Psycho (DVD)

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According to many actors who worked with Hitchcock, the director was never particularly concerned with the acting in his pictures. He was more of a technician, they say. He knew exactly what he wanted actors to do, and he expected them to do it. In fact, most of the acting in "Psycho is, indeed, perfunctory. True, Janet Leigh got an Oscar nomination for Supporting Actress, but it is really Tony Perkins everyone remembers. His performance is indelible. Almost every school kid knows Norman Bates, even if the kid has never been allowed to see the movie. But aside from Perkins, the acting is just good enough to serve the picture and serve it well.

Basically, "Psycho" is a director's film. It is Hitchcock all the way, suspense with a tongue firmly in cheek. Who would have had the audacity, for example, to kill off the person who is presumably the main character less than halfway through the picture, and then start virtually a new plot with a new protagonist? Quentin Tarantino killed off a main character in "Pulp Fiction" halfway through. Where do you suppose he got the idea?

Video:
On DVD the picture quality is very good. The film stock shows signs of wear during the opening credits, but once the story begins the print looks OK--crisp, clean, and well delineated, as only black-an-white film stock seems capable of. And the widescreen presentation provides glimpses of things I had long forgotten. Minor moiré effects and some small graininess are the only drawbacks. Universal Home Video have come a long way since their days of pan-and-scan only.

Audio:
On occasion there is some small background noise in the Dolby Digital 2.0 monaural soundtrack, but the soncis, too, are generally fine in their definition and clarity. I found the overall tonal balance to be a bit bright and hard, but, if you think about it, that's probably an advantage in this film.

Extras:
In terms of bonus materials, the dual-layered disc's main feature is a ninety-some minute documentary that answers most of the questions a person ever might want to know about the making of "Psycho." It contains present-day interviews with some of the stars and filmmakers, including Janet Leigh and screenwriter Joseph Stefano. Trivia note: "Psycho" was the first movie to show a toilet and a toilet flushing on screen! Bizarre. The listing in the booklet of several additional items, like lobby cards, posters, production photographs, etc., I thought was misleading because I could not find them the first time around. However, they are, indeed, included and can be accessed by clicking on the "Menu" button at the bottom of the page, a button I assumed returned one to the Main Menu but, in fact, moves one on to additional bonus materials. However, the biggest delight for me, besides the picture, was seeing the theatrical trailer again. Hitchcock, a well-recognized celebrity from his days as host of his own TV series, takes us on a tour of the Bates Motel and adjoining house, and his dry wit is a joy forever.

Parting Thoughts:
"Psycho" is not a great film for showing off one's home theater. It is simply a great film. No serious cinema library can be complete without it.

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