Psycho 1960

Rating: 10/10 (23 September 2009)

The original screening of "Psycho" was released at the former (untitled) Westwood theatre at Pico and Westwood Blvd. in Westwood California, (since than that theatre has been replaced by the Westwood Mall.) A selected invitational viewing was privately projected for the guests, cast and crew prior to it's release. As an undisclosed surreptitiously disguised Hitchcock enigma, this version was edited with a subliminal avant-garde inclusion of a craftily illustrated "Skull and Crossbones symbol" and spliced into the film after every nine frames of the shower and detective's butchering scenes. Whether or not once the film industry's critics discovered and banned this effect and allowed Hitchcock to continue projecting this version extensively was unknown, but by the time this well-scripted "Psycho" was publicly released the fear factor had already been commonly reputed. The silence, suspended action, proceeded by the dramatic music, and the aerial jump cut filming made it a sleepless producing journey of celluloid-fanaticism.
After attending this private screening I was scared out of my innocent mind. A few weeks proceeded and upon it's release to the local theaters, rumor had it that the shrewd Hitchcock created some hanky-panky with this film, so we examined the reel from our local theater's projection room, and discovered the subconscious inclusion of his secret confidential editing. Due to the critical film industry's mere political influence, Hitchcock had to remove this phenomenal strategy. By its reputation alone since "Nosferatu," "Psycho" had already stood patented as the most horrifying visual experience ever. "Psycho" really didn't need any editing enhancement. Viewing it again recently still sends chills through my skin!
The psychiatrist at the climax of this film played a key role and scene of it's finale who explained the events of the nature of what took place at this spine-tingling escapade.
The geniuses of Alfred Hitchcock and Anthony Perkins will not be forgotten...may they Rest In Peace.