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Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho Audiobook
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Publisher Description
Here is a gripping, behind-the-scenes look inside the classic suspense shocker Psycho—and the creative genius who revolutionized filmmaking.
First released in June 1960, Psycho altered the landscape of horror films forever. But just as compelling as the movie itself is the story behind it.
Stephen Rebello brings to life the creation of one of Hollywood's most iconic films, from the story of Wisconsin murderer Ed Gein, the real-life inspiration for the character of Norman Bates, to Hitchcock's groundbreaking achievements in cinematography, sound, editing, and promotion. Packed with captivating insights from the film's stars, writers, and crew members, this book is a riveting and definitive history of a signature Hitchcock cinematic masterpiece.
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"I decided to go ahead and read Stephen Rebello's chronicle of the making of Alfred Hitchcock's game-changing movie "Psycho" before the new movie starring Anthony Hopkins comes out. So far it is very engaging and fascinating. I'm reading a first printing hardcover, originally published in 1990, and boy, the design really screams "1990s." That doesn't detract from the reading experience at all, fortunately."
— Adam (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Meticulous history…helps the reader comprehend the original shock of the film.”
— New York Times Book Review -
“Rebello talked with virtually every surviving participant in the filmmaking. The result is a book that will inform cineastes and indulge Psychomanes.”
— Washington Post Book World -
“Fascinating.”
— Newsweek -
“Joyously entertaining.”
— Sunday Telegraph (London) -
“Meticulously researched and irresistible…Required reading not only for Psycho-philes but also for anyone interested in the backstage world of movie creation.”
— Anthony Perkins, star of Psycho -
“Essential…I’ve learned so much from reading this book.”
— Gus Van Sant, award-winning film director -
“One of the best accounts of the making of an individual movie we’ve ever had.”
— Richard Schickel, Time film critic -
“We are indebted to Stephen Rebello’s labor of love. He sweats the details as much as Hitchcock at his most compulsive.”
— Philadelphia Inquirer -
“Garcia’s reading is clipped and precise. When quoting the great filmmaker, Garcia’s voice takes on Hitchcock’s slow, impishly boastful style without trying to imitate it.”
— AudioFile -
“In some ways a groundbreaking film, Psycho has been extensively written about and minutely analyzed…Rebello’s book has added considerable color gained from extensive interviews with Hitchcock and others who worked on the film.”
— Library Journal
Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho Listener Reviews
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Pete Poskiparta, 4/22/2024
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" This is an amazing book. With insight into writing, directing, and editing. Not to mention collaboration. "
— Dan, 2/20/2014 -
" Very interesting book. Hitchcock was a bit different than I thought he was. My only complaint about this book is that the author spent a LOT of time on some of the technical details in the making of Psycho. Other than that, I found it to be a fascianting read. "
— Sara, 2/9/2014 -
" You can read it in a single day. You'll want to head straight for the film when you're done. All the major players in front of and behind the camera get a say. All he wanted to do was make a B horror movie, fast and cheap... and look what happened. "
— Gary, 1/29/2014 -
" Entertaining read. Rebello wisely steps back and lets cast and crew accounts of Hitchcock and the Psycho film production speak for themselves. "
— Bryan, 1/26/2014 -
" I was interested in finding out more about the movie, about the ideas and the man behind the camera. I did enjoy the behind-the-scenes stories but for the most part, it seemed anecdotal. I wanted less gossip and more history. Alas. "
— Terri, 1/15/2014 -
" Great insights into the creative process! "
— Karl, 1/15/2014 -
" Interesting book with the people who made Psycho and how it came to be. It talks about everything from the story of Ed Gein to the infamous shower scene to how Hitchcock dealt with the aftermath of the film. "
— Mike, 1/4/2014 -
" It was interesting to compare this to the movie (which I saw first), and all the ways the screenplay nudged or changed things to tell a narrative. "
— Pancha, 12/19/2013 -
" I really tried to like this book, because I loved Hitchcock (the movie), but it's just too slow and I gave up. "
— Karen, 12/18/2013 -
" You can read my review at HorrorTalk.com. "
— Stewie, 12/9/2013 -
" Breezy, entertaining look behind the scenes at the production of one of the the great American films. "
— Steve, 11/23/2013 -
" I read this in two days. Engrossing and delightful "
— Alison, 11/9/2013 -
" This book was informative and well-researched. While I found some film production sections a bit dull, there is no doubt that Rebello is an expert on Hitchcock's Psycho. "
— Ke, 10/28/2013 -
" Very interesting book regarding the making of Psycho, covering everything from the original psychopath who inspired the novel to the film's consequences on Hitchcock's later films. I recommend watching the French film Les Diaboliques prior to reading this, as it is referenced often. "
— Christine, 9/25/2013 -
" Quite good, but certainly rehashes many commonly known things about the filming. "
— Kyle, 9/15/2013 -
" Thoroughly researched account of the before, during, and after that the title promises. It's a little bit dry, but I still wish it were even longer and more in-depth. "
— Joe, 9/15/2013 -
" Lots of cool information but it dragged on and on. "
— Cory, 8/11/2013 -
" A must for any Psycho/Hitchcock completist (like me). "
— Blake, 3/7/2013 -
" Interesting recount of the story behind the movie. "
— Dilley, 1/25/2013 -
" Writing this book is one of the achievements of which I'm most proud. Adapting it for motion pictures, an ongoing process, is turning into another great source of pleasure. And pain. "
— Stephen, 1/2/2013
About Stephen Rebello
Stephen Rebello is a screenwriter and author of several nonfiction books, including Reel Art: Great Posters from the Golden Age of the Silver Screen. He has also written feature articles for such magazines as Movieline, Hollywood Life, GQ, More, and Cosmopolitan. His celebrity interviews have drawn out provocative revelations from Matt Damon, Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Drew Barrymore, Charlie Sheen, Scarlett Johansson, Clive Owen, Jerry Bruckheimer, Sharon Stone, Gillian Anderson, Pierce Brosnan, and Tom Cruise, among others. Born in Massachusetts and a resident of Southern California, he is currently a contributing editor at Playboy magazine. Hitchcock, a 2013 dramatic feature film inspired by Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho, stars Anthony Hopkins, Helen Mirren, Scarlett Johansson, and Jessica Biel.
About Richard Powers
Richard Powers has published thirteen novels. He is a MacArthur Fellow and received the National Book Award. He won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for The Overstory, and Bewilderment was shortlisted for the Booker Prize.