- It's lucky it didn't reach the house. - Yeah.
You know,
there's gonna be a lot more jobs at that factory in Milwaukee come June.
- I could put in a word. - You can't leave us, Henry.
She needs us both.
Can you stop being a momma's boy for one second?
I'm not trying to hurt you, but Jesus,
you got to live your own life sometime.
That woman can take care of her own goddamn...
Oh, good evening.
Brother has been killing brother since Cain and Abel,
yet even I didn't see that coming.
I was as blind-sided as poor old Henry down there.
Apparently the authorities shared my naivet?
In other words, they believed the young man's story
that Henry fell, hit his head on a stone,
and died of smoke asphyxiation.
On the other hand, if they hadn't believed him,
Ed Gein would never have had the opportunity to commit those
heinous crimes for which he became most famous.
And we, of course, well... We wouldn't have our little movie, would we?
Sync, corrected by icephoenix
Here he comes!
This thing's going to be gigantic.
I wish I had 20% of the take.
Does tonight's incredible reaction surprise you, Mr. Hitchcock?
No, when I was planning North by Northwest
I could already hear the screams and the laughter.
Any questions, my dear? Pity.
Mr. Hitchcock, you've directed 46 motion pictures.
You're the most famous director in the history of the medium...
But you're sixty years old.
Shouldn't you just quit while you're ahead?
Muhammad had the eyes of peeping Toms gouged out with arrows.
That must have been rather painful.
Talking of arrows,
did you read that little snippet from A.H. Weiler's review in The New York Times?
He said he found the climax to be "overdrawn."
Yes, well I doubt Mr. Weiler has had a climax in years.
"North by Northwest reminds us of Mr. Hitchcock's
earlier, more inventive spy thrillers."
And there is an accompanying list.
The "New Masters of Suspense."
Why do they keep looking for new ones when they still have the original?
Oh, don't be maudlin, you know how much it aggravates me.
Just stop reading them.
You've been reading them for a week.
Tell me, my dear,
do you think I'm too old?
Yes, you're a true relic.
And lest we forget, a notably corpulent one.
You always know precisely where to plunge the dagger, don't you?
Right between the shoulder blades. I learned it from your pictures.
Where, may I ask, are you off to?
I'm going to have brunch with Whit
after I drop you off at the studio. Would you care to join us?
We've just established that I'm far too corpulent
to be seen in broad daylight.
Oh, you'll feel better when you find a new project.
Hasn't Peggy unearthed any decent books for you recently?
Yes, sleeping pills with dust jackets.
So what do you think?
Very presentable.
Hurry up, dear, you're pruning.
- Good Morning. - Ms. Hitchcock.
Mr. Hitchcock.
Sirs.
There's a project out there waiting for you, Hitch. I promise you.
- I hope so. Thank you, love. - Have a good day.
I'm treading water, Peggy. I need something fresh, something different.
Without expensive stars to pretty it up.
Fox is offering you The Diary of Anne Frank for the third time.
The audience would spend the entire picture waiting for Miss Frank
to discover the corpse I'd hidden in the attic.
- Wouldn't you agree, Nuncio? - Si.
MGM wants you for the Ian Fleming book, Casino Royale.
Cary Grant. Definitely your style.
Doesn't she know I just made that movie? It's called North by Northwest.
"Style," my dear, is mere self-plagiarism.
Oh, scusi!
A nice, clean, nasty little piece of work. That's what I'm looking for.
I shall see what I can find.
- Serves you right. - Yeah.
You know, Hitch always says that your private life
is in danger of being more entertaining than any of your plots.
I'm surprised he let me have you for the whole afternoon.
Especially looking so beautiful.
So tell me, what are you working on these days?
Me? Oh, oh...
I'm satisfied working in my garden.
Oh! Well that's one lucky garden.
All this relentless sycophancy is actually giving me indigestion.
What are you after?
I was hoping you may be able to apply your considerable pruning skills to this.
Ah, all is finally revealed.
Whit, you are a little predictable.
The most fun I ever had was working with you.
Anything come up, my dear? Anything at all?
Nothing suitable.
Is that water or do I need to call Alma?
Do whatever you want.
Anthony Boucher says that this book Psycho by Robert Bloch is
"fiendishly entertaining."
It sounds ghastly. Everyone in town's already passed.
And who is everyone, pray?
The story department finished the coverage this morning.
This about Ed Gein, the mass murderer from Wisconsin?
Oh, yeah.
"Graphic elements of brutal violence, voyeurism, transvestitism and incest."
Very nice. Not your average run-of-the-mill nutcase, is he?
You're kidding.
Peggy, this is the boy who dug up his own mother.
- Hungry? - Famished.
You can have half a grapefruit later if you're good.
Listen, Hitch.
Whit gave me the galleys to his new book yesterday at lunch.
I've already got some ideas about how we can adapt it.
It's elegant. It's sophisticated. It's full of intrigue.
You mean the book or Mr. Whitfield Cook?
This could be the one, Hitch.
I'll read it later.
There are calories in that, you know.
Ma?
Ma...
Aren't you cold?
No need to be afraid, Ma.
Oh, God!
I just want you to read this little bit here.
It takes place in the motel bathroom.
"Mary started to scream,
"and then the curtains parted further
"and a hand appeared, holding a butcher's knife.
"It was the knife that, a moment later,
cut off her scream, and her head."
Charming. Doris Day should do it as a musical.
That is nothing but low-budget horror movie claptrap.
But what if someone really good made a horror picture?
Just think of the shock value.
Killing off your leading lady halfway through.
I mean, you are intrigued, are you not, my dear?
Come on, admit it.
Admit it.
Actually, I think it's a huge mistake.
You shouldn't wait till halfway through. Kill her off after thirty minutes.
Well!
Peggy, I want you to summon your minions.
- Minions? - Right away.
Certainly. And who might they be?
Get them started buying copies of Psycho.
- How many do you need? - All of them. Every copy, nationwide.
Scour every bookshop, every library. And I mean everywhere.
Psycho is going to be my next movie,
and I don't want anyone to know the ending until they see it in the theater.
Look at that.
Are you sure about this? This is so unlike you.
That is exactly the point, my dear.
Ladies and gentlemen of the press,
good afternoon.
I see you've all been devouring the article on Mr. Ed Gein.
Violent chap,
and the real-life inspiration behind Psycho.
All of us harbor dark recesses of violence,
and horror.
Fascinating, isn't it?
When the Wisconsin Police Department raided Mr. Gein's farm,
they opened the door... And voila!
They discovered ten female heads with the tops sawn off.
Pass these around, would you? And have a look.
Masks of human skin.
A pair of lips on a drawstring for a window shade.
Oh, yes, and a jug containing human noses.
Is this really going to be your next picture, Mr. Hitchcock?
Well, that is my intention, yes, madam.
My only wish is that Ed Gein looked a little
more like William Holden instead of Elmer Fudd.
By the way, try the finger sandwiches. They're real fingers.
Bloody hell!
Now don't pretend you're not upset he hasn't read it.
I'm not. I'm a big boy, I can take it.
Well, I loved it.
It must be great fun to research.
Do you really think he will read it?
Ah, speak of the devil.
Hitch, I ran all over town trying to find a copy of Psycho
but I simply cannot find one.
- I wonder how that could have happened. - Yeah.
Don't stop looking on my behalf.
Hitch, you should come.
I've seen happier faces on a school bus going over a cliff.
But they can't stop looking, can they?
Audiences want to be shocked, Barney.
They want something different.
And this is it.
Every time you want to do something different
like The Wrong Man or Vertigo, someone loses money.
So we should stop trying to give them something new?
You owe Paramount one last picture, Hitch.
Can't you do something like North by Northwest
but for us this time instead of for MGM?
Psycho.
No one respects the name Hitchcock like Paramount.
Are you telling me "no," Barney?
I think you know me better than that, Hitch.
What a putz.
You know what his family did before they built those movie palaces?
Ran a grocery store.
My father ran a grocery store.
Exactly. That's what I'm saying. He should show some respect.
They think I've lost my touch, Lew.
My association with television has cheapened me.
Are you referring to that deal I got you
where Bristol-Meyers pays you 29 grand an episode and you own the negative?
That's my kind of cheap.
They just want the same thing over and over and over.
They've put me in a coffin and now they're nailing down the lid.
Hitch, as your agent, I will never let that happen.
How much you think you can make this picture for?
$800,000, give or take.
You're home early.
Oh, it's lovely actually.
You know, I'm disappointed you didn't give Whit's book a chance.
And what about Whit? Is he disappointed?
Oh, no. He knows you well enough.
Look at that! Time for a new one anyway.
Well you'd better enjoy the pool, my dear, while you can.
We might not have it much longer.
Why?
Paramount refuses to finance the movie.
Oh, Hitch, I'm so sorry.
Lew can't find the money. At least, not fast enough.
Well why not wait?
No.
Just going to have to go it alone, old girl.
Finance it ourselves.
Are we going to have to sell the whole house or just the pool?
I just want to do the film.
I will ask you this once and I'll never mention it again.
Why this one, Hitch?
It's not just because so many people are saying "no," is it?
Do you remember the fun we had when we started out all those years ago?
We didn't have any money then, did we?
We didn't have any time, either, but we took risks, do you remember?
We experimented. We invented new ways of making pictures
because we had to.
I want to feel that kind of freedom again.
Like we used to, you know?
We are about to propose a restructured deal for Psycho.
I'm listening.
We finance it independently.
Hitch waives his directorial fee. Paramount only distributes it,
in exchange for 40% of the profits.
Interesting. But what exactly is Paramount distributing?
Is this still a picture about a queer killing people in his mother's dress?
What this picture is about is the reputation of Alfred Hitchcock.
- No one is arguing that. - Barney,
it's very simple.
This is Mr. Hitchcock's next film.
Are you in or are you out?
Fine. We'll take that deal.
If you can get the money.
We already have the money, Barney.
Who do I make it out to?
If this picture fails, Alma,
we'll be in for a long, humiliating bout of crow-eating.
- It'll be splendid. - Are you sure?
Of the movie? Not at all.
But of you? Unquestionably.
Ahem.
- Joe Stefano. Good to meet you. - Sit down.
I'm sorry I was late.
My shrink session went overtime.
I see him every day and it's still not enough.
I thought it was only director's assistants who needed psychiatrists,
not writers.
Do you see a shrink, Mr. Hitchcock?
I have to confess, Mr. Stefano,
It boggles my brain just trying to imagine
what you and your shrink could possibly talk about every day.
The usual: Sex. Rage. My mother.
Good morning, sir.
Let me have a look at you.
The only thing worse than a visit to the dentist is a visit to censor.
Whatever you do, Hitch, don't lose your temper.
- See you later. - Good luck.
The Code will absolutely not permit you
to show a knife penetrating a woman's flesh.
I assure you, Geoffrey,
my murders are always models of taste and discretion.
Is there any improper suggestion of nudity in this
murder scene in the shower?
She won't be nude. She'll be wearing a shower cap.
We might accept a shot from outside the bathroom window
of Marion in silhouette above the shoulders.
Provided that the glass is frosted.
Thank you.
And the scene with the toilet.
It is completely necessary to show the toilet,
because Marion Crane attempts to flush evidence down it.
Remnants of which are later discovered by her sister.
These remnants, you understand, are clues to her vanishing.
No American movie has ever found it necessary to show a toilet,
let alone to flush one.
Perhaps we ought to shoot the film in France
and use a bidet instead.
Mr. Hitchcock, if this office denies you a seal,
and we're certainly heading in that direction,
your movie will not be released in a single theater in this country.
Will you be making jokes then?
Everyone in Hollywood resents me.
I make them millions of dollars,
and every year I sit at those dreadful award show dinners,
waiting for someone just to say, "You're good."
They take sadistic pleasure in denying me that one little moment.
That must hurt.
Deeply, Ed. Deeply.
Sorry, doctor. I'm just not used to this...
process.
Just think of me more like a friend.
It's just that more and more I've been having these...
impulses.
What kind of impulses?
Strong ones.
Here.
The Lazar Office tell me he's crazy to work with you.
Tell Swifty Lazar he should not have overexposed his client on television.
Unlike some we could mention.
- Anthony Perkins. - Oh...
Think of the duality he could bring to the role of Norman.
The rage lurking behind that little boy grin.
The winsome charm he uses to keep from being found out.
Why, Alma, you're not suggesting Mr. Perkins is...?
Hm.
What?
I like your office.
I can't count how many times I've seen Strangers on a Train.
And Rope.
Well, Norman Bates is the logical extension
of those two characters in that movie.
Appealing, sensitive, suffering the terrible burden
of being forced to pretend to be something he is not.
I'm sick of all this romantic crap the studios keep shoving me into.
But my only worry is,
well, playing Norman might cut too close to home.
How so?
When I was younger, I was incredibly close to my mother.
So close that I remember wishing my father would drop dead.
And then when I was five, he did just that.
He keeled over from a heart attack.
You see I've been guilty my whole life, Mr. Hitchcock.
You know, I'm getting blisters just watching you.
Oh, stop complaining.
A bit of fresh air and exercise will do you good.
I'm going to have a drink.
No you're not. You're going to finish that hedge.
You've got to go all the way around there, all
the way around there, all the way around there.
- It's impossible. I can't do that. - Yes you can.
You know, I was thinking, if I could get Grace Kelly to play the girl,
they'd let me get away with murder.
Well you can't. She's a princess now, which makes her permanently unattainable.
And all the more desirable.
What about Deborah Kerr? Lew mentioned her.
No, she's too Scottish.
What about Janet Leigh?
I know she's normally the "good girl," but she was awfully good in Touch of Evil.
You remember how you always used to remark on her figure at the Wassermans' parties?
Yeah.
- Good evening. - Hello.
- Lovely to see you. - Charmed.
- Hi. - Hello, Janet. How are you?
Wonderful to see you.
- Well, my dear, you look very beautiful. - Thank you.
Very beautiful.
Of course the real secret of Mrs. Simpson's
appeal to the Duke of Windsor
was that she could make a toothpick feel like a cigar.
Oh, I've been so immersed in preparing to play Marion
I'd almost forgotten how to laugh.
- Oh, really? - Yes.
Now, now, you must try the banana shortcake.
Oh, no. Nothing for me, thank you. I'm watching my figure.
Yes, you're not the only one. We're fine, thank you.
George, bring her the banana shortcake.
In fact, make that two large portions. Thank you.
Now tell me, my dear, how else have you prepared for the part of Marion Crane?
Well, I've written an entire history for her,
which seems a little silly, I know, but it really does help.
- It doesn't sound silly at all. - No?
Why don't you tell us one of her deepest secrets?
Well, she leads a double life.
At the Lowery Office, she wears Tweed perfume.
But when she's with Sam,
she recklessly breaks out her most expensive bottle.
"My Sin" by Lanvin.
- "My Sin"? - Yes.
Good Lord!
I do have a concern or two.
I'm an actress, of course, but I'm first a wife and a mother.
And I'm just curious to know...
How are you going to shoot this shower scene?
Yes, you and the Shurlock Office.
It's only that, well, from here up, I'm not exactly boyish.
Allow me to set your mind at rest, my dear.
I will be shooting short bits of film from various angles.
Cut together, the montage will only suggest nudity.
Suggest violence.
Nothing will actually be shown.
But of course, having you in the shower
would make it all the more, well, titillating.
Will you excuse me?
Alma, dear, how lovely to see you.
Oh, hello, Lillian.
You're looking a little pale.
No wonder with that thing your husband's working on now.
You can't possibly approve.
Why are you letting him do something so tasteless?
Don't upset yourself, darling. It's only a bloody movie.
I can't believe you made Vera Miles play the sister.
Well, I've still got her under contract. May as well get something out of her.
Rather a thankless role, don't you think?
For an utterly thankless girl.
Horrible.
The old man really is unhappy with me, isn't he?
Wait till you see the undergarments he has picked out for you.
Okay. Well, I am just going to have to keep telling myself,
one more picture and I'm free as a bird.
So I've made a list of places where we can tighten our belts.
Huh?
We could all learn the art of self-restraint, couldn't we, Alfred?
Gardeners once a week, weekend off for the driver...
No, that's impossible. We'll have to find other places to cut.
There aren't any other places.
And there's be no more shipments flown in from Maxim's of Paris.
We can't afford it.
The foie gras at Chasen's is more than adequate.
But those geese are from Barstow, not from Marseilles.
Yes, well we all have to make our sacrifices
for the greater good, don't we, Alfred?
I'll go get the knives.
Am I making a terrible mistake?
What if it's another Vertigo?
Just get the first take under your belt. You'll be fine.
Are you decent, my dear?
- Good morning. - Good morning.
Am I all right?
- Perfect. - Wow.
- Morning. - Morning.
I want to thank you once again for this opportunity, Mr. Hitchcock.
You may call me "Hitch." Hold the cock.
Well look at you two. America's favorite boy and girl next door.
Yes, and we're about to move to a whole new neighborhood.
- Morning, Janet. Morning, Tony. - Morning, Vera.
- Thanks for the wardrobe, Hitch. - Do you approve?
You're the genius.
One thing, though. My script is missing its last ten pages.
Everyone's script is missing ten pages until Alma finishes the revisions.
You're just in time for the Oath.
- The what? - The Oath.
- Good morning, everyone. - Good morning.
Would you all raise your right hands?
That includes you, Vera Miles.
- I do solemnly promise... - I do solemnly promise...
- That I will not divulge... - That I will not divulge...
The plot nor the many secrets of Psycho...
- To friends, relatives... - To friends, relatives...
- Trade reporters... - Trade reporters...
Not even outgoing President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Thank you all very much.
Here we are, Norman's inner sanctum.
Now, Hitch.
Explain to me why I'm watching Marion undress?
I feel like I should take offense at that.
Perhaps Norman secretly watched his mother
preparing for her nightly bath.
Yes, maybe there was a transom over the bathroom door?
Yeah, which he could access by climbing on a chair,
so long as he was stealthy.
A boy's first glimpse of a naked woman is usually his mother.
So I'm reliving the past,
repeating a ritual with Marion?
Don't ask me.
I'm just a man hiding in the corner with my camera, watching.
My camera will tell you the truth. The absolute truth.
Hitch, I have a question.
Why is the hole so much larger on this side?
All the better to see you with, my dear.
At the greatest possible angle.
And cut!
If you ask me, the credits should read
"Screenplay by Joseph Stefano and Alma Reville."
The people who matter know.
Alma, you always know the answer. Is this really going to work?
See you tomorrow.
Hello, stranger.
- Whit! - Where have you been hiding?
Oh, God...!
- I've been finishing the revisions on... - Psycho.
- Mm-hmm. - And how is the old boy?
He is in a state of unbridled ecstasy now that he's back on the set.
And you? How are you?
Well, two thousand words to do for Reader's Digest on
what it's like to be married to a man obsessed by murder.
Alma, you deserve a break.
Let's drive up to Santa Barbara.
We'll have Emilio fry up those juicy steaks that we love so much at El Encanto.
Mr. Hitchcock, we're ready for you on the set.
- Mr. Hitchcock. - I'll be there in a moment.
Long line at the supermarket?
No. Actually, I'm home earlier than I expected.
- Would you like a cocktail? - No, and you shouldn't have one either.
- That hasn't been washed yet. - I don't care.
Oh, I was filming all day today with John Gavin.
He's a good-looking chap.
But really, plywood is more expressive.
I think his love scene with Janet Leigh
may be most horrifying thing in the movie.
Even your friend Mr. Whitfield Cook
would be better in the scene.
Why don't you tell him yourself? I'm sure he'd be very flattered.
You know, my dear,
maybe I was a bit too dismissive about your friend
Whitfield's book.
Perhaps he and Elizabeth could come over this weekend
and walk me through it, as they say.
Lovely woman, Elizabeth.
I was hoping you could come to the set tomorrow.
Yes. Well, I'll see how my day shapes up.
Yes.
You think you can get away with it, don't you? But you can't.
You think they can't tell, but they can.
They know.
You can feel that noose tightening around that breakable little neck.
I mean, you could return the money secretly,
but what would that prove? It's too late.
Marion Crane always so tight, so respectable,
so prim and so proper and perfect. Untouchable unsullied Miss Crane.
Daddy's perfect little angel.
Now they all know those dirty little secrets you've been hiding so long.
Messy, sticky little lunchtime trysts
with that oh-so-handsome failure Mr. Samuel Loomis.
They'll smirk, they'll gossip, and they'll whisper.
Even your boss, straight-laced, hatchet-faced Mr. George Lowery,
why even he can smell the rancid, pungent scent of sex all over you.
All right. Circle that and print it.
Let's get this thing fixed once and for all.
I'm sick and tired of it. Come on.
Why's it making that noise?
- What's it going to take to reset? - About five.
Come in.
Thought you could use a little pick-me-up.
- Oh, you're so sweet. Thank you. - Not at all.
- Here, have a seat. - Thanks.
I can't imagine your husband will be too pleased with what just happened.
Well, you know.
Tony and the kids, you'd be surprised what comes out of their mouths sometimes.
That's true.
You haven't spoken to him much about your personal life, have you?
Hitch? No, not really.
I'd keep it that way if I were you.
Why?
Well, it starts with him wanting to choose your hairstyle.
Then he wants to choose your clothes,
and your friends, and how many children you should have.
You know that poor, tortured soul Jimmy Stewart played in Vertigo?
That's Hitch...
Only younger, slimmer and better-looking.
Oh, I don't know.
Compared to Orson Welles, he's a sweetheart.
See? He's always watching.
- Jack, how long is this going to take? - Just need five minutes.
Let's get a move on it. We haven't got all day.
Why does it keep burning out all the time?
- Get it fixed. What's the hold-up? - It's still engaged.
Hitch, I'm stuck on Lila's first scene.
I don't know how strongly I should confront Sam and the detective...
Darling, just fake it. Fake it. You know how to do that. Act.
Where are my revisions?
Come on, does it really require two men to carry a light stand?
Help them.
I'll take care of it right away, Mr. Hitchcock.
All the difference when the money's coming out of your own pocket, isn't it?
- We'll have a late lunch. - Right.
- I'll make the reservation for 1:30. - Oh, Whit.
What would I do without you?
- Till then, bye-bye. - Bye.
Whit, what did you forget now?
Whit?
- Mr. Hitchcock, sir, please... - No, not now.
Every press outlet is dying for photos.
If we could just get one photo, please!
Get off my set! I'll have security... Get off my set!
Just go! Get rid of this man. He's a bloody pest.
Get him off the set now!
- Are you okay? You've gone very pale. - I tell you get away.
Stop following me around like a puppy dog and get me a drink.
- It's not even 3:00... - Now give me the key to the cabinets.
Hello, Hitch. How's the picture?
I'm hearing interesting things.
It's a miracle anyone can hear anything
above the noise coming from Geoffrey Shurlock's office.
You know, I shouldn't be in a position of just hearing things, Hitch.
- It's time you showed me some footage. - Why?
To see if you're making a picture Paramount can actually release.
As you well know, my contract guarantees me final cut.
Your contract also says
Paramount isn't required to distribute any film
that could cause us embarrassment.
Unlike the last five Martin and Lewis films you're all so proud of.
I demand to see some footage. Hitch!
You show me some damn footage now! Hitch!
You have no idea how wonderful it is not to have to look after someone.
I mean, even if it's just for two hours.
So where are we going, Whit? You haven't told me.
- I have a little surprise. - Ooh!
- Where's your driver? - I've been asking myself the same thing.
Well, I can give you a ride if you'd like.
Oh, my God. What a tiny car.
What are these things? I keep looking at them.
- Candy corn. The girls love them. - Candy corn?
I nicked them from Tony's dressing room.
Oh. Very nice.
I thought you only ate those Fauchon chocolates.
Needs must when the devil drives, my dear.
- Oh, luckily I'm driving. - Thank God for that.
He's always had obsessions with his leading ladies.
Just that this time it feels like he's using them against me.
Well I suppose he's like any great artist.
Impossible to live with, but worth the effort.
Did you know before we got together, I was his boss?
He had to work his way up to assistant director before he dared ask me out.
- Really? Huh! - Mm-hmm.
See that house over there?
- Yes. - What do you think of it?
- Lovely, isn't it. What a great position. - It's mine.
I just talked to Elizabeth. She didn't say anything about it.
She doesn't know anything about it. Nobody does.
Want to see it?
- Thank you, my dear. - Any time.
- Can I keep these? - Absolutely.
- Would you like one? - No thank you.
- All right. Well, thank you. - Hitch?
What?
What really did happen with you and Vera?
Oh. Vera.
She was going to play the lead in Vertigo.
Two weeks before filming she told me was pregnant.
I was going to make her into a star.
But she chose the life of a housewife instead.
Why do they do it, I wonder?
Why do they always betray me?
Oh, very Bohemian.
I just leased it for the off season.
A place to get away from the wife, and kids, and writing.
Whit, I hope you don't have the wrong idea.
If you were serious about helping me adapt my book,
I thought it might make the perfect...
hideaway.
Relax! Naughty boys, calm down.
Oh, by the way, I forgot to tell you
I read your treatment of that story.
Taxi to... Where was it, dear?
- Dubrovnik. - That's it. Dubrovnik.
- Would you care to hear my opinion? - Well, yes, naturally.
Right, then.
Well, my dear, there's no other way of saying it, is there?
It's a stillborn.
How so?
First of all, the plot's a bit of a muddle, isn't it?
Some of those jokes are awfully like the ones
we did so much better hundreds of years ago
in The Lady Vanishes.
Also your villain is rather weak. Well he's very weak, in fact.
But I think the big failure
is the relationship between the heroine and the hero, you see.
Probably if you weren't so smitten with your friend Whitfield Cook,
you'd be able to see that, wouldn't you?
But then I suppose
women never really care to face the truth when their hearts are involved, do they?
How would you know what really goes on between a man and a woman?
My God, what a bloody mess.
- No! - Ah!
More! More!
- No! Oh! - Use some guts!
- Come on! No! - Oh!
- More anger! - Oh! Oh!
All right, cut! Cut! Cut!
For God's sake!
Will someone get me a proper stunt double?
Now give me the knife! Not yet!
Ungovernable rage!
Homicidal violence!
Cut! Cut and print!
We've got it.
Oh, not now, Ed.
It's really not the time.
You just can't keep this stuff bottled up.
Oh, God! Hitch, Hitch, you all right?
- Can you hear me? - Alma...
What if Bridget and Constantine get into the cab at the same time?
Now what if they try and get in at exactly the same time?
- Yes. What do you mean, "exactly"? - Ie reach the door...
I mean they both reach for the cab door at exactly the same time.
- They quickly touch. - Yes.
We start on the hands, we pan up to the eyes, and...
Oh, that feels better already.
- Are you going to get that? - What?
Listen, I've told Peggy
you have to get this sequence shot today.
What's the hold-up?
We tried it ten different ways and it looks terrible.
No, it has to be a high angle. You'll tip off the big surprise.
Just get the process shot.
How can he hold on to the camera frame if he's waving his arms?
Why don't you just push all the gas from the top of the stairs?
No one's going to get hurt.
What bloody idiots they are.
- What are you doing? - No more phone calls.
- Oh, but... - You're burning up.
Burning off our money, that's what we're doing.
We're two days behind and I'm stuck in this bloody bed.
- Where do you think you're going? - I've got to go to the set.
- We can't lose another day. - You stay in bed. I'll deal with it.
I'd hate to take you away from your writing partner.
You stay under the blankets, Alfred.
- Mrs. Hitchcock. - Good morning.
Where's Mr. Hitchcock?
Don't stop work because of me.
I'm only here as one of the two people paying your salaries.
- What's the scene number? - 173.
Storyboards?
All right. Put Martin in the chair. Turn the camera around to face him.
We'll shoot the fall against a rear screen.
And, Jack, that lens should be a 35mm.
Now, David, you know how Paramount loves Jerry Lewis,
but this one is right up your alley, and I would consider...
Barney?
Alma!
You know David Kirkpatrick.
- Hello. - Hello.
He's working on Jerry Lewis developing a new picture.
So he's free to help if you need.
That won't be necessary.
- But you're nearly three days behind. - Yes. Well, we can manage.
Alma, we both know what kind of film this is.
The smart thing to do would be to help Hitch finish it.
Thank you for your concern, Barney.
But on a Hitchcock picture, there is only one director.
No need to gawp.
You forgot to look in the bathroom.
A man like you missing a vital clue like that...
What do you mean?
My mother always said
"If you want to do a job,
do it right."
Check the floor.
Closer.
You still think they're just writing together?
What are you gonna do about it?
Oh, Mrs. Hitchcock.
I know Hitch isn't feeling very well, so I got him a little something.
Oh, how kind. Thank you very much.
Candy corn.
Well, he's always been very considerate of me.
I haven't always had that from my directors.
Janet, I'd just like to say that
you've been very professional.
It hasn't gone unappreciated.
Thank you.
- Lovely seeing you. - You, too.
May I turn it down?
Well you'll be pleased to know that order has been restored.
And a "thank you" would be nice.
We're still two days behind and $60,000 over budget.
Yes, well I'll cancel the wrap party. That'll save us $2000 right there.
And you won't be tempted by any champagne and cake.
Beware, all men are potential murderers.
And for good reason.
All right, what's this all about?
Spending a lot of time at the beach?
Yes. Yes, it's where Whit and I are writing.
He's rented a place.
Hardly the ideal situation to avoid distractions.
Actually, it's very conducive to creative collaboration.
I've already told you that treatment is a waste of time.
Well, didn't they say the same thing about Psycho?
Are you and Whit having an affair?
Oh, don't be absurd.
He's working on something new. He just needs a little help, that's all.
Oh, what a coincidence. I'm working on something new
and I could use a little help, too!
Well, what do you think I've been doing?
Why are you spending all the hours of day and night with that
talentless mummy's boy?
Because it's fun!
I am under extraordinary pressures on this picture,
and the least you could do is give me your full support.
Full support?
We've mortgaged our house.
Might I remind you
I have weighed in on every aspect of this film so far,
as I have done on every film you've made in the last three decades.
First time you show the film, it will be my notes that you want.
I celebrate with you when the reviews are good.
I cry for you when they are bad.
I host your parties and I put up with those fantasy romances
with your leading ladies.
And when you're out promoting this film around the world,
I will be there beside you, or rather, slightly behind you,
smiling endlessly for the press even though I'm ready to drop,
and being gracious to people who look through me as if I were invisible
or elbow me aside because all they can see
is the great and glorious genius Alfred Hitchcock!
And now, for the first time in years,
I dare to work on something that isn't an Alfred Hitchcock production
and I'm met with accusation and criticisms?
The work I am doing with Whit gives me pleasure and purpose,
and it takes absolutely nothing away from you.
Consider this a reminder: I am your wife, Alma Reville.
Not one of those contract blondes you badger
and torment with your oh-so-specific directions.
Well...
I guess this is goodbye.
Why didn't you stay with me?
I would have made you as big a star as Grace Kelly.
Well, unlike Grace Kelly, I can pick my own dry cleaning.
I've got a family, Hitch. A home.
That blonde woman of mystery you're always after?
She's a fantasy.
She doesn't exist.
There was a time when I thought I understood you.
Understood women.
Alma, I thought you were coming later this afternoon.
I thought you rented this place so we could write.
I did.
You're not going to say anything, are you?
Don't worry. I won't tell Elizabeth.
I mean to Hitch.
Alma, we can't all be geniuses.
You're incredibly talented.
But, after all, we want him to read the script with an open mind.
Don't we?
I wouldn't worry about that, Whit.
Sheriff, please, I'm worried.
Arbogast said he'd call as soon as he spoke with Mrs. Bates.
That was yesterday evening.
- Norman isn't married. - He said it was his mother.
Your detective saw Norman's mother up at the motel?
In the upstairs window.
He rang me right after she called out to him.
Missy, I think your detective must be a few cups in.
Mrs. Bates died of strychnine poisoning more than ten years ago.
- Are you sure? - That body was...
This is my favorite place.
I just shut the door and make the world go away.
Don't you ever get lonely out here?
I can always talk to my mother.
That's strange.
Jesus Christ. I think we found his hiding place.
That's my mother's room.
You can't go in there!
Don't go in my mother's room!
Hitch?
So what's the verdict?
Let's just say it was a four-letter review and it wasn't "good."
Screw him.
It's too late for Paramount to back out, no matter what Balaban says.
The other route is to re-cut it as a two-parter for the TV series.
Because of the budget and the Hitchcock name,
we stand a good chance of breaking even.
Look, I made Jimmy Stewart a millionaire on Winchester 73,
and that was a dog.
At least I could sit through your picture.
More importantly, what does Alma think?
I was afraid you'd try to blame yourself.
I'm not talking of blame.
Leigh, how can you make plans if you're still not sure?
Whit must've enjoyed writing for Colbert.
How was the beach?
Cold and miserable.
Just like Barney Balaban's face.
Poor old Whit.
He isn't worth a damn when he's not working with you.
Neither am I.
I couldn't pull off the picture this time.
It just sits there,
refusing to come to life.
I guess there's no other way of saying it, is there?
It's stillborn.
I let you down, my love.
You deserve better.
Better go feed Geoffrey and Stanley.
Come on, boys.
I don't think I can stand us both being maudlin.
That tiresome little Hitchcock imitation I've been helping Whit finish is done.
You know there's only one solution to all this.
That we get back to work together.
The fact is I rather like living in this house.
So I suggest, for everyone's sake, we start whipping Psycho into shape.
You may not be the easiest man to live with,
but you know how to cut a picture better than anyone else.
Except for you.
The second take. The light is much better on the hands.
Only cut back to Janet once the car's already moving.
Cut it tighter.
Ooh, you imp, you got nudity in there!
Her breasts were rather large. It was a challenge not to show them.
You'll have to cut those six or seven frames
where she blinks after she's supposed to be dead.
Alma, we've viewed the film a thousand times.
She does not blink.
- How's it going in there? - Swimmingly.
Everyone's saying it's like a dog with fleas.
No, absolutely not!
I do not want music over the show murder scene.
But what Alma and I talked about is really going to play.
Bernie, this is not Vertigo. It's not a romantic movie.
The images must work on their own.
Yes, but you can't scare people just by going, "Boo!"
All right, you do it then. You know best.
- They have to anticipate it. - You always know best, just do it!
Take a step back.
- What do you think? - I think I'll never have a shower again.
- Hitch? - It's getting there.
I distinctly saw both the stabbing and the nudity.
What you think you're seeing is purely informed by the power of suggestion.
I assure you once you view the final version
with Mr. Herrmann's lovely, lyrical score...
A lyrical score is not going to change my opinion.
We're denying your seal.
Geoffrey, would you mind if we had a word in private, please?
Thank you.
Now look here.
I have a modest proposal to make.
If you're willing to leave the shower sequence as it is,
I will re-shoot the opening love scene to your exact specifications.
In fact, I would welcome your personal supervision on the set.
To my specifications?
But of course, my dear fellow.
If only audiences could fully comprehend
how tirelessly you work to help us entertain them
while protecting them from filth and indecency.
He's been harassing you since you announced this project,
you invite him to the set, and he doesn't even show up?
What did you tell him?
That I respected him deeply.
Ladies and gentleman, that is a wrap. Thank you all very much.
- I thought we were re-shooting the scene. - The charade is over.
Thank you.
See, I wasn't that much of a monster to work with, was I?
Not at all.
I hope I was sufficiently loyal to the cause.
Worthy of a Purple Heart, my dear.
I hope you don't mind,
I told Mrs. Bates she could use your dressing room.
No, that's splendid. Splendid.
Yes, thank you.
Thank you.
We have the seal from the Shurlock Office.
So now, we lead the lambs to the slaughter.
Paramount confirmed they're only opening the movie in two theaters,
as we suspected. And no premiere.
We don't get word of mouth, we're dead.
Then we'd better get started. Peggy, take a memo.
We're going to write a manual on how to sell Psycho.
"My first instruction to Theater Owners:
Hire Pinkerton guards to strictly enforce our unique admission policies."
There may be riots here tonight.
"Because is Psycho is so terrifying and unique,
"the guards can help you deal with customers who run amok.
"Post our special lobby clocks
"to remind audiences of the starting times for Psycho.
The manager of this fine motion picture theater has been advised
not to allow anyone to enter the theater once Psycho begins.
Now, should you be so foolish as to attempt to slip in by a side entrance,
a fire escape or through a skylight,
you will be ejected by brute force.
More playful, darling.
"To further emphasize the sheer, unrelenting shock and suspense of Psycho,
"right after the closing title "The End,"
"we strongly recommend that you close your house
curtains over the screen for a full 30 seconds.
"By doing so, the horror of Psycho
"will be indelibly etched in the mind and heart of your audience.
Sincerely and emphatically, Alfred Hitchcock."
Well at least there are some people here, Hitch.
We've roped off some seats for you.
- You go on ahead. - Are you sure?
Yes, I'll be with you in a moment. I'm just going to check the print. You go on.
All right, darling. We'll save you a seat, all right?
This way, Mr. Hitchcock.
Just got off the phone with Balaban.
He said congratulations. A well-deserved triumph, as we always knew.
As we always knew, ha!
Does this mean I can take the weekend off now?
Yes, dear. Thank you so much.
- Where's Alma? - Go. Go on.
Alma, come here.
You know, darling, this could be the biggest success of your career.
Our career.
Alma, I will never be able to find a Hitchcock blonde as beautiful as you.
I've waited thirty years to hear you say that.
And that, my dear, is why they call me the Master of Suspense.
And so, gentle viewers,
Psycho turned out to be one of my greatest achievements,
and Alma and I got to keep the house and the swimming pool.
But you know what they say in Hollywood:
You're only as good as your last picture.
So if you'll excuse me, I had better toddle away
to begin the exhaustive search for my next project.
Unfortunately, I find myself once again quite bereft of any inspiration.
However, I do hope something comes along soon.
Good evening.
THE END Subtitles by: