User Reviews

Greetings again from the darkness. Does it make sense to create an entire movie about a single scene from another movie? Director Alexandre O. Philippe answers with a resounding "Yes" and proves it with thorough and varied analysis of the infamous and iconic shower scene from Alfred Hitchcock's classic PSYCHO.

"The death of a beautiful woman is, unquestionably, the most poetical topic in the world."

That quote from Edgar Allan Poe opens the film, and reminds us that the hullabaloo surrounding PSYCHO would never have been possible if Janet Leigh hadn't been a beautiful movie star … and if Hitchcock hadn't shocked us with the timing … and if so many other pieces hadn't fallen into place. It's those pieces that are the focus of Mr. Philippe's expository on the immediate and lasting impact of the scene.

The film's title comes from the 78 pieces of film and 52 cuts that make up the 3 minute sequence being adored, admired and argued here. The interviews and insight come fast and passionately from filmmakers, writers, educators, film historians, and actors. We meet the ultra-charming Marli Renfro, who was Janet Leigh's body-double for the film – and also graced the September 1960 cover of Playboy. There is also Tere Carrubba, Mr. Hitchcock's granddaughter and the daughter of Patricia Hitchcock, who has a minor role in PSYCHO. A few of the others who discuss the scene and film's influence include directors Peter Bogdanovich, Guillermo del Toro, and Karyn Kusama (JENNIFER'S BODY); and writers Leigh Whannell (SAW, INSIDIOUS) and Bret Easton Ellis (AMERICAN PSYCHO).

True technical analysis and peek behind the mysterious filmmaking curtain kicks into high gear when Walter Murch speaks. Mr. Murch is a 3-time Oscar winner and 9-time nominee for such timeless films as APOCALYPSE NOW and THE CONVERSATION. He is an expert on sound and film editing, two vital components to the shower scene, and he literally guides us through the individual cuts. Most fans of the film know of the chocolate syrup, but the casaba melon and the painting on the wall might be new territory. The film ties together, like never before, the script of Joseph Stefano, the storyboard of Saul Bass, the editing of George Tomasini, and the scene score of Bernard Hermann … all giants of the industry.

Whether you are a film lover, Hitchcock fanatic, or film theorist, you are likely to find something new here. The film represents so many "firsts" and was truly a turning point in the film industry, while also being a cultural phenomenon. When Martin Scorcese talks about the PSYCHO influence on RAGING BULL, it's the culmination of a blissful 90 minutes.

A 91-minute analysis of the famous shower scene from Hitchcock's 'Psycho' and how it changed the course of cinema. The first of its kind, a feature length documentary on one scene. The film gets its name '78/52' from 52 shots in a 78 second sequence. It's very entertaining and incredibly rich with goodies you never considered went into the making of the famous scene. I loved the archival Hitchcock commentary they recovered. Though, as I personally feel the movie horror scene has drastically changed (you can decide for the better or for worse), to have young horror film makers (of some damn awful films) and irrelevant actors interviewed to share their thoughts in quite enthusiastic ways suggests that Hitchcock's achievement is less pioneering than the film makes it seem. That aside, I'm surprised they pulled it off, you can tell the director (who is obviously a massive Hitchcock nerd) adores the content and it really shows.

An unprecedented look at the iconic shower scene in Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho" (1960), the "man behind the curtain", and the screen murder that profoundly changed the course of world cinema.

While it might seem like quite a feat to devote 90 minutes of coverage to a one-minute segment of a film, this documentary pulls it off. By exploring every possible angle -- the sounds, the editing, the casting -- we see just how much went into getting the notorious shower scene just right. Most interesting is how many clues are in the film leading up to this moment that may not be obvious, but were sprinkled there by Hitchcock with a knowing wink.

"78/52" is playing on July 20, 2017 at the Fantasia International Film Festival. In this golden age of documentaries, this film still stands out as the cream of the crop.

Let's say you don't have the time for a film class; do you have 1/2 hours to spend to learn a major chunk about film, let's say theme, editing, and auteurism? Then see 78/52, a superb analysis of Hitchcock's famous shower scene.

Wayne Miller, who knows more about Hitch than anyone else I know and regularly visits as guest host on It's Movie Time, gave it thumbs up with the observation that the doc was replete with facts and observations he didn't even know.

Here is a perfect example of the ideal educational mantra: to teach and delight.

Considering that "Psycho" has long been a "top movie of all-time" in my book, I knew I would be watching this documentary when I first saw the trailer. Considering how many times I've seen the movie and how many stories I've already heard from it, perhaps the most impressive thing I gleaned from "78/52" was how it was able to approach the topic from such a new, fresh perspective.

Basically, this documentary looks at "Psycho" from the perspective of its now-infamous "shower scene". While other topics are discussed and other stories are told, the narrative always shifts back to the construction of that sequence, which was truly momentous both in its time and even today. It completely changed the game of American cinema forever.

I really liked how this documentary was basically just a whole bunch of film geeks and/or industry insiders sitting around watching/talking about certain scenes. I mean, that's what it's all about, right? As movie fans, a large part of the fun of the experience is to discuss it with others after the fact, and that is the tone that "78/52" hits on. I felt like I was sitting around discussing the shower scene and everything that springs forth from it with family or friends.

So, I highly recommend "78/52" to any fans of "Psycho", obviously, but also for those who just love to discuss movies! It's technical enough to be enlightening, but not technical enough to keep it from being a great discussion/history of certain aspects of the scene, "Psycho" as a whole, & Hitchcock (and Co.) in general.

As the story goes - In 1960's "Psycho" - It took director, Alfred Hitchcock (and his film crew) 78 camera set ups and 52 edits in order to capture just one particular 3-minute scene in the movie.

And, this, of course, was the now-famous "shower scene" where deranged transvestite, Norman Bates sliced and diced the naked and vulnerable Marion Crane (while strains of Bernard Herrmann's music-score screeched out at the top of its lungs).

Now - Nearly 60 years later - This documentary takes a microscopic look at this one praised and heralded slasher scene. And through interviews with various people, it completely dissects this sequence so that no stone is left unturned.

According to those who voiced their opinions in 78/52 - The overall execution of this one murder scene (though tame by today's "in-your-face" standards) has had a significant impact on all slasher films ever since.

Anyway - I found that 78/52 had both its fair share of good moments, as well as its not-so-good moments, too.

My Rating : 7/10

This is certainly not bad as some other reviewers think. Yes - if you don't care much about Hitchcock's body of work then of course it's not for you as it digs into some details that only the fans would like to know more about. I am a diehard fan of Hitchcock so it's great to hear the behind-the-scenes trivia - I didn't know that there was an extra who was standing in as double for Janet Leigh in some of the shots - also it was not Anthony Perkins behind the shower curtains.

Not everyone will care for this - I'm glad I watched it being an avid fan of Hitchcock and movies in general.

No it's not about any sport - if that was not included in the Box Set I bought I might not have known from the title alone what this would be about. But I reckon someone very knowledgeable about Psycho does know - if you don't or haven't seen Psycho: do not read on! And of course do not watch the documentary. Because the title of the documentary is of course something that is attached to a very special scene in Psycho.

And I'm talking about the shower scene. It may seem weird to make a documentary just about one scene in one movie (and it not even being the big twist at the end of the movie), but here it is. And it is a really good one. A lot of filmmakers and actors are in this and they talk about Psycho but also about Hitchcock in general. So you get some of his other movies mixed in here, while again primarily focussing on the shower scene. And it is a great one - still getting people excited or afraid. And when the actress from back then says she never showered again (true or not, only she knows), it's just amazing ...

Various film industry big names and lesser names comment on the infamous movie and the infamous scene. The title refers to 78 shots and 52 edits in the 45 seconds scene which took 7 days to film comprising of Hitchcock's shower scene. It's interesting to see Playboy bunny Marli Renfro who became Janet Leigh's body double. It is also interesting that this is done in mostly black and white which differentiates it from most talking heads documentary. There is a lot of general information. The big names are interesting. Peter Bogdanovich saying he felt raped after leaving the theater is interesting. I expected an in-depth dissection of the shower scene but that's not this. It's more general than that.

This is really great - especially if you love film and happen to be an armchair student/connoisseur.

What fascinated me most was that other people have tried to copy it, frame by frame, but can't get it to come near the same as Hitchcock did. There's just "something" there that is impossible to recreate.

I appreciated the explanation of the music. Another brilliant bit of the movie.

The fact they had the body double talking about how they did it on her was fascinating! She went through a lot for this film and never got the credit she deserved until now.

It explains a lot more "Whys" - Why was it shot in black and white? (Nope. You'll have to watch to get the answer. And it might not be what you think you know.) That was my favorite.

Watch it and find yours.

As always, Hitch was Hitch. There will never ever be another.

Can you kill the protagonist of the movie 40 minutes into the movie? ? Do you need 78 camera positions and 52 editing cuts to film a scene? ? Does it make sense that a knife is more important than who holds it? All these questions will have their answer in this good documentary dealing with an unprecedented look at the iconic shower scene in Alfred Hitchcock's Psicosis (1960), being well directed made by Alexandre, O. Philippe.

"Psycho" was not only Hitchcock's most successful film, but it was a phenomenon in itself and the highlight of the film is , of course , the shower scene with 78 shots and 52 cuts that changed cinema forever. The film is a masterpiece of the horror genre and its immediate impact and future influence were enormous and cannot be overemphasized, showing in detail the shower scene, the "man behind the curtain", and the screen murder that profoundly changed the course of world cinema. It is the quintessential shock that created a true subgenre about psychopaths and that continues to this day. The shower image is one of the most studied, copied and analyzed sequences in the history of cinema and has obtained a notoriety that surpasses the film itself. Alfred Hitchcock took his time filming the most famous shower scene in cinema. It was made with 70 cameras to shot the 45 seconds of footage and the creepy sound effects were realized by stabbing a knife into a melon. The film lasts just over three minutes but forever changed the history of cinema, inaugurating the modern horror genre in which the bad guy is a human with deep and twisted secrets. The shower was never a safe place in horror movies. And of course, the well-known poster designer and credit titles author by Saul Bass, he's usual on Hitchcock films . Saul Bass was the author of the storyboard, and Hitch took advantage of it in the early sixties with a strange and violent film starring and with the emblematic music of Bernard Herrmann. Without forgetting the magnificent performance by Anthony Perkins in an immortal role as Norman Bates and sensational Janet Leigh with Oscar nomination included that was the only one in her long career. Inventive and superbly constructed plot , filled with delicious black humor by writer Joseph Stefano based on Robert Bloch's novel.

Directors Guillermo del Toro, Karyn Kusama, Richard Stanley, Scott Spiegel, Mick Garris, Eli Roth, Neil Marshall, and Peter Bognadovich; Editors such as Walter Murch, Bob Murawski ; actors such as Elijah Wood, Ileana Douglas, Janet Lee Curtis, Janet Leigh's daughter; writer Brian Easton Ellis and composer Danny Elffman dissect the iconic shower scene, showing its meaning and significance in a tribute to the film of the master's best-known thriller.

¨Psycho¨was directed with exquisite taste and intelligence by master Hitchcock who made an impeccable control of every scene and maneuvering your emotions , infusing with a deliciously macabre wit , it does ¨Psycho¨ far superior to the several movies what tried duplicate , or imitate it. Furthermore 78/52 (2017) also pays tribute to other Hitch films with scenes from Easy Virtue, Rebecca, suspicion, Notorious, Shadow of a Doubt, Foreign Correspondent, Lifeboat, The Rope, Strangers on a Train, Rear Window, Vertigo, The Man Who Knew Too Much, To Catch a Thief ,The Birds, Topaz , Frenzy and even the only non-thriller directed by Hitch: Mr. & Mrs. Smith, a film that is much loved by Guillermo del Toro .

As a Hitchcock fan, the premise of 78/52 really excited me. Like many cinephiles, I love Psycho...for its boldness, brilliant pacing and unforgettable performances.

One thing I enjoyed about 78/52 was the collective passion for the subject matter (the famous Psycho "shower scene"). The excitement from the filmmaker and interviewees was quite contagious; making the film very watchable from beginning to end.

I enjoyed the film's exploration of the shower scene's impact on cinema; specifically, its influence on Scorsese (and Raging Bull) as well as how the scene inspired an entire genre of subsequent 'slasher' films.

BUT...with that said, I struggled to find "new news". There is extensive research and discussion on Hitchcock and Psycho. A lot has already been explored. I found that 78/52 fell short of offering any fresh insight. Maybe it is because the documentary's interviews (mostly with with film editors) felt like a series of fanboys gushing over Hitchcock's brilliance. I found this to be quite tedious.

Lastly, I think the film needed to discuss Hitchcock's (unhealthy) relationship with women as an influence on his obsession with the shower scene. It is well-documented that Hitchcock subjected some of his actresses to forms of abuse (Tippi Hedren, Vera Miles). While Janet Leigh was always extremely professional/positive toward Hitchcock, I think the Psycho's shower scene desperately needs examination of Hitchcock, his own sexual obsessions with voyeurism and his general view of women.

If you're Hitchcock fan, I think you'll find 78/52 quite satisfying; even if it does fall a bit short of something new.

78/52 (2017)

**** (out of 4)

The shower scene in Alfred Hitchcock's PSYCHO lasted for less than a minute yet it took seven days to shoot. This wonderfully entertaining documentary takes a look at that minute worth of footage and breaks everything down from the score, to the edits, to the violence and certain things throughout the movie that foreshadows it.

78/52 is a highly entertaining documentary that fans of PSYCHO are going to really enjoy. A lot of documentaries (like the one on THE SHINING) are a bit far-fetched in their ideas but that's not the case here as everyone interviewed is basically a fan and we break the sequence down in so many ways that you'll be seeing things for the first time. I've seen this movie countless times in my life and yet I learned a few new things here.

The people interviewed include: Peter Bogdanovich, Jamie Lee Curtis, Guillermo del Toro, Alan Barnette, Justin Benson, Danny Elfman, Bret Easton Ellis, Jeffrey Ford, Mick Garris, Neil Marshall, Bob Murawski, Elijah Wood and Richard Stanley. We also get archival interviews with Alfred Hitchcock, Janet Leigh and Joseph Stefano. Also interviewed is Marli Renfro who was Leigh's body double during the shower sequence.

The documentary does a really great job at showing how marvelous the sequence was. We get to watch it slowed down as well as getting comments on various edits, why the edits were done and countless other stories. This documentary covers a lot of ground in its running time and there's really not a weak moment to be found. If you're a fan of PSYCHO then I'm sure you've seen other documentaries on the sequence but this one here takes it to a new level.

Of course, one of the biggest highlights is having Renfro discuss how she got the part, what Hitchcock was like and how the shooting of the scene went. She was certainly a major player in this sequence so it was great getting to hear from her and get her stories.

This documentary is really interesting in terms of knowing more about not just about to move it self but the film caree of Alfred Hitchcock. There are some very interesting news that I didn't know about which are very interesting as the body double who made that shower scene.

This was a documentary that I heard about when it was released. I was going to see it at the Gateway Film Center, but I couldn't make the schedule work. It went on a list of movies to check out. I believe around then this was covered on podcasts as well or at least brought up.

Now I knew this was a documentary that was looking at the shower scene from Psycho. I remember seeing this movie growing up. It is one that I come back to periodically. I've seen it in the theater a couple of times. I even own it on 4K. There are elements of that scene that are just part of the zeitgeist. That would be how this scene has influenced cinema just in general. The music going with it is known by people who have never even seen it. Alfred Hitchcock is one of the greatest filmmakers of all time and it is things like this sequence that cement that.

What I didn't realize with this documentary is that interviews the body double for that scene, Marli Renfro. They also interview Hitchcock's granddaughter, Tere Carrubba, who gives insights that she has. There is archive interviews of Hitchcock himself and I believe the cinematographer might also be here to give details. I should also include here; the title is the number of shots and cuts it took to make it work.

Something I wasn't expecting is all the filmmakers, writers and professors that get interviewed to help break this sequence down as well as to talk about the impact it has on these filmmakers or just the industry in general. This includes Richard Stanley, Elijah Wood, Bret Easton Ellis, Leigh Whannell, Karyn Kusama, Peter Bogdanovich, Scott Spiegel, Daniel Noah, Mick Garris, Eli Roth and Marco Calavita. This is just naming a section of who appears. There's important individuals here who this had an impact on.

This is also well-made. I love that the footage they shot for this is in black and white, paying homage to Hitchcock and Psycho. The array of people that they have is great. This flies by. I was interested in hearing what each one had to say, how it influenced them and what they've seen from the impact. This won't be for everyone. Hearing how they crafted this sequence is interesting. I'd say this is for fans of the film who want to learn more. If you enjoy behind the scenes or just how films can influence the work as well, this also would be for you.

My Rating: 8 out of 10.

Whether you like Hitchcock or not (you should) and whether you think Psycho was an important film for him or not (it was), this is a fantastic deep dive behind the shower curtain. If you know Hitchcock there might not be too many surprises here, yet for even the aficionados, the way this documentary is constructed is captivating. The shower scene is a film within a film. Technical perfection.

"78/52" is one that is a must see for any fan of Hitchcock and for those who loved his classic "Psycho" and for certain remember the most famous shower scene then this doc is a watch! Done in black and white to pay tribute to Alfred the film features interviews with directors, critics, film historians, cinema teachers who tell how the impact of the scene influenced movies and culture. And as a nice throwback treat clips and interviews with Alfred are provided as he gives his take on the scene. Really it's like an encyclopedia and history course on that one scene!

As theories are given about why Alfred did the scene in the shower was it society or did he have a mommy influence. The scene is described and broken down in many ways explaining how it was shot at angles and how the clashing back and fourth of images was montage editing inspired by German cinema. And it talks how the running and flowing water from the shower symbolized things like life and death. As the haunting eye and flowing down the drain image is haunting.

The scene would influence many later projects and be portrayed in slasher films yet much of the work over the years many felt was parody. It's clear it took plenty of work, time, and brilliant thought to do this scene in a movie.

Call it what you want was "Psycho" and the famous shower murder scene featuring one Janet Leigh a take and obsession on the decade's new culture or a spin on how women were viewed, or just a brash and blunt look at voyeurism and life and death as it's scary when the shower curtain opens up! Clearly if you love the history of film and liked "Psycho" and loved Hitchcock's works then see this doc as it will give even more info and insights to digest making you thinking more and seeing the scene from different points of view.

If you want to know why filmmakers still consider the shower scene in "Psycho" as one of the greatest, most innovative, and most influential in cinema history, then watch this excellent documentary. I knew a few things about the scene going in, including that a body double was used for Janet Leigh, but here we meet her and hear many details of her experience. Everyone knows Bernard Herrmann's iconic score, with its terrifying screech of strings and ominous bass tones, but what do great contemporary movie composers such as Danny Elfman think about it? Even horror movie directors whom I'm not a huge fan of, such as Eli Roth, have fascinating things to share about how Hitchcock's defining of "suspense" on film has helped them define and differentiate their own work. I know a lot of lovers of the movies don't like to know about the art and science behind movie mysteries, but those of us fanatics/geeks/nerds who do enjoy picking these things apart will truly enjoy this documentary. 9/10 for us.

This film was really, really interesting. It felt like listening to a very knowledgeable docent dissecting and explaining a famous painting. In this case it's filmmakers sharing their admiration for "the shower scene." They take it apart frame by frame and geek out over it and give their insights. There's plenty of "Psycho" trivia (casaba melons, really?) and listening to the recollections of Janet Leigh's body double is just straight-up cool. (Anthony Perkins dropped her head on the floor!) You also get to learn about some of the themes and subtle artistic touches Hitchcock used...like the story behind the painting hanging on Norman's wall, and the rain Marion drives through portending the water in the shower. If you're a fan of Hitchcock, DEFINITELY check this out.

The wide acclaim for this movie perplexes me. From the first scene poorly recreating a drive down the highway to the endless series of people gushing about the movie whose opinion's are of no interest to me, this movie seems utterly useless.

After about 20 minutes or celebrities telling me how awesome the shower scene is or Hitchcock is or offering some well known snippets about the famed director I started skipping ahead, trying to find something interesting. There was someone reading the shower passage from the book, and there's a story-boarded screenplay version that's somewhat different from what finally happened, and from what I hear there are some other interesting analytical things in there. But most of the time skipping forward would just give me another celebrity or filmmaker blathering on. Many of these people didn't even seem to have much knowledge or expertise; they just really, really liked the movie.

Should I watch a 90 minute movie in the hopes of finding 10 or 15 minutes of genuinely interesting content? I say no.

A few minutes in you hear this bit of awful cliched praise:

'Before Psycho movies were ... relatively disposable.'

Most movies before 1960? How interesting.

The same kind of rubbish that is said about ... just any director/film that is under study. Before this there was nothing! Who are these people and why are they wasting everyone's time with this dull documentary?

15 minutes is enough.

This looked interesting but unfortunately the music - which is supposed to be background is very much in the foreground and very very distracting (cello and violins) All these directors and film makers having their say - and we can't hear them.

Hitch's films are great and still being talked about and he is so entertaining in interviewers and in Hitchcock's Presents. I wouldn't describe him as 'creepy' as one of the younger film makers does.

What is it with film makers and the music - background is background and shouldn't be drowning out the dialogue.

I hope this is edited and re-issued as it's something I'd be interested in hearing the views.