The Mother of All Movies

Jaws may have invented the summer blockbuster 35 years ago, but 50 summers ago, Alfred Hitchcock’s low-budget thriller Psycho — risqué and unprecedentedly graphic — forever changed how movies were made, marketed and watched. Noted film historian and critic David Thomson, who examines the phenomenon in his book The Moment of Psycho: How Alfred Hitchcock Taught America to Love Murder, discusses the film’s cultural impact at 6:30 p.m. at the Kansas City Public Library’s Plaza Branch (4801 Main). The event and its 6 p.m. reception are free, but attendees must call 816-701-3407 to RSVP. In addition, Thomson has curated the film series “Money in the Blood,” a diverse lineup of films that reflect Hitchcock’s influence — these include The Conversation and Taxi Driver plus, believe it or not, The Nutty Professor. Different films are screened on Saturdays or Mondays through August at the Central Library (14 West 10th Street). See kclibrary.org for a complete schedule.— Brent Shepherd

Thu., Aug. 5, 6:30 p.m., 2010