One of my first jobs in the film business was working as an assistant for legendary designer Saul Bass. In addition to creating some of the most recognizable icons and logos of our time, he created the main-title sequence for many films including Psycho, North by Northwest, and (along with his wife Elaine) Goodfellas, Cape Fear, and The Age of Innocence.
It was a privilege to have the opportunity to learn from such a talented man. Bass taught me about commitment to excellence. He never compromised. Even if it meant losing money, he would work and re-work his designs until he felt they were perfect. Many times we stayed up well into the night until he was satisfied. And he never permitted his emotions to get in the way. On one project, the film’s producer was taking an adversarial position, fighting for a main title other than the one Bass was designing. Although Bass harbored a negative opinion, he purposely cast it aside to be sure that he was correct in fighting for his vision. This was quite admirable.
While working for Bass, I heard the rumor that he had directed the shower scene in Psycho. I asked him if it was true. Bass told me that although Hitchcock never publicly acknowledged his contribution, he did in fact have a significant hand in the design and direction the famous scene. He explained that Hitchcock was struggling to determine the best way to execute the scene and Bass approached him with storyboards. To help clarify what he had in mind, Bass acquired a 16mm wind-up camera and filmed a mock-up of the sequence with Janet Leigh’s stand-in. He then gave the footage to Psycho editor George Tomasini and together they crafted a visual storyboard of the scene. Bass showed it to Hitchcock who liked it. On the day of the shoot, Hitchcock asked Bass to set up the first shot, placing the camera and the actors. When Bass was satisfied, he turned to Hitchcock to tell him it was ready. From his director’s chair, Hitchcock gestured to Bass to ‘call it’. With his blessing, Bass called action and helped film what is one of the scariest scenes ever put on film.
One of Bass’ greatest achievements was directing the Oscar winning short, Why Man Creates (1968). I remember being captivated by the film when I first saw it in elementary school. Why Man Creates is a unique look at the nature of creativity. One of the most memorable parts of the film is a 4-minute animated sequence called “The Edifice”, which illustrates the history of civilization from the beginning of man to the present day.
Here is “The Edifice”, from Why Man Creates:
And here is the whole movie: