Review of Psycho: Special Edition

Introduction

If you are to judge a DVD reviewer by the number of highly-rated films that he has seen, don`t say it too loudly, you`ll hurt my feelings. Of the IMDB`s (Internet Movie Database) top 25 films, there are a massive seven that I have yet to see. I am glad to say, however, that I`ve rectified one particularly shocking statistic recently, and that is that I have finally given Alfred`s Hitchcock`s "Psycho" the detailed viewing that it`s place at #25 warrants.

"Psycho" is the story of Marion Crane (Janet Leigh), a woman so frustrated that her partner (John Gavin) cannot afford to marry her, that she steals $40,000 from her employer and drives from Phoenix to California to start a new life with him. Fatigued from the long journey, she decides to spend a night at Bates` Motel, ran by the quietly peculiar Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins), whose life seems to be controlled by his demanding mother.

Available for the first time in the UK as a Special Edition 2-disc set, there will be many who will feel that finally the Hitchcockian masterpiece has been given its just desserts on DVD.

Remember, "a boy`s best friend is his mother"…

Video

Video is presented in black and white, and in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen which frankly, is not befitting a Special Edition release of a film classic. Although film artefacts are not a particular problem - surprising considering the age of the film - the image is extremely soft and cannot even begin to compete with other DVD transfers of early-60s films such as "The Magnificent Seven" (1960) or "The Great Escape" (1963), both of which were made in colour. And whilst it is true that a film does not have to be made in colour to receive acclaim, the fact that this transfer is substantially worse than the DVD presentation of 1941`s "Citizen Kane" is a killer blow to the credibility of this Special Edition release.

There has not, it appears, been any restoration work done to Universal`s original DVD release, which is substantially poorer than the American release from the same company. Particularly considering that this is a Special Edition release, Universal have no excuses.

Audio

Audio is presented in Dolby Digital 1.0 - in other words, mono. This is despite the packaging claiming that there is also a Dolby Digital 2.0 track also available. Don`t bother looking, it isn`t there. Despite that disappointment, it must be said that Hitchcock`s intentions were that this film was to be made on a budget to preserve its creepy feel. Thus, considering that there are no audio sync issues, the mono soundtrack can be considered a good representation of Hitchcock`s vision. The extremely fitting, innovative score by Bernard Herrmann is a plus as well.

For international buyers, German and Polish 1.0 soundtracks are also available.

Features

Would you believe me if I told you that the most interesting extra feature on this 2-disc set was the theatrical trailer? Well, paradoxically, you`d be both right and wrong to doubt me. The trailer is indeed the most interesting feature on this disc, but it isn`t a trailer as we all know it. Rather, Hitchcock himself leads us around the set of Mrs Bates` house, pointing out various noteworthy facts. Here, Hitchcock shows himself to be a charismatic performer, a talent that no doubt helped him coax the very best performances from his actors. Interesting though, you may find it more beneficial to watch this segment after viewing the film, as the director teases several plotlines. No spoilers per se, however.

Also included on the first disc are brief production notes, as well as cast & film-makers biographies. Neither of these will blow you away, of course, but do provide interesting tidbits.

On the second disc I was very disappointed to discover that there was less than an hour`s footage compiled, none of which related directly to "Psycho" itself. Furthermore, the quality of this footage is more akin to a second-generation VHS copy than a DVD. Despite the flaws though, the sit-down interview with Hitchcock is interesting in that he discusses all manner of issues about his directing style. Furthermore, the clips from the American Film Institute`s "Salute to Alfred Hitchcock" are also somewhat interesting, especially once the great man himself takes the microphone.

Conclusion

Well, what to say about a legitimate film classic? Firstly, I`d like to make reference to "Psycho" as a horror movie. Perhaps this was the case in 1960, when film-goers were more easily taken aback, not used to the violent imagery. But it is imagery that is the tool of Hitchcock`s choice, not blood and guts. As the DVD set`s packaging is quick to point out, not even a bare breast is committed to film during the infamous shower scene, never mind the graphic depiction of a wound or knife attack. The horror, if you will, is in the suspense of wondering what is going to happen next. In terms of what actually comprises the film, the most disturbing thing is the swishing sound of the murderer`s blade.

That said then, "Psycho" is a fantastically suspenseful tale with more than one twist in its tail. The actors performances are excellent, especially that of Anthony Perkins, who steals the show as Bates. Perhaps the only thing lacking from an acting perspective was a convincing performance from John Gavin as Sam Loomis, an opinion substantiated by Hitchcock himself, who described him as "stiff".

That is but a minor complaint however, for the real issue that will rank with many fans is the overall quality of the Special Edition release. Whilst the mono-only soundtrack can be forgiven to a degree, the lack of effort put into restoring the video is not acceptable when the DVD transfer of "Citizen Kane", nineteen years older than the film under review, is nothing short of pristine. And whilst an audio commentary from the man himself is of course a non-starter, it is beyond dismay that the most enthralling extra feature on this two-disc set is a six-minute theatrical trailer.

By all accounts, the Region 1 Collector`s Edition set contains a non-anamorphic transfer which blows the socks off anything seen in the UK. This, coupled with the fact that there is also a ninety-minute Making-of documentary on that edition, suggests that this release is far from the Special Edition that it suggests.