Psycho Behind The Scenes Photo Shows Off Norman Bates' Playful Side

Anthony Perkins Psycho Ladder

With all the mixed feelings about the current biographical films delving into Alfred Hitchcock’s life, such as Sacha Gervasi’s Psycho-centered Hitchcock and HBO’s Tippi Hedren-is-a-victim film The Girl, it was high time for something to remind us how great Hitchcock’s legacy is. Perhaps A&E’s series Bates Motel, with its promising first episode will break the mold and usher in a wave of legitimate Hitchcock reworkings, since you know they’re coming at some point anyway.

But regardless of the future, let’s dip back into the past for he above photograph, one of the more classic visual treats to pass through the Internet’s grubby mitts recently. Los Angeles historian Alison Martino runs the website Vintage Los Angeles, which has unveiled this delightfully playful shot from behind the scenes of 1960’s Psycho, taken on November 20, 1959 in Universal City. Showing off his balancing skills, star Anthony Perkins’ perch atop the ladder appears to be foreshadowing The Birds, which wouldn’t come out for another three years. I don’t really know how it a picture of a fictional cross-dressing murderer’s house can seem idyllic, but this is probably as close as it gets.

It’s a good time to wax nostalgic about Hitchcock, as nine of his earliest silent films, all newly restored by the British Film Institute, will be screened at theaters al across the country this summer.

And since there’s some kind of a Star Trek sequel coming out this summer, how about another recent picture from the Vintage Los Angeles of Leonard Nimoy walking with his wife Sandra in front of a shopping center in Century City. Hope he isn’t shopping for a red shirt!

Nimoy and Wife

Nick Venable
Assistant Managing Editor

Nick is a Cajun Country native and an Assistant Managing Editor with a focus on TV and features. His humble origin story with CinemaBlend began all the way back in the pre-streaming era, circa 2009, as a freelancing DVD reviewer and TV recapper.  Nick leapfrogged over to the small screen to cover more and more television news and interviews, eventually taking over the section for the current era and covering topics like Yellowstone, The Walking Dead and horror. Born in Louisiana and currently living in Texas — Who Dat Nation over America’s Team all day, all night — Nick spent several years in the hospitality industry, and also worked as a 911 operator. If you ever happened to hear his music or read his comics/short stories, you have his sympathy.