8mm Forum: Psycho ( U8 400')

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Posted by Tony Stucchio (Member # 519) on November 18, 2009, 07:29 PM:

Can't believe this one hasn't been reviewed yet.

This is really a perfect digest. It has the shower scene, the Martin Balsam being knifed on the stairs scene, and Vera Miles meeting "Mrs. Bates". These are the 3 scenes most everyone would want to see. Also included is Norman Bates cleaning up after the Janet Leigh murder. The digest moves quickly, and does manage to build up suspense -- since we get the conversation between Janet and Norman before the murder. But let's face it -- everyone knows what's going to happen. (I'm not old enough to have seen it when it first came out, and by the time I did see it on TV it was so iconic that there were no surprises for me.)

I'm sure Hitch would have hated this digest since it cuts right to the chase. But as a film lover who doesn't have the full feature, I found this great fun.

Picture and especially the sound are top-notch. I watched this last night on my 35 year old Eumig and it sounded like it was recorded yesterday -- even though I was using the built-in speaker. As digests go for the truly classic films -- this is as good as it gets.

Posted by James N. Savage 3 (Member # 83) on November 18, 2009, 08:32 PM:

Thanks for that review Tony.

Universal 8 did some really good editing on some of those super 8 releases of the 1970's.

Also very good is the Hitchcock/Psycho promotional trailer. Its about 8 minutes long. Its very interesting, and has some humor and suspence as well.

I believe its still available from Derann Films.

James.

Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on November 25, 2009, 01:07 PM:

This is a great digest, and my print is beautifully sharp with excellent contrast. I particularly like the lengthy scene in Norman's office at the beginning, which really gives a lot of insight into his character.
I spliced the Hitchcock Bates Motel trailer in front of the digest, so it makes a great 600ft reel, even though the trailer is very soft focus.
I remember seeing Psycho when it was first released in 1962. It scared the s*** out of me, which was exactly what Hitch wanted! [Big Grin]

Posted by Tony Stucchio (Member # 519) on November 25, 2009, 07:09 PM:

So many U8 digests miss the mark with scene selection, but this one was spot on. It wouldn't have surprised me if they left out the shower scene; they left out some of the best scenes from A&C MEET FRANKENSTEIN.

I know it is not U8, but THE GODFATHER 400' digest leaves out 1) "Make him an offer he can't refuse", 2) the horse's head scene, and 3)most of Marlon Brando's memorable performance.

Posted by Marshall Crist (Member # 1312) on November 25, 2009, 09:10 PM:

Haven't seen too many of the 400'-ers. THE BIRDS was not too shabby. Based on what I've read, some of the Frankenstein ones suffer from poor scene selection.

Posted by David Kilderry (Member # 549) on August 09, 2010, 07:40 AM:

The hit and miss U8 400ft series probably resulted from taking over from Castle and having to put out a pile of 400ft titles in a very short time. Given Castle only had 200ft titles and the first Universal lists I saw had dozens of titles on 400ft those poor editers must have been under the pump.

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on August 10, 2010, 02:52 PM:

Hows this for luck, I purchased this item when it was advertised some years ago, its a pretty good 400 footer however, when i opened it i thought wow a full 400 foot.
When i cleaned and viewed it i had a fantastic bonus,This one had the Alfred Hitchcock promo where he walks around the set attached to it, clearly the seller didnt check before selling and unfortunatly as human habits go, i took full advantage and said nothing , and it was the original release on b/w stock. [Big Grin]

It was was such a shame that U8 didnt release this title a 2 x 400 footer it would have been a top seller i'm sure and the first spool could have been the build up.

Posted by Gian Luca Mario Loncrini (Member # 1417) on August 10, 2010, 04:39 PM:

Love that promo! [Big Grin]

Posted by Tony Stucchio (Member # 519) on August 10, 2010, 06:26 PM:

I'm still surprised that Hitchcock allowed his films to be edited for home release. His films are carefully setup and edited and an extract ruins that flow. That being said, I'm sure glad I have my copy of this release!

Posted by Bill Phelps (Member # 1431) on August 10, 2010, 07:35 PM:

I agree...like Kubrick who did not allow his films to be cut up I'm surprised that as meticulous as Hitch was to detail that he allowed digests to be made of his films. I am also very glad that they exsist!

But Hitch was more commercial friendly I suppose and somewhat the celebrity, and his public wanted them so he gave it to 'em!

Bill [Smile]

Posted by Tony Stucchio (Member # 519) on August 11, 2010, 06:17 PM:

Well, I think the answer is that he didn't control the rights to the ones that were released cut-up. (I could be wrong.) You may remember that a handful were impossible to see until a re-release in the '80s (VERTIGO, REAR WINDOW, perhaps a few others). Those never turned up in extracts. But THE 39 STEPS, THE MAN WHO KNEW TO MUCH (1934), FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT, REBECCA, SPELLBOUND, NOTORIOUS, and TO CATCH A THIEF were all released in full-length on Super 8. Were there any others?

Posted by Bill Phelps (Member # 1431) on August 12, 2010, 04:56 PM:

Tony...the other unreleased ones that were out of circulation for a while were THE MAN WHO KNEW TO MUCH (w/Jimmy Stewart) and THE TROUBLE WITH HARRY and I believe ROPE along with the two you mentioned.

I have seen EASY VIRTUE (a silent from late '20's) in a catalog as a feature but your list seems complete as far as stuff that was out on super 8 when he was still alive.

Of course now you can get a lot of other titles like VERTIGO THE MAN WHO KNEW...('56) NORTH BY NORTHWEST etc.

Bill [Smile]

[ August 13, 2010, 06:41 PM: Message edited by: Bill Phelps ]

Posted by Brad Kimball (Member # 5) on August 13, 2010, 10:43 PM:

Or......Perhaps he was just too old to care.

Posted by Adrian Winchester (Member # 248) on August 14, 2010, 10:02 AM:

I think it's difficult to presume the attitude of directors who did not specifically comment on edited versions. In the heyday of 400' and other such editions, there was not the alternative of ecomomical full-length versions and directors probably knew that even buying a new 400' release represented considerable outlay. I'd imagine that at least some would view such releases as simply a souvenir of the film for home use, rather than a re-edit of the film.

Posted by Tony Stucchio (Member # 519) on August 14, 2010, 07:59 PM:

Thanks Bill.

Posted by Gian Luca Mario Loncrini (Member # 1417) on November 24, 2011, 04:47 PM:

Getting soon the full feature. Cannot wait to screen it [Wink]

Posted by Dino Everette (Member # 1378) on November 24, 2011, 11:39 PM:

Gian I have my 16mm at home to watch this weekend... : )

Posted by Panayotis A. Carayannis (Member # 1220) on November 25, 2011, 04:35 AM:

Guess I'll do the same with my std 8 feature as well,preceded by a small (std 8) teaser and, of course the promo (in super 8)!

Posted by Gian Luca Mario Loncrini (Member # 1417) on November 25, 2011, 01:51 PM:

Glad to read we have here so many PSYCHO fans eh eh eh. Ciao!

Posted by Bill Phelps (Member # 1431) on November 25, 2011, 05:58 PM:

Gian....back in July of 2010 I travelled down to Dayton Ohio and attended a 35mm screening with Steve Osborne. It was fantastic on the BIG screen with an audience! I'm going to watch my promo and digest too!

Let us know how your print is.

Bill

Posted by Gian Luca Mario Loncrini (Member # 1417) on November 26, 2011, 01:17 AM:

How great, Bill!
BTW; of course I will let you know about my copy.
Ciao.

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on November 26, 2011, 12:20 PM:

Didn't U8 super 8 release the original promo with ole Hitchcock giving you a tour of the Bates house, (as well as the shower)? His way of describinf everything has that "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" (TV show) manner, with some good ole "bloody" humor.

Posted by Brad Kimball (Member # 5) on November 27, 2011, 10:17 PM:

I seem to recall reading years ago that Hitch was actually involved in the approval process (via his daughter) when it came to the scene selections in the digests U-8 created. I believe he passed away from renal failure just prior to his giving the final blessing to the "Family Plot" digest, but that he was mildly involved with edit choices in the beginning. Many directors were involved in the approval process where digests were concerned. I know that Spielberg had final approval on "Close Encounters" and "Duel" prior to their release.

Posted by Lee Mannering (Member # 728) on November 28, 2011, 08:25 AM:

Tony of the first post.
Ah the eternal Eumig strikes again.

Cian. I'm a member of the Psycho Standard 8 owners club as well! For me the Derann STD 8 feature is better than the Sup 8 cut-down. [Cool]

Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on November 17, 2013, 02:08 PM:

I recently aquired a terrific print of Hitchcock's preview of Psycho, where he walks through the Bates motel. I already had this print, but it was very soft with poor sound. This new print is very sharp with deep contrast and great sound. So I have replaced the old trailer with the new one, adding it to the front of the U8 400 FT edition of Psycho, making an incredible 600 ft reel.
While I was at it I decided to re-do the rather boring U8 bOX art.
Here is my new art which is, if I may say so, a little more interesting than that picture of Hitch's head on the original U8 box. [Big Grin]

Posted by Janice Glesser (Member # 2758) on November 17, 2013, 03:07 PM:

That looks terrific Paul!

Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on November 17, 2013, 03:14 PM:

Yes she does, does'nt she! [Big Grin]

Seriously, thank's Janice.

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on November 18, 2013, 06:36 AM:

Love that artwork,
Now youve given me the idea to do all my U8 boxes, cheers [Big Grin]

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