Psycho was based on a novel by Robert Block, which in turn was based on the gruesome case of real-life mass murderer Ed Gein. Hitchcock had his eye on the commercial success of filmmakers like William Castle and Roger Corman, whose quickie horror and science fiction films had tapped into a growing, new audience. But many have speculated that Hitchcock had another motivation for wanting to make Psycho. Perhaps Hitchcock had a score to settle. It received mixed reviews, although many critics would later reassess their views.
Every editor knows the enormous contribution that our craft makes to the success of any film.
This is particularly well demonstrated in Psycho, where editing was used in a bold and outrageous way. The shower sequence, in which Marion Crane is brutally murdered, was a sensation with audiences who saw the film when it premiered. On the succeeding pages are two pieces about the editors who helped create Psycho. Also included are selected frames from each of the 51 cuts in the shower scene. By flipping the pages from top to bottom, and then reversing the procedure going backwards, you will see a portion of the scene unfold before you.