried

3. Marion's view of police man

-feel uncomfortable

-feel like our actions are being scrutinized

4. Norman's peephole view

-fell the scandal of Norman watching Marion in private

-notice her beauty

5. Norman's view of newspaper

-feel the continued guilt because the audience know's what is hidden in that paper

6. Norman's view of car failing to sink

-wonder for a moment what Norman will do if car won't sink

-will this lead him to be caught for his actions?

-watch all the evidence of the crime slip away

7. Lila's view of Mrs Bates' bed

-assume its Mrs Bates' bed

-audience wonders if this is a proof that Mrs Bates is real

8. Lila's view of Mrs Bates

-creepy setting

-wonder why she's not moving

-could this be the real Mrs Bates?