Psycho Janet Leigh

U.S.A. 1960

"It wasn't a message that stirred the audiences, nor was it a great performance...they were aroused by pure film."

So Alfred Hitchcock told Francois Truffaut about "Psycho," adding that it "belongs to filmmakers, to you and me." Hitchcock deliberately wanted "Psycho" to look like a cheap exploitation film. He shot it not with his usual expensive feature crew (which had just finished "North by Northwest") but with the crew he used for his television show. He filmed in black and white. Long passages contained no dialogue. His budget, $800,000, was cheap even by 1960 standards; the Bates Motel and mansion were built on the back lot at Universal. In its visceral feel, "Psycho" has more in common with noir quickies like "Detour" than with elegant Hitchcock thrillers like "Rear Window" or "Vertigo."

Excerpt from Roger Ebert's review on the Chicago Sun-Times located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: March 8, 1960

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DVD Comparison:

Universal (2-disc Legacy Series) - Region 1- NTSC vs. Universal Studios - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Universal Pictures (Benelux) (Psycho Collection) - Region 2 - PAL vs. Universal Tri-Star (Australia) - Region 2,4 - PAL

Big thanks to and Ole of DVDBasen and Dimitri van den Engel for the Screen Caps!

1) Universal 2-disc Legacy - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT

2) Universal Studios - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND

3) Universal Pictures (Benelux) (Psycho Collection) - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD

4) Universal Tri-Star (Australia) - Region 2,4 - PAL - RIGHT

DVD Box Covers
Distribution	Universal Studios (Legacy 2-disc) Region 1 - NTSC	Universal Studios Region 1 - NTSC	Universal Pictures (Benelux) Region 2 - PAL	Universal Tri-Star (Australia) Region 2,4 - PAL
Runtime	1:48:44	1:48:16	1:48:16	1:43:52 (4% PAL speedup)
Video	1.85:1 Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 8.22 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1.85:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 4.73 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1.85:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 4.53 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s	1.78:1 Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 5.44 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: Universal Studios (Legacy)
Bitrate: Universal Studios
Bitrate: Universal Pictures (Benelux) (Psycho Collection)
Bitrate: Universal Tri-Star (Australia)
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 2.0), DUB French Dolby Digital 1.0	English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono), DUB French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)	English Dolby Digital 1.0 (96Kb/s)	English Dolby Digital 1.0 (96Kb/s), DUB Spanish Dolby Digital 1.0 (96Kb/s), DUB French Dolby Digital 1.0 (96Kb/s), DUB Italian Dolby Digital 1.0 (96Kb
Subtitles	English (SDH), Spanish, French None	Spanish, English, None	English, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Finnish, Icelandic, Russian, Dutch	English, French, Greek and none.
Features	Release Information: Studio: Universal Studios Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.85:1 Edition Details: • Disc 1 • Commentary with Stephen Rebello (Author of *Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho*) • Newsreel Footage: The Release of Psycho (7:40) • The Shower Scene - (music optional) - 2:31 • The Shower Scene - Storyboards by Saul Bass (4:10) • The Psycho Archives, (Posters, Lobby Cards etc.) Production Notes - (text) • Theatrical trailer and re-release trailer Disc 2 (dual-layered) • The Making of Psycho (1:34:06) • In the Master's Shadow - Hitchcock's Legacy (25:56) • Hitchcock Truffaut - (audio interview with scenes from the film etc.) - 15:21 • Alfred Hitchcock Presents episode "Lamb to the Slaughter" (26:12) DVD Release Date: October 7th, 2008 Book Style Case Chapters 26	Release Information: Studio: Universal Studios Aspect Ratio: Widescreen letterboxed - 1.85:1 Edition Details: • Documentary 'The Making of Psycho' 95 minutes • The Shower Scene: with and without music • Theatrical trailer - un-restored 6:40 minutes (4:3) • Re-release adverts (4:3) • Newsreel footage • Production photographs • Production drawings (Storyboards by Saul Bass, lobby cards, posters and psycho ads) • Production notes • Cast and crew bios • 8 page foldout booklet including chapter list and 4 pages of film notes DVD Release Date: March 6, 2001 Keep Case Chapters 27	Release Information: Studio: Universal Pictures (Benelux) Aspect Ratio: Widescreen letterboxed - 1.85:1 Edition Details: • Documentary • The Shower Scene: with and without music 2:28 • Theatrical trailer - un-restored 6:34 (4:3) • Re-release adverts 1:48 (4:3) • The Hitchcock Collection DVD advert 1:08 (4:3) • Newsreel footage 7:43 • Production photographs • Production drawings (Storyboards by Saul Bass, lobby cards, posters and psycho ads) DVD Release Date: november 6, 2003 4 -Disc Keep Case Chapters 27	Release Information: Studio: Universal Tri-Star (Australia) Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.78:1 Edition Details: • Production notes • Theatrical trailer - un-restored 6:40 (4:3) • Cast and Filmmaker: Static screen on 6 Actors and one on Hitch DVD Release Date: 2002 Keep Case Chapters 27

Comments

ADDITION: 2-disc Legacy Series - October 08': I like the look of this new Legacy edition despite it being marginally brighter. Being anamorphic (like the 'Masterpiece' edition (which I cannot locate in my 'stacks' - it is also 16X9 enhanced.) This makes a huge difference in my opinion. The image is sharper and a little grainer - I think it is wonderful. Contrast is also improved and it has a very high bitrate. I believe it is the best edition for image quality at present.

Audio appears the same option but honestly sounded more buoyant - and I don't know why. Bottom line is it is solid - Bernard Herrmann score is as pulsating and hypnotic as ever in this 2.0 channel track. There is a French DUB offered and optional subtitles in English, French or Spanish.

Supplements are a fabulous upgrade with a competent, informative commentary from Stephen Rebello (Author of Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho). Included from the previous offerings is the extensive 'making of..." that is very much worth watching. We also get 15 more minutes of Truffaut + Hitch and a full Alfred Hitchcock Presents episode - "Lamb to the Slaughter".

Easy recommendation - a fabulous, complete, package. This is a film I can consistently revisit for the rest of my life. We strongly endorse.

- Gary W. Tooze

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS :

The in R2 released Psycho Collection contains all 4 Psycho films. The classic Psycho, film number 1 in this collection, looks like a direct copy of the R1 disc but misses out on the production notes, cast and crew bios and an 8 page booklet.
The transfer seems to be a NTSC to PAL conversion of the R1 which process causes ghosting (see image below).
The copying of the R1 transfer also causes this release to be letterboxed and, even worse, causes the image to be a lot softer. It's a shame that Universal neglected to put a proper transfer on this new disc seeing as this collection is quite expensive (a retail price of €67.99 in the Netherlands).

The other movies in the 4-disc set are Psycho II (presented in 4:3, the original aspect ratio is 1.85:1), Psycho III (presented in letterboxed 1.85:1 and has ghosting) and Psycho IV (4:3, original aspect ratio as it was shot for 4:3 TV).
Psycho II and III were also released in R1 but are discontinued.

For Hitchcock's classic film, the R1 is still the best release.

-Dimitri van den Engel

The Region 1 is better in both image and extras. Once again we have a case of how anamorphic images are not always the best ( unless done properly ). I could probably forgive the R2/4 version the slightly less sharp picture if it at least included the 1hour 30 minute documentary that the Region 1 has. This ends up being an easy choice - R1 all the way.

- Gary W. Tooze

DVD Menus Legacy Disc 1

Disc 2

(Universal Studios - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Universal Pictures (Benelux) (Psycho Collection) - Region 2 - PAL - MIDDLE vs. Universal Tri-Star (Australia) - Region 2,4 - PAL - RIGHT)

Screen Captures

Example of Ghosting from Region 2 'Psycho Collection':

1) Universal 2-disc Legacy - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Universal Studios - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND

3) Universal Pictures (Benelux) (Psycho Collection) - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD

4) Universal Tri-Star (Australia) - Region 2,4 - PAL - BOTTOM

1) Universal 2-disc Legacy - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Universal Studios - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND

3) Universal Pictures (Benelux) (Psycho Collection) - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD

4) Universal Tri-Star (Australia) - Region 2,4 - PAL - BOTTOM

1) Universal 2-disc Legacy - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Universal Studios - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND

3) Universal Pictures (Benelux) (Psycho Collection) - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD

4) Universal Tri-Star (Australia) - Region 2,4 - PAL - BOTTOM

1) Universal 2-disc Legacy - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Universal Studios - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND

3) Universal Pictures (Benelux) (Psycho Collection) - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD

4) Universal Tri-Star (Australia) - Region 2,4 - PAL - BOTTOM

1) Universal 2-disc Legacy - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Universal Studios - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND

3) Universal Pictures (Benelux) (Psycho Collection) - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD

4) Universal Tri-Star (Australia) - Region 2,4 - PAL - BOTTOM

1) Universal 2-disc Legacy - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Universal Studios - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND

3) Universal Pictures (Benelux) (Psycho Collection) - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD

4) Universal Tri-Star (Australia) - Region 2,4 - PAL - BOTTOM

Hit Counter

Report Card:

Image:	Universal Legacy
Sound:	-
Extras:	Universal Legacy
Menu:	-

DVD Box Covers

Distribution

Universal Studios (Legacy 2-disc)

Region 1 - NTSC

Universal Studios

Region 1 - NTSC

Universal Pictures (Benelux)
Region 2 - PAL

Universal Tri-Star (Australia)
Region 2,4 - PAL

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