The film Vertigo by Alfred Hitchcock employs various clever camera movements and sequences which seem to portray the main character’s state of mind. Right from the opening sequence the cinematography in this film had me intrigued. The viewer is show the red filtered eyes of a mysterious woman which zooms into a black void where animated colored rings spin and zoom to a menacing and mysterious sounding score, all of this provides the foundation for a film about illusions. The film also does a good job at using an unreliable main character who is oblivious to the trickery going on around him. The character of Scottie is flawed through his naivety and his investment in romance. I also found the scenes in which Scottie is following Madeline in …show more content…
It is only when we get a shot that focuses and zooms in on the necklace worn by Judy that Scottie comes to the realization that Judy was Madeline as he had known her. The whole conspiracy, which at this point has already been explained to the audience, is very underplayed in the scene which only leaves the viewers to wonder what Scottie will do with this …show more content…
The motion of the camera in pans, tilts, tracking shots and focuses is something that I very rarely notice in film, mainly because it is something so natural to the human eye. When a camera makes a pan to establish a setting, like the pan shots of San Fransisco in Vertigo, it seems establishes the environment but is something that is noticeable. When a pan is used to bring a subject into frame or to explore a space, it feels very natural to the human eye and really plays on perspective. Tracking shots (or dolly shots) also add a sense of perspective which puts you into the environment as you are guided by a central character or subject. Zoom lenses are also good at calling something to attention or readjusting the composition’s
It helps the viewer focus on the plot and what’s going on in the movie, rather than worrying about the poor cinematographics. This is especially important to making a quality movie. The well taken camera angles are a huge help, as they are always being focused on the important aspects of each scenes, rather than being messy and focusing on unnecessary unimportant props and such. The panning of the camera isn’t sloppy or distracting, which becomes a problem in poorly made movies.
Next, in Tim Burton's, Edward Scissorhands, a makeup representative goes up to Edwards mansion, the camera gives a long shot of her in front of the house. This could illustrate that the house was enormous compared to her, and that various things could be hiding in it. Camera angles are a cinematic technique that gives off several
The first part of the movie drags on with repetitive chase scenes and extra dialogue and leaves the last part moving too quickly. There isn’t much time to understand what is happening with Judy, or why. The major plot twist, that Judy is in fact Madeliene, also comes very suddenly, with very little of the
What is distinctively ‘Hitchcockian’ about Rear Window? Alfred Hitchcock, an important figure in film history, uses his creativity to make a perfect combination between entertaining and aesthetic. Therefore, his unique method of telling a story and theme choice is studied as the name of ‘Hitchcockian’, such as psychological complex and giving suspense. While Hitchcock built up his personal style, he still went through several periods to grow his recognition towards the film industry. And Rear Window, a highly successful film at the box office and being listed among best one hundred American films of all time in 1998 (Cowie, 2005), is an example of Hitchcock’s ‘mature’ period, shows the audience some distinctive parts of ‘Hitchcockian’ way
Scottie wants so badly for her to be Madeline that he dresses Judy up as her and takes her to places where he and Madeline had been even though Judy herself is an absolute antithesis of everything Madeline was. Despite her discomfort with these actions, she eventually gives in. Although, Scottie’s obsession with Madeline scares her, Judy’s need to be loved by him allows her to submit herself to his mania and give him control over her. Her eventual death is caused her own submission to Scottie.
These were explored by the use of the motifs of birds, eyes, hands and mirrors (Filmsite.org, n.d.). Hitchcock skilfully guides the audiences through a tale
To the unknown eye, Hitchcock has carefully and skillfully used Mise-en-scene to his advantage, causing the audience to feel fear and a sense of caution towards the character of Norman Bates. It isn’t until we reflect back on the scene and notice how intelligently Hitchcock uses the positioning of props and the characters, lighting, camera angle and staging, that we notice how he has added meaning to his characters but has also to the film, creating suspense and fear from one scene to the end of the film. Ultimately proving the point that Hitchcock “the master of suspense” uses Mise-en-scene to not only help make a brilliant film but also uses it as his disposal to add meaning in his
The films, Vertigo and The Birds reflect elements from Hitchcock’s private and inner thought life. Hitchcock desires to have a beautiful blonde counterpart. He believes that the love he sought is unattainable, therefore he plays out his fantasies through fictional characters (Jhirad 31).
Hitchcock uses Rear Window to examine the U.S.’s global Cold War strategy. The films use of many paranoia scenes such as when L.B. Jefferies discovered Thorwald making many late-night trips and noticing the missing wedding ring of Mrs. Thorwald encourages viewers to consider the post-war anxieties and personal surveillance of politics in the construction of the U.S’ s ideas about the world and possible consequences. In the film, L.B Jefferies, the protagonist, spies on the insides of many nearby apartments during a heat wave. L.B Jefferies observed people that were happy and jolly but he also saw sadness and loneliness in homes. For instance, in the film, there was a scene where a lady was having a romantic dinner with herself at night.
Released in 1958, Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo was a film centering around lies and obsession. After being released from his job as a detective after he got acrophobia, John “Scottie” Ferguson is asked to follow his friend’s wife, Madeleine. Scottie starts up an affair with her, being drawn to her mystery. After she commits suicide, Scottie struggles with guilt. When he sees another version of Madeleine, his obsession pushes him to remake the woman into Madeleine.
There are many different techniques used in “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”, involving the use of the camera. For example, when the oompa loompas are singing about each naughty child, the scene is shot as a pan or a long shot. By using these techniques, it may show the size of the oompa loompas or their dances to express their emotions together, this attracts the viewers. The use of the camera movements, produces a more interesting effect. Tim Burton knows how to use camera movements to his advantage in all of his films created.
Hitchcock’s emotional story of obsession, manipulation and fear leads to the succession of madness and lies reflecting vertigo. The film vertigo portrays how the biggest fear can lead to the terrible accidents and how it can affect a person emotionally. And later, how the same accident helps to overcome that fear (when Scottie takes Judy back to the church tower, his fear is gone). Thus, vertigo is the melodrama around the three characters only with the depth of vicious
Sir Alfred Hitchcock is recognised amongst the most pioneering and renowned directors in the history of cinema. His unique approach to his cinematographic style was iconic and influential in the progression of modern film. Hitchcock’s works are deeply rooted in the elements of German Expressionism and the subsequent inspired Film Noir genre. The film movement, mostly prevalent in the 1920s, largely reflected the dismal reality of life during the era and often invoked distorted and abstract images, as opposed to naturalism. Hitchcock used these distinguishable techniques, such as the use of abstract sets, oblique camera angles and stark shadows and silhouettes to enhance a sense of fear and instability in his own films.
They also utilized the Tilt Shot during the snow and globe scene, this type of camera movement directs the
The Suspense and Mystery created successfully by Alfred Hitchcock in Spellbound and Rope When mention about suspense, “Hitchcock” must be the first word appears out in the mind. Alfred Hitchcock produced plenty of films which are suspense and thrilling. In his filmography, Spellbound and Rope were produced in a bit earlier stage. Spellbound is the first batch of film using the topic of Psychoanalysis.