Marli
Renfro is a former Playboy Bunny and cover model who participated in truly groundbreaking
cinematic history. She was Janet Leigh’s body in Psycho and there was quite a bit of doubling for her to do—78 set-ups
and 52 cuts in total—and what cuts they were. The construction and legacy of
the iconic/notorious shower scene in Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho are lovingly analyzed in Alexandre O. Philippe’s 78/52, which screens during the 2017 Sundance Film Festival.
Sure,
there are knowing homages (like the prologue to Scream), but no film has really come close to the shock of
presumptive star Janet Leigh’s first act death in Hitchcock’s 1960 masterpiece.
Of course, she was dispatched while taking a shower. If you haven’t seen Psycho several times already than shame
on you, but keep in mind Philippe will “spoil” Norman Bates’ big secret almost
immediately. This is a film for film lovers that presupposes intimate
familiarity with Psycho, the
Hitchcock canon in general, and the slasher and Giallo films it inspired.
Technically,
Philippe shoehorns in some wider discussions of Psycho, such as the rainy driving sequence that in many ways
foreshadows the shower scene in question. He also gives some solid “making of”
background. Sadly, neither Hitch nor Leigh is still with us, but Renfro stills
looks great and is happy to discuss her role in the film. Without question, her
recollections will be the most newsworthy for fans. In addition, Philippe also
incorporates commentary from a host of genre superstars, including Jamie Lee
Curtis, Guillermo del Toro, Eli Roth, Karyn Kusama, Richard Stanley, Leigh
Wannell, Mick Garris, and Elijah Wood.
Frankly,
there are not a lot of groundbreaking revelations in 78/52, but Philippe’s deep dive provides a useful methodology for
taking stock of the film’s artistry and cultural influence. Some diehards might
complain that composer Bernard Herrmann’s instantly recognizable themes get
somewhat short shrift. He also mercifully spares Gus Van Sant an awkward
discussion of his ill-conceived 1998 shot-by-shot remake.