Library Reads: Roberts Bloch's Psycho

Robert Bloch wrote Psycho in 1959, a year before the much popular movie was released. While Hitchcock would love to probably be the sole one who brought this story to the masses, it was really Bloch who put the idea into motion and onto paper. The story is quite scary, but I would say it's definitely not the writing masterpiece I thought. What it's probably better innovative for is being a slasher, and I assume in the 50's such straight up gore was quite shocking.

Summary: Norman Bates runs Bates Motel with his mother. The two are quite close despite his mother's abusive ways, but there are also some horrors that live there, that have been there for some time, and someone is about to discover just how bad it's gotten. When Mary visits the motel on her way to meet her fiance, it raises concern to others when she goes missing. With a private investigator, a sheriff, her fiance, and her sister, now looking into what has happened it seems like a sure thing that all Norman's secrets will be revealed.

116 of 1001 Movies: Black Orpheus (1959)

After reading a book set in the areas of Portugal and Brazil earlier this week it seems very fitting to have my first movie from Brazil pop up as well on the list. Marcel Camus directs this movie that is a retelling of the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice.  The carnival atmosphere is nicely painted and, almost completely conceals the very dark backdrop in the movie. By the end it becomes very intense and, you feel so mad at certain characters.

Set in Rio, Orfeo is a trolley conducter and musician who is popular in the city for his music. He is also engaged to a very demanding woman, Mira. When he sees Eurydice though he becomes set on winning her over instead but, she is on the run from a stalker who has chased her from her other city. He finds that Eurydice is staying with Sarafina, her friend and, begins to further get to know her until she feels safe enough in disguise to the carnival with him. Death begins to pursue her again though and, Orfeo may be the only one able to protect her.

85 of 1001 Movies: Ben-Hur (1959)

Ben-Hur is one of the earliest epic films. It's the beginning of a long of epic tales to follow it, and it beautifully weaves in the story of Christ through the story of Ben-Hur. The subtle messages, and the very likable Charlton Heston make it a great watch. Though I'm still wondering why in the 6th grade this was apart of the curriculum to be shown to us. They had a day set aside each year for 6th graders to watch. While entertaining at that age the message, and beauty of the movie was missed on me.

Judah Ben-Hur and Messala are long time friends, but when they are reunited there is an instant riff between them as Messala has changed. He is now a Roman soldier, and has some deep set feelings against the Jews, which is Ben-Hur's heritage. When Messala recognizes his friend's defense of his people a barrier is made between them, and he sets him up for plotting a murder. Ben-Hur is sentenced into slavery, and his family taken away to prison. A turn of events has him regaining his freedom, and seeking revenge on the man that betrayed leading up to a grand finale of redemption and loss.