In 1960, Alfred Hitchcock’s seminal horror film Psycho was released to the public at large.

The film caused a huge stir, with both censors and the general public, for its heart-pounding horror, exceptional editing, and American cinema’s first depiction of a flushing toilet (no, seriously)!

But chief amongst its revolutionary endeavours, was a wild yet effective marketing campaign. The film’s first trailer barely resembles what we know a trailer to be at all. Instead of featuring clips from the film, edited together with its iconic score, the trailer simply features director Alfred Hitchcock sauntering around the sets, describing the film as if its events were actually real.

He moves from the motel, to the house, finally ending in the bathroom that would play host to the film’s most famous scene. Finally, Hitchcock tears back the shower curtain, unveiling actress Vera Miles, who lets out a bloodcurdling scream as the title smashes in.

The trailer also unveils the names of its two leads, most notably Janet Leigh, who was a huge star in Hollywood at the time, and a massive draw for moviegoers in the States.