Psycho is a 1960 American suspense/horror film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Anthony Perkins, Vera Miles, John Gavin, and Janet Leigh. The screenplay by Joseph Stefano is based on the 1959 novel of the same name by Robert Bloch. The novel was loosely inspired by the crimes of Wisconsin murderer and grave robber Ed Gein, who lived just 40 miles from Bloch.
The film depicts the encounter between a secretary, Marion Crane (Leigh), who goes to a secluded motel after embezzling money from her employer, and the motel's disturbed owner and manager, Norman Bates (Perkins), and the aftermath of their encounter.
Psycho initially received mixed reviews, but outstanding box office returns prompted a re-review which was overwhelmingly positive and led to four Academy Award nominations. Psycho is now considered one of Hitchcock's best films and is highly praised as a work of cinematic art by international critics. It is often ranked among the greatest films of all time and is famous for bringing in a new level of acceptable violence and sexuality in films. After Hitchcock's death in 1980, Universal Studios began producing follow-ups: two sequels, a prequel, a remake, and a television movie spin-off. In 1992, the film was selected to be preserved by the Library of Congress at the National Film Registry
TITLE SEQUENCE
The title sequence for Pyscho (1960) was created by Saul Bass. It is very minimalistic and simple, it doesnt give anything away to the audience therefore they have no insight to what will happen during the film which adds dramatic effect. The lines move in sync and never go off track such as on, off, left, right which reflect the restrictions in the film. I think this is a great title sequence as it is modern and contemporary with a mystery and tension.
Link to title sequence: http://www.artofthetitle.com/title/psycho/
2) More black bars begin to appear on screen which seem irrelevant and the audience wonder why they are there. 
3) This creates paranoia as something begins to appear in white but we have no idea what it is or why its appearing. 
4) The black bars have turned to grey and have moved across to the left and lined up one under the other and more white marks appear under the others but with a gap inbetween. 
5) The white marks begin to look like a smudged name with parts of letters missing. The grey bars decrease in size and a few disappear creating uneven gaps between them. 
6) All of the grey bars have gone and the white marks have turned into a name in whits capitals on a black background. 
7) The grey bars slide in from the right and push away the white name. 
8) The lines stretch the full way along the screen - stripe effect with the contrasting colours and white marks appear on the middle line - above (centre of screen) and below (right side of screen). Creating paranoia yet again. 
9) The lines move back to the right and more white marks appear. 
10) The films title appears in white capitals when the grey bars move off screen. 
11) The title seperates with the bars changing angle to verticle and look like heart beat rates or a spectrum analyser. 
12) One by one the names of the cast appear onscreen in white capitals. 
13) The black background has changed to a view of a town/city but a few verticle grey bars remain on screen. 
14) We are introduced to the setting and location of the film. 
15) View changes. The date is set. 
16) View changes. Finally the time is set and this is the end of the the title sequence.
I think this title sequence is great as it allows the audience to know the location, setting, date and time however it allows them to use their imagination as to what they think will happen because it gives no ideas or hints away of what is to come.
No comments:
Post a Comment