This week ECHG writer Adam Holtzapfel takes us down the drain for a look at the documentary 78/52: Hitchcock’s Shower Scene.
by Adam Holtzapfel
78/52 takes a look at one of the most iconic scenes in film history, the shower scene from Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho. The title refers to the 78 set ups and 52 cuts it took to make the scene happen.
At the beginning of the film I was skeptical it would be another Mansfield 66/67, full of reenactments and sort of off focus of the subject. 78/52 begins with a reenactment of Marion Crane arriving at Bates Motel with a voice over by Janet Leigh’s body double, Marli Renfro discussing how she was cast for the scene.
The discussion leads to how the scene was filmed separately from the rest of the film, as it was it’s own entity. Discussion from Hardware director Richard Stanley basically stated you’re lucky to have an hour to film a murder for a film where this scene was filmed in seven days.
Boasting a panel of actors, directors, editors, composers, and more. The focus is not only on Psycho, but some of Hitchcock’s trademark shots, like the God’s Eye View shot (think of the scenes in The Birds where you’re watching from above as the fire lines the road) and the influence he had on modern film.
78/52 also explores how Hitchcock gave certain hints to what was to follow for example when Marion was packing the audience sees a shower head over her shoulder, how she’s driving in the rain, can’t see, and the slashing of the wipers mimics that of the knife. It also brings focus to the trailer and the role the painting of Susanna and the Elders plays, while exploring how during the conversation in the motel office that when the topic of Norman’s mother gets brought up (putting her in a home) he goes from a nervous, bumbling man to a calm confident man (was that when he made his choice to kill Marion?).
Anyone that has seen Psycho a numerous amount of times like I have will find out many new things about the film. Peppered with old footage and sound clips of Alfred Hitchcock and Janet Leigh as well as scenes from A Bay Of Blood, Tenebre, Texas Chainsaw Massacre and more really bring Hitchcock’s influence to the film without it being the main focus.
This is a must watch, not only for horror fans, but for fans of cinema in general. Pair this with the biopic Hitchcock, Psycho, Rope, and make it a night of classics.
