When he first read the novel "Psycho," he felt the story was weak in
that it started with and focused too much on the unsavory Norman Bates
character. It was Stefano's idea to Hitchcock to refocus the first part
of the film on ill-fated Marion Crane with her embezzlement and
shocking shower-stabbing murder at the Bates Hotel. Hitchcock loved the
idea of killing off the leading lady (
Janet Leigh) in the first 20 minutes
and the movie was a huge hit.