European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - June 11, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse Norman Bates Back to his old tricks by Vernon Scott United press International Nomman Bates stand Sal ont m movie lore As the Only can Lunod psychotic the Lancy of Hoar Netina Public. Norman is Imp or in played by Anthony Parkin in Alfred Hitchcock s gothic Honor my. . A cult Movia Hinl h.15 grown t c Over the 25 year sine1 in of i the pict Irr a Dur i 1 one of Iho most Mon Anhly Honi c dp5 in Iho history of Tho to a the ulamous Shower q i str r in which inc character Phil cd by i Puj i a dubbed id de ill by in .v.iil,. The error of int till nay f Roku ii to left tons of thous no. I1riifj to Liiko Hiowt re in their own homier. A 0 someone Etna was in Mir hour Norman inc sympathetic yet sinister clerk of Iho decaying Bales Motet who Inha Hils the Creaky victorian mansion next door is a walking Lime bomb triggered to violence by his because of he Camplan Rares of Norman s personality his unpredictability und his violence he has been revived e " Ai Wii twi in ?2 earlier f3y me end of psycho ii he had done away ill .1 Wom a claiming to to his Feal Maurier. In psycho w Herman is Bach to his old tricks in la Icopini a Bales Motel with a flew ice run Chine Arr mrs. Spoon the woman who had claimed to be his real Mother is now missing. Returning once again Are Sherif i Hunt Hugh Gilhen. Roberl Alan Browne who runs the town s diner and Myrna Leggar Targton the waitress. They remain supp move of Norman who they feel has paid his debt to society and has been rehab Ilita led. A Neil character a novitiate who has Tun away irom her Convent and into Norman s world is played by Diana Scarwid. Many of the scenes take place in the old psycho House that is now one of the main attractions on the Universal studios tour. Bui it it the mythology of Norman Bates that attracts moviegoers of psycho dims. True Norman is not the first violent Creatura to become the protagonist in horror movies. There were Dracula King Kong Godzilla and other monsters. But Norman is a Llesh and blood human being with nothing occult superhuman or supernatural going for him. His presence in any scene engenders suspense because he could blow up at any moment when his psychological kinks Are touched Oil by a single word or a memory. Norman is even scan compared with Sylvester Stallone s rambo an inarticulate killer obsessed by patriotic Fervour. Most people would rather encounter rambo in a dark Alley than hapless looking Norman. You know whal you re dealing with in a confrontation with rambo with Norman you never know. Curiously Perkins does not see Norman As particularly dangerous he certainly does not perceive him As a bad . Norman is frightening because we recognize every Man has problems dealing with the influence of his Mother 1ho clean Cut actor said. People Are inclined to think of Norman As a killer. To really in t so much a killer As his Mother mrs Bibilos. She uses her son As an instrument of murder to keep Possession of him. On his own. Norman is a of weel Man. Since becoming aware of his own shortcomings in the interim years Between psycho and psycho ii he has ipod hard la keep out of trouble. The murders that take place in psycho Iii involve individuals who iry to discredit him. In the new picture he simply wants so reopen Iho bases Motel and be Lei alone. The problem is that other people have different Parkin 54, a Peak of Norman with a proprietary air. It was thai role under Hitchcock s direction. That made him an International Star. Although Perkins won an Oscar nomination for Best supporting actor in Friendly persuasion in 19s6, it was Norman who indelibly implanted him in the minds of most film buds. Actually Norman never lures anyone into his sphere of danger Perkins said. He simply would t do it even in the first picture he tried to warn the Janet Leigh character of get out of town. He gives her Good advice. The Public has a benevolent opinion possibly a wonderfully mixed feeling about Norman. They want to know him to understand Why they fee sympathetic toward him and be they Are shocked and appalled at his actions stories involving Norman have very Little to do with murder. They Deal with the excesses of love rather than hateful and evil Universal pictures boasts of a Survey tha found 90 percent of americans Over the age of 12 were familiar with the Story of psycho and that Norman Bates is among the Best remembered roles in american movie lore. Perkins is perfectly suited to the role of Norman. He is quietly off the Wall introverted and shy a bit of mystery clings to him imparted one likes to believe by his association with Norman. Tall and slender Locking a bit like leh Abod Crane a wears his half close cropped. His dark eyes Are intent and his Laceal expression is often quizzical. He now makes his Home in the Hollywood Hills with his wife photographer Berry Berenson and their two children. He maintains a Low Public profile. Norman is a decent Chap whose first real crime is the murder of his Selt proclaimed he said. I won t give away the plot of psycho Iii but there is a manifestation of his Mother no one is really sure who his Mother is. But Norman knows her identity. Norman does t have the simplicity of thought patterns like other people. He can change his intentions in the Middle of a word. He is capable of jumping in any direction. Thai s whal makes him the psycho pictures Deal with tragedy at Tor Anthony Perkins return at o in psycho 111." More than horror even though horror is pushed to the limit. Ninety percent of horror til shave Loose ends without explanation monsters and weird manifestations. Only a few horror pictures Are about the people next door. That s what distinguishes psycho from the blood lettings and indiscriminate use of special effects. It s what you Don t see in psycho that becomes terrifying. Psycho presents believable passionate people whose crimes Are committed out of ice and obsession. There is no random or indiscriminate in addition to playing Norman for the third time Perkins made his directorial debut wish psycho til. Alter i was sent the script 1 knew i wanted to direct it he said. But the Job was t really offered to me. While my agent was negotiating my salary for the picture the studio walked at his demands. But rather than lower my tees he said he would throw me in As director Lor no charge. It turned out to be the Best Job in town despite dire predictions. Sequels Are the hardest movies to make because there is a tendency for the director to became Loo by the original film or previous sequels. People in the Industry and audiences spout off about Page 16 the stars and stripes wednesday june 11,1986 whal they think comparing. It s risky and daunting Perkins said he was influenced somewhat by his work with Hitchcock remaining Calm and unruffled on the set. I did t let anything rattle me he explained. That s not easy because directing is like wrestling a dragon with 100 Heads. You try to pin Down a Tew of its arms Belore it gets you. You can t allow anxiety to Lake will Hera be a psycho in Perkins is unsure much depends on whether psycho Iii does Well at the Box office the original psycho was an unqualified hit. Psycho was not As Well received by critics or film goers Allyc go Perkins said it might have grossed More Money because of the increase in ticket prices during the 22-year Gap. When you consider another sequel you have to take into account the psycho fans of a couple of generations he said. You can i be them Down. Therefore a third sequel can l be rushed into. Tha Quality must be kept up. And there s More to i than hat. You ask a Uyselt if it is Wise to disturb Norman and the other people in the Story Yel again. You Don t want to squeeze out he last drop of despair and hopelessness from these characters. It would t be Lair. Nor can you be of heavy footed remember we Are dealing with the tragedy of a Man not body
