BLOG Entry #2: What I See

In Alfred Hitchcock’s film Psycho(1960) the technical choices have an impact on the film. In the opening scene there is an establishing shot of a tall building in an extreme wide shot as the camera slowly pans into a window of a couple undressed. The idea is important in the film because it presents an intrusion on personal space of character which Alfred Hitchcock captures. We as the viewer enter into their private space with the use of the camera movements such as the opening scene.

In another scene later in the film Norton Bates a motel manager in his parlor removes a picture from the wall that reveals a peep hole. He then proceeds to look through the peephole at Marion Crane as she undresses. The sense of voyeurism is present in several of these shots. The first shot shows Norman Bates in a close up with a low key lighting as the light shines through the peephole onto his face. The second shot showing Marion Crane in a medium long shot undressing. Then the third shot showing an extreme close up of Norman Bates eye from his point of view again looking though the peephole. There is use of a telephoto lens for the shot of his eye as he looks though the peep hole.

The film also presents fear of authority such as in the scene when Marion Crane is awaken by a police officer as she lies in her car sleep on the side of the road. In the first shot there is a long shot of hills and her car as the police car drives into the frame of the shot. The second shot shows the police officers getting out of his car as he proceeds to her car in a long shot. In the next shot there is a close up he looks into the car window. Then a quick shot of Marion Crane lying down in the car in a medium close up into a close up of her rising up startled. The scene continues with several close up shots of both her and the police officer. The director Alfred Hitchcock was able to revel within several shots in the scene that explores fear of authority figure. In addition, it shares that same fear with the viewer as Marion Crane is filled with guilt and concern.

One of the most interesting aspects of the film is the shower scene as Marion Crane is stabbed to death in the shower. The film halfway throughout has established Marion Crane as the protagonist, but she ends up dead. Her death moves the plot of the film along. Hitchcock was able to grab the audience and identify with Marion Crane for the first half of the film. The shower scene has several close up's and extreme close up's of Marion Crane screaming as Norman Bates stabs her to death.