Psycho Film Opening

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,^[1] 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.^[2]

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^[3] and is highly praised as a work of cinematic art by international critics.^[4] The film spawned two sequels, a prequel, aremake, 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. 

The opening of this film is very distinctive as it adds tension and the target audience is oblivious to what will happen in the film as it is an narrative opening. The music also adds suspense and tension. The theme for this film is still famous today. It is known around the world as Hitchcock's use of violins make it very easy to point out.