Fresh Air A Look Back At Hitchcock’s ‘Psycho’
Nov 21, 2025
Join award-winning actress Janet Leigh as she shares her firsthand experiences filming the iconic shower scene in Psycho, revealing Hitchcock's meticulous planning and the shocking impact of her character's death. Screenwriter Evan Hunter discusses the challenges of adapting The Birds, including Hitchcock's creative choices and the unique techniques used to create suspense without explaining the birds' motives. Film critic Justin Chang wraps up the discussion with insights on Hamnet, highlighting its emotional depth and Jesse Buckley's standout performance.
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Star Shock Strategy
- Janet Leigh recounts how Hitchcock cast a star to heighten shock by killing her character early in Psycho.
- She says Joe Stefano and Hitchcock deliberately lured the audience into Marion's life before the unexpected murder.
Making The Shower Illusion
- Janet Leigh describes the technical breakdown of the shower sequence: 70-plus setups, storyboards, and different camera framings dictating wardrobe.
- She explains multiple stand-ins and non-retracting prop knives created the illusion of stabbing without showing penetration.
The Take They Printed
- Leigh recalls a take where adhesive moleskin began peeling from her body under steam during a long technical shot.
- She let it rip and that take was the one Hitchcock printed in the final film.
