8 of 10

by E. V. SHAW

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There could never, ever be another like it to me. It is the most absolutely shocking film of my life, in that, I had never witnessed such an incredible scene, in a movie before.

In our time, we were into movies, such as "South Pacific", "A Summer Place" and "Three Coins in the Fountain". Then, along came, "I want to Live" with Susan Hayward and I thought what a horrible way to treat a woman. But, Susan was good. Very good and she wasn't supposed to die. Movies always had a happy ending to me.

Who would have thought that Janet Leigh would have the daylights stabbed out of her in "Psycho" by a deranged Anthony Perkins after he had treated her so well in the beginning?

I mean, one would think that stopping at an out of the way motel, would be safe, comfortable, and quiet. In fact, I was a bit jealous, because for a few minutes, I wanted to be her. Just think of all the screams that took place in our downtown theater and theaters all over the country.

Even after she was dead, and there was a water drop slowly running down her face by her open eye, gave me the creeps. I just couldn't believe she was dead and that some guy would have a mother like that, who could be so jealous, she'd kill a girl. (Well, except one but, I won't go into that). And lo, and behold, to find out the mother was already petrified and Norman was still taking care of her, blew all of our minds.

At any rate, I have to say "Psycho" had the most shocking scene I had ever seen in a movie.

Running a close second, was "Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte" which left me with mixed feelings. Here, Bette Davis, a Delta Dawn sort of girl, was trying to prevent being evicted from her old southern home and getting tough with all the construction workers, etc. who were trying to raze her home to put a highway through. She wanted to hold on so she could cling to her memories of John or the hopes that John was coming back.

Olivia de Havilland and Joseph Cotton put her, and the audience, through a bunch of terror trying to drive her insane. A head rolling down the stairs, Joseph Cotton coming back from the dead, after Bette and Olivia have dumped his body and the piano playing by itself were frightening enough. I must say the movie had a pretty theme song "Hush, hush, sweet Charlotte" and it has sort of a sad ring to it after seeing the movie and Bette being driven away from her long time home after finding out who the real murderer of her lover, John, is.

Then, along comes Hannibal the Cannibal in "The Silence of the Lambs". He is the most dedicated, determined liver eating murderer I have ever seen in that he could kill someone by simple mind over matter. And, the security the officials have to place him under (that doesn't work) is mind-boggling. In "Hannibal" he has sliced off the top of Ray Liotta's head and Ray watches, along with the audience, as Hannibal sautes part of his brain. In fact, I believe he lets Ray sample a taste. Hannibal has got to be the steeliest murderer I have ever witnessed, and he does it with such finesse (if ever a murder like that has been committed), which I find most shocking. You would think he doesn't have a soft spot in his heart but, he does for Clarisse.

I had never had fava beans before and just knew I would never try them after hearing Hannibal mention them but, someone gave some to me one time, I cooked them, and have never tasted a better bean in my life.

"Frankly, my dear, I don't give a Damn", Rhett Butler advises Scarlett as he walks away from her while she is crying her heart out. This shocked me back to reality in that movies are like life. They don't always turn out the way you want them to. I can't decide who shocked me the most - Norman or Rhett or Hannibal.

Linda Blair in the "Exorcist" when her head spins 'round and 'round and all of the goings on in that movie was enough to keep you on the edge of your seat and up all night. Something coming like that from a pretty, young girl is just unbelievable.

That about does it for my most shocking moments and I have relived the terror all over again just by writing about it.

Learn more about this author, E. V. SHAW.

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