Psycho

So much has been written about Psycho that now, for its half-century, there seems nothing left to add, other than a footnote-tribute to what I've always found to be one of its best, though least celebrated moments, something that perhaps only an Englishman with an Englishman's sense of politeness and embarrassment could have created. Marion (Janet Leigh) has stolen the money and, having smoothly assured her boss Mr Lowery (Vaughn Taylor) that she is going home suffering from a headache, is getting the hell out of town. We see Marion at the wheel of her car, stopped at a red light. She locks eyes with this same boss who happens to be walking on the street-crossing, and can't stop herself smiling at him in polite greeting. He reflexively does the same to her and then frowns, puzzled, as if to say – Hey! Weren't you supposed to be going straight home? After taking my client's money to the bank? There is of course no question of shouting some garbled explanation from the driver's side window – that would make the situation even more suspicious – and rigid with horror, embarrassment and dismay Marion looks away and when the light changes, drives hastily on. Those few seconds, brilliantly economical and tense, are simply more psychologically convincing and real than anything else in this baroque, inspired shocker. Always worth another look, especially on the big screen.