Were any cuts actually made to the shower scene?This is a link I posted in a different thread:
https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/53260
The relevant portion:
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"On 19 Feb 1960, the PCA viewed the completed film, which it refused to approve. According to an internal memo, the film was rejected because of the beginning scene between Sam and Marion, which was 'entirely too passionate'; a sexually suggestive line uttered by 'Tom Cassidy'; and the shower murder sequence. The memo stated that the sequence had 'a number of shots, some impressionistic, some completely realistic, of the girl’s nude body. All of these shots are in violation of the Code, which prohibits nudity 'in fact or in silhouette.' It was further declared that Norman watching Marion undress was too sexually suggestive and had to be cut so that he would only see her in her bra and slip rather than explicitly taking off her bra. On 3 Mar 1960, the office issued Paramount a seal of approval 'based upon the revised scenes as reviewed in our projection room' the previous day, so presumably the cuts demanded by the PCA were made.
"The Hitchcock papers reveal that the National Catholic Legion of Decency demanded three cuts before giving the picture a 'B,' or 'morally objectionable in part for all' rating. The Legion required that scenes of Marion removing her bra be deleted, that the shots showing Norman washing his hands of blood be shortened and that the number of times Arbogast is stabbed be reduced from four to two. Psycho was eventually issued the 'B' rating by the Legion, which announced: 'The sensational use of sex and the excessive violence, which partially mar the development of the story, are considered to be entirely lacking in dramatic justification and to be highly objectionable.'"
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This suggests that both the PCA and the Legion of Decency objected to the shot of Marion undressing, and that the Legion of Decency objected to the two other bits that are now part of the "Uncut" version. It's possible that the trims were made to the negative in the spring of 1960, but that materials for international distribution had already gone out. Some markets may have released the slightly longer prints, one of which was apparently the source of those German TV airings that started all the speculation about a longer cut in the first place.
That's admittedly all conjecture, but I feel like the only other possibility is that Paramount ignored the Legion of Decency and released the film with those extra bits of footage. Then when Universal gained control a few years later, they went back into the film and made the three specific cuts the Legion of Decency had requested in 1960 and then re-released the film, claiming that it was "Uncut" and the "Version TV Didn't Dare Show." I'm just not sure I buy that.
I may be completely wrong, of course. Anyone can feel free to post the "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" conspiracy meme if you'd like.