Alfred Hitchcock’s Bold Move: The First American Film to Include a Toilet Flushing Scene

Psycho is recognised as the first American film to feature a flushing toilet. During a period when depicting a toilet being flushed was deemed inappropriate and often avoided due to strict censorship standards, Alfred Hitchcock saw an opportunity to push boundaries and heighten the shock value of his already groundbreaking film.

In the original novel by Robert Bloch, the crucial clue was an earring discovered in the bathroom, which played a significant role in the story. However, Hitchcock made a deliberate change for the screen adaptation: instead of the earring, he included a piece of paper that failed to flush away in the toilet. This small but impactful detail served to add an extra jolt for viewers, subtly emphasising Norman Bates’ secretive and unsettling behaviour.

The decision to include this scene was bold at the time, challenging societal norms and censorship rules that frowned upon such explicit on-screen references to bathroom fixtures.

Hitchcock’s choice not only contributed to the realism and tension of the scene but also marked a turning point in cinematic history, demonstrating how even minor details could be used to enhance storytelling and evoke stronger reactions from audiences. Today, this moment is often cited as a pioneering example of pushing cinematic boundaries and redefining what could be shown on screen.