Paramount refused Hitchcock's wish to film Robert Bloch's novel as they had already rejected the film rights and even claimed there was no space on the lot to film it.
But Hitchcock offered to film it at Universal using his ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS... television crew and taking 60% of the takings rather than his standard fee. Paramount, sure it would flop, agreed to just distribute it.
What Hitchcock delivered was a disquieting masterpiece but it was met with mixed reviews and the 'Observer' film critic resigned rather than review it!
But audiences made it a huge hit, forcing most critics to re-review it favourably.
Hitchcock's orchestrating the viewer's sympathies makes PSYCHO a masterclass in storytelling and the performances of Janet Leigh and Anthony Perkins remain timeless pleasures.
Shelf or charity shop? Mrs Bates has been moved to the DVD equivalent of the fruit-cellar - my plastic storage box - but PSYCHO will be revisited again and again; of course a special mention must be made of Bernard Herrmann's extraordinary score; not just the iconic 'stab' theme but his under-scoring that bonds the viewer to the character of Marion during her guilt-ridden car drive and, more importantly, the hesitant, suspense music played as 'helpless' Norman cleans up after Marion's murder, subliminally connecting the viewer to him.
