Blog 3: Editing Analysis

     I chose the shower murder scene from Alfred Hitchcock's, Psycho. This specific scene stands out to me because of the contrast of a much slower pace in the beginning and end of the scene, and the much faster and more energetic pace of the middle, where the murder itself takes place. When she steps in the shower, the camera is more or less just kept at an eye-level. As she moves around in the shower, the camera cuts a couple of times and rotates along with her, until she is eventually facing away from the shower curtain. When she screams, the camera has about 3 shots in which it zooms in closer and closer to her mouth which really helps dramatize the scene. When the murder takes place, the camera has an incredible number of fast cuts and most of the shots are close ups of either her face, hand, feet, or torso. Every shot of Norman coming down with his knife is followed by a quick shot of Marion flinching or moving, which shows continuity. She slides down the shower and the camera tilts down and follows her.

     My favorite shots of the scene are right at the end when the camera zooms into the shower drain. It then cuts to her and there is a long shot that zooms out slowly to her face and then pans into the bedroom and out the window so you can see Norman's home. It was very interesting to me how he was able to convey a murder scene without us actually having to see stab wounds or blood on the actress. The fast scene cuts (on top of the famous music that played over it) really heightened the mood. I also thought that it was impressive that although the movie is in black and white, he was still able to make the blood visibly going down the drain and seem realistic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s22lNU5jXM4