Monday, December 19, 2011

Movie Music Monday: Psycho

Bernard Herrmann's amazing score for Psycho is brilliant. In my book, it ranks as the best film music of all time. Like Jaws, it is clearly identified with this movie alone. I'm also impressed that the entire score features only strings!

8 comments:

  1. Luana: This is my favorite Hitchcock movie, too. Classic! I like to listen to it with all the lights out. SO COOL!

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  2. Zelda: Great pic for a Monday morning. Got my blood pumping.

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  3. Brilliant score from a brilliant composer. Have you ever heard the score from the 80's movie Re-Animator? YouTube the credit sequence - and let's discuss.

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  4. Craig: I will totally check it out! Thanks!

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  5. Craig: I saw the link. Is that legal? It's obviously the Psycho theme...was there a lawsuit?

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  6. Scott: My son gave me the complete set of Hitchcock DVDs a few years ago and it was one of the best gifts I've ever received. I really enjoy watching the behind the scenes features. For the record, the role of Norman Bates was tailor made for Anthony Perkins.

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  7. Zelda: The music is so compelling. People react. That's what makes it so powerful. I'm amazed at Bernard Herrmann's gift.

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  8. Luana - that horror film - Re-Animator, that is - is much beloved - but EVERYBODY complains that the score is a rip from Psycho - even Leonard Maltin in his original TV Movies book's review! I don't think there was a lawsuit, amazingly enough, but the controversy continued on so long that there's actually a special feature on the fully loaded Re-Animator DVD where composer Richard Band tries to defend his choice as an homage. I don't really buy his explanation - but I do love both movies. It's a strange world!

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