FILM 2205: PSYCHO II (1983)

TRIVIA: Producer Hilton A. Green originally suggested Jamie Lee Curtis to play Mary Loomis due to her being the daughter of Janet Leigh and having success with Halloween (1978).

Meg Tilly was never allowed to watch any sort of television as a child, and so had never seen the original Psycho (1960) and was unaware of its significance. She didn't understand why the press was giving all the attention to Anthony Perkins for his comeback role in this movie, and one day on the set Perkins overheard her say, "Why is Tony getting all the attention?" Perkins was upset, didn't talk to her during filming, and recommended that she be replaced, even though half of her scenes had already been shot.

The original house set was used and the motel was reconstructed.

Composer Jerry Goldsmith had written a musical theme for Norman Bates that director Franklin rejected. The theme ended up being used in Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983).

The original shower head used in Psycho (1960) was supposed to have been used in this film as well. However, just before filming was to commence, someone stole it.

The set designers for Psycho II found many props and decor from the original film to use again, including their version of a notorious painting. "The Rape of Lucretia" returned to cover up Norman's peep hole in the wall of his office. It also saw a return in Psycho III.

The character of Sam Loomis from the original film was written out, as the actor, John Gavin was currently serving as the American ambassador to Mexico.

The Universal Studios backlot is used to represent the town of Fairvale. It was later used to represent Kingston Falls in Gremlins (1984) and Hill Valley in Back to the Future (1985) and Back to the Future Part II (1989).

Richard Franklin was so keen to have Jerry Goldsmith compose the score, he turned down Universal's offers of Bernard Herrmann's cues for the original film, and even his unused work for Torn Curtain (1966).

The film is not based on the 1982 novel of the same name by Robert Bloch.

CAMEO: Tom Holland: The screenwriter plays Deputy Norris.

DIRECTOR CAMEO(Richard Franklin): sitting playing a video game (Battlezone) in the diner that Norman works in.

Watch this here…