PLEASE wait for the music to load... it's really worth it

This must be the most memorable 45 seconds in film history, and there are a lot of interesting facts to go with it.

It took 7 shooting days to complete the scene

There are over 90 splices in the scene (that's 2 for every second of film)

Janet Leigh DID have to be in the shower for 7 shooting days (there is no truth to the rumors that she used a body double).

Since it was a black and white film, they used chocolate syrup for the blood... it shows up better when diluted with water.

Anthony Perkins wasn't even on hand for any of the shooting of this scene... he was auditioning for a Broadway production.

Janet Leigh was never totally nude. Special moleskin pieces were designed to cover the strategic areas.

The part where there do a pan out from Janet Leigh's eye is not what you think. Alfred Hitchcock could not get her to stay still enough for the entire shot, so he used a still photo instead. They used an eyedropper to make a single drop of water appear to come off of her hair. Watch it... you can see it on the far right hand side.

There were 70-80 camera setups for this scene.

Yes, they really did use warm water in the shower.

Alfred Hitchcock wanted no sound in this scene other than screaming and running water. Composer Bernard Herrmann disagreed and wrote music for it anyway (the stuff you're listening to). Hitchcock liked it so much, that he changed his mind and put it in.