Hitchcock Production Code Essay

Hitchcock used cinematic techniques such as cinematography, sound design and character to create a sense of fear and guilt leading to psychosis. Before restrictions were placed on cinema, many instances of scandals in Hollywood caused a bit of an uprising from the people asking for more decency, which caused in early 1930 most motion picture studios in the United States to apply what was called the “Production Code” or also known as the “Hays Code”. The Code was "designed to require motion pictures to reflect, respect, and promote the institutions and moral values of the American middle class"(pg 467), and if wasn't followed, it was expected not to do well in box offices. Whereas Hitchcock had other ideas. The opening scene of the

The obvious theme would be madness or psychosis, fun fact but the Spanish translation of the film means Psychosis. A psycho is “an unstable and aggressive person” or “exhibiting unstable and aggressive behavior” according to the dictionary and Norman is the number one candidate for a ‘psychopath’ because of his mental detachment and multiple personalities, which cause him to commit violent and aggressive acts, but what makes Marion so different. Marion, similarly to Norman, is an outcast in society who is capable of making impulsive decisions. When Marion stole the money she realized that she would lose everything, her job, her sister, her house and maybe even Sam if things didn’t work out, but she still did it. Hitchcock shows how the only thing she was really worried about was getting caught through overhead shots and shots through mirrors that give into the feeling that someone is watching her, feeding her ever-present paranoia. Does that make her a

As Norman grew older he found himself attracted to his mother, like most men which is typically substituted by other women, but he was physically isolated and Norman’s mother had psychologically manipulated him into believing that all other women were whores and sinful, so he created an unnatural, obsessive love for his mother that led him to psychosis. It was also mentioned that Norman’s mother had taken on a lover before her death, leaving Norman feeling abandoned and because of his fixation, it led him to commit murder. Nonetheless, the guilt of murdering his beloved mother led him to keep her memory alive through a persona in his head. So, whenever he would feel attracted or aroused by a woman, "Mother" would get jealous and kill her son's lover, and Norman by killing his interest is letting go of his sexual tension, satisfying both of his personalities. Unfortunately at the end of the film, as stated by psychologist Simon in Psycho, "When the mind houses two personalities, there is always a battle. In Norman's case, the battle is over... and the dominant personality has