Few films can claim so much widespread fascination as Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo. It captivated viewers in 1958 when it was originally released, but has since gained a status among critics as one of the greatest films of all time. Decades after its original release, Vertigo still captivates viewers. The reason people are so consistently fascinated with this movie is because they are intrigued by its exploration of reality. The brilliance of Vertigo lies in its unnatural way of dealing with reality. The beginning of Vertigo establishes a fantastical atmosphere, setting the tone for the entire movie. The film’s opening scene leaves Scottie dangling over the place where his fellow police officer has just fallen to his death. In the next scene, …show more content…
It is unclear exactly what point Scottie realizes that Madeleine and Judy are the same woman, but the process of realization begins when he sees Carlotta’s necklace on Judy. During the time between his noticing the necklace and his decision to drive to the mission, it can be assumed that he figures out Elster’s plot and Judy’s role in it. The effect of the revelation isn’t instantly dramatic. Scottie is already beginning to seem insane, even before he notices the necklace. But the audience comes to fully realize the extent of Scottie’s deteriorating psychological state in the scene where he and Judy climb the bell tower and he reveals to her that he knows her true identity. This scene, made disturbing by James Stewart’s acting, finally shows the dramatic effect that Scottie’s realization has had on him. For the entire movie, Hitchcock has placed the audience in Scottie’s position and made them sympathize with the character. This no longer applies for the last few scenes because, for the first time in the film, the audience knows more than Scottie. Since viewers’ minds are not occupied with working out the details of the complicated plot, which they already know, they must consider what their own reaction would be in a similar situation. Charles Barr says, “Most critics are hard on Scottie for being, as Truffaut put it, a ‘maniac.’ He is indeed frightening both in his insistence on making Judy over (‘It can’t matter to you’), and, after the necklace scene, in his controlled and sustained vindictiveness. But, to state the obvious, he has a lot to be vindictive about, in view of what he has discovered about the plot in which he was both a tool and victim, and in which Judy was an accomplice” (98). This passage is particularly insightful because it sheds light on the fact that Scottie is more relatable of a character than many people would like to believe. His entire
As the plot unfolds, the audience learns that Scott
For example we can see at the ending scene of Scott and Fran finish dancing at the back stage. The scene continues with every short of the other character watching Fran and Scott, some of them looked
The villain of the movie Vertigo is Gavin Elster. Gavin works as a shipping magnate. Elster is an old colleague of the retired detective Scottie Fergusson. Even though he is only in about 4 scenes, he still is the mastermind in making his wife’s death seem like a suicide. One of his weakness are lying.
From the moment he arrives, Hattie discovers what her Mom meant. On seeing Hattie for the first time, he becomes really excited, jumping up and down like a child. Hattie discovers that her grandparents are embarrassed by him, her friend laugh at him, and
In Strictly Ballroom a character that undergoes a great deal of development is Scott Hastings. He progresses from an angry, ambitious and defiant character to a really successful dancer and person. This will be discussed with reference to filmic techniques used in Strictly Ballroom and how they reflect the changes in Scott. In the beginning of the film Scott is seen as an arrogant, self-centred and angry character which is evident in his dancing and his attitude towards others.
Scott Alexander is a sort of enigma, one whose personality contradicts itself. Scott is an introvert, is quiet and monosyllabic until the needed information is pried from him, and he always knows the right thing to say and when to say it. He is calm and collected, and is very affectionate toward his family and friends. His decisions are based upon his feelings, instincts, and sensory perception rather than logic or deep reasoning. These contradictions may be confusing, yet they are also fascinating.
Alfred Hitchcock successfully performs suspense and shock in a number of ways. One way was when he reveals that the cop is following her, making us think that he found out concerning the money she stole. Another way is when we see Norman staring through the hole, examining her as if he is waiting to make his move. The last technique that Hitchcock constructed suspense is when we identify a shadowy character gazing at her take a shower, making us wonder who it could
Scott experiences this exact warning at the school dance when Mick, his high-school bully and basketball adversary, pushes his buttons and Scott almost loses control of the wolf through anger. Subsequently, he realizes that he's been using the wolf as a way to conceal who he really is. By the time of the basketball semi-final game, he realizes that he just wants to play as Scott and not the wolf. The team plays together for the first time, Scott playing as himself and not the wolf. He doesn't do what everyone expects him to do, rather he does it for himself.
Alfred Hitchcock’s film Vertigo (1958) was voted the “best film ever made” by the 2012 British Film Institute, and for good reason. The plot is elaborate and intriguing and the cinematography is legendary. On top of this, the characters, like good characters should, all have their own needs and wants that are evident in the film. The needs of these characters affect each other and they affect the story and they all follow one common theme: control. Our protagonist, John “Scottie” Ferguson’s wants and needs differ greatly throughout the film, but his only constant is his yearning to get over his acrophobia, or fear of heights.
Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 film Psycho redirected the entire horror genre, and in doing so dismantled the prudent 1950’s societal barriers of cinema. Although unseen for its potential by the large studios of the time, Psycho became one of the crowning achievements of film history. While based partially on a true story of murder and psychosis from Wisconsin, the widespread viewing of this tale made way for a new era of film and ushered in a new audience of movie goers. The use of violence, sexual explicitness, dramatic twists, sound, and cinematography throughout this film gave Hitchcock his reputable name and title as master of suspense.
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.
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.