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The Guardian (06/Oct/2004) - Tea with the Hitchcocks

(c) The Guardian (06/Oct/2004)

Tea with the Hitchcocks

In her foreword to "The Alfred Hitchcock Story" (by Ken Mogg, Titan Books) Janet Leigh recalled shooting the infamous shower scene.

I had met Mr and Mrs Hitchcock socially a few years before the making of Psycho. We always hit it off, mainly due, I suppose, to our wild sense of humour and mutual passion for movies. In the late summer of 1959 a messenger delivered an envelope containing a book and a note that read in essence, "Dear Janet, please consider taking the part of Mary Crane... Anthony Perkins is set to play Norman Bates." And it concluded with his customary signature profile

That was the beginning of my professional relationship with "the man". I went home for tea and to be introduced to his modus operandi. It was awesome. In his mind, and sketched on the pages of his script, the film was already shot. He showed me the model sets and moved the miniature camera through the tiny furniture toward the wee dolls, exactly the way he intended to do it in "reel" life. He was meticulously thorough.

I was told I had carte blanche to play Marion (the name was changed from the novel) as I envisioned her, except I had to move when his camera dictated. I am aware many actors felt this approach was a threat to their freedom of expression. Perhaps I would have also felt that, under a different leader. But how could anyone question his method when his results were so spectacular?

Fortunately, we moulded perfectly. It was one of the most relaxed and pleasurable atmospheres in which I've worked. No tension, no tantrums, a great deal of interesting conversation, much laughter and many practical jokes. But believe me, when the cinematographer was ready, we were all business, and completely focused on the scene. The shower sequence took seven shooting days and tallied over 70 set-ups, and he knew precisely what portion of a second he would use of each angle.

He was such a mischievous imp. And oh so smart! Mr "H" deliberately weaved a web of mystery and speculation about this film. Always the quintessential salesman, he had rumours flying by the first week of shooting. The set was closed, which always aroused interest. When I was actually in the shower, wearing moleskin over the necessary parts and a bathing suit where I was out of camera, I noticed each crew member had several new "assistants".

When I had finished my three weeks, he hired a professional artist's model to be on the set nude, obviously fuelling the buzz he had created. I am certain he followed the same pattern of perfection in every one of his endeavours.

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