So, what is up with all the Hitchcock references on Pushing Daisies lately? Two weeks ago, I thought the dog breeder’s death scene was vaguely reminiscent of Psycho, what with the black and white, the window looking over a nondescript city, the violin music, the shots of a knife NOT going into a body, his hand grabbing the wicker box (like Marion grabbed the shower curtain), and the circle motif as he lay on the ground.
Several minutes later, a VERY obvious Vertigo-esque dream made it clear that I hadn’t imagined the Psycho similarity:
And then tonight’s episode has a nearly exact recreation of the scene in The Birds where Melanie crosses Bodega Bay taking the love birds to Mitch. There are more birds in the Pushing Daisies version, but still. The body of water Molly Shannon is crossing is even called Bodega Bay, for crying out loud.
Obviously, as a huge fan of both Pushing Daisies and Hitchcock, I enjoy the tributes. But what is the point? Are they only doing it just to be doing it? There doesn’t seem to be any solid reason to connect any of the Hitchcock films with the episodes in which they’re referenced. Is there some bigger scheme I’m not seeing yet? Is Hitchcock the only one they’re referencing, or have I missed other references due to unfamiliarity? More importantly, have I missed any Hitchcock references? The Psycho one was relatively subtle, so now I’m wondering if there have been other subtle ones that I didn’t see.
In bad news, no new Pushing Daisies next week. Sadness. :(
Tineke
I haven’t seen the newest episodes, but now I want to go back and watch the three I do have to look for Hitchcock references.
Tineke
I haven’t seen the newest episodes, but now I want to go back and watch the three I do have to look for Hitchcock references.
jackie
don’t forget the psycho reference at the end of last night’s episode, with the body sinking into the swamp like that. kind of like when norman sinks marion’s car into the swamp?
didn’t catch the references in previous episodes until you pointed them out, though. good eye!
jackie
don’t forget the psycho reference at the end of last night’s episode, with the body sinking into the swamp like that. kind of like when norman sinks marion’s car into the swamp?
didn’t catch the references in previous episodes until you pointed them out, though. good eye!
Jandy
Tineke, you need to catch up! :) If you do find more Hitchcock references, let me know.
jackie, I didn’t catch that one! I’ll have to rewatch the ending to look for it. I feel there must be more that I haven’t seen.
Jandy
Tineke, you need to catch up! :) If you do find more Hitchcock references, let me know.
jackie, I didn’t catch that one! I’ll have to rewatch the ending to look for it. I feel there must be more that I haven’t seen.
Kate
Hi I just noticed the same thing when watching psycho last night for the first time. In the pigion episode I think one of the aunts in pushing daisies says she likes stuffing birds with thred and sawdust and little glass eyes. I notice that norman in psycho also enjoys stuffing birds as his hobby.
Kate
Hi I just noticed the same thing when watching psycho last night for the first time. In the pigion episode I think one of the aunts in pushing daisies says she likes stuffing birds with thred and sawdust and little glass eyes. I notice that norman in psycho also enjoys stuffing birds as his hobby.
Jandy
Kate, good catch! I didn’t think of that, but that’s a great one. Ah, watching Psycho for the first time…I envy you. :)
Jandy
Kate, good catch! I didn’t think of that, but that’s a great one. Ah, watching Psycho for the first time…I envy you. :)
Ava
Wow, this is 7 years late, but I’ve just started watching it and I’ve noticed some connections too. The whole show has a Hitchcock feel to it. The women wear these very 1940s style outfits on occasion, mixed in with some 1960s, which were when some of his most memorable films took place. Everything about it is just similar to Hitchcock directing choices, and it makes sense that they’re implementing some of his most iconic scenes into the show.
Jandy
Hi, Ava! I’m glad you commented, seven years late or not! The show’s pretty great; I envy your first time watch.
I haven’t gone back to watch it again, but when I do, I’ll definitely be on the lookout for Hitchcock similarities – sounds like they go deeper than I even thought!