Psycho follows Marion Crane as she steals $40,000 from her employer’s client and takes off across the country. When she stops for the night at an out-of-the-way motel she encounters Norman Bates, a young man who is psychologically dominated by his mother. You probably know what happens next, and if you don’t, I’m not going to tell you. In 1960 Alfred Hitchcock asked people who had seen the movie to keep its surprises secret, and insisted that no one would be admitted into the theater once the movie had begun.

Psycho features Janet Leigh as Marion Crane, Vera Miles as her sister Lila, Martin Balsam as Detective Arbogast and Anthony Perkins in one of the screen’s iconic performances as Norman Bates. The American Film Institute rates Psycho as the greatest thriller of all time, and as the fourteenth-best American movie of all time. They rate the score, by Bernard Hermann, as fourth-best of all time–it’s so good that orchestras sometimes perform it by itself. The movie was nominated for four Oscars, including best director and best art direction (the Bates Motel is almost a character itself).

The showing is on Thursday, January 10 at 7 PM. All seats are $8. Getting to the theater early is always a good idea–for a choice of seating and to order freshly-made food and drinks. You are strongly advised to buy tickets in advance at the box office or online.