Return to Intro to Film syllabus
Updated 26 March 2007
ENGLISH 114: INTRODUCTION TO FILM, Fall 2006
Section 2: Monday, 6:00-9:30 p.m., Professor Larsson
Week 9, March 19, 2007
See updates on class website, D2L
http://english2.mnsu.edu/larsson/introfilm/114syllsp07.htm
Reminder: Extra Credit Assignment details are available at http://english2.mnsu.edu/larsson/introfilm/excredasgn.html
Vertigo (1958)
Producers: Herbert Coleman, Alfred Hitchcock (uncredited)
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Script: Alec Coppel and Samuel Taylor, from the
novel Entre les morts (From among
the Dead) by Pierre Boileau and
Thomas Narcejac
Cinematography: Robert Burks
Art Director : Henry Bumstead, Hal Pereira
Editing: George Tomasini
Music: Bernard Herrmann
Credit Design: Saul Bass
Cast:
James Stewart John “Scottie” Ferguson
Lee Remick Madeleine Elster/Judy Barton
Barbara Bel Geddes Midge
Tom Helmore Gavin Elster
Henry Jones Coroner
Konstantine Shayne Pop Liebel
Synopsis: San Francisco detective John “Scottie” Ferguson has developed vertigo, extreme dizziness and reaction to heights, following a chase in which a fellow police officer fell to his death. On medical leave, Scottie is contacted by an old college friend, Gavin Elster, who is concerned about his wife, Madeleine, who has been behaving strangely. He hires Scottie to follow Madeleine, who turns out to be obsessed with an ancestor named Carlotta. Scottie, though, finds himself increasingly obsessed with Madeleine, leading to unfortunate events
Questions for Discussion:
1. Why does Scottie become obsessed with Madeleine? What causes his actions with Judy in the second half of the film?
2. What is Scottie’s relationship with Midge? How does she function in terms of the story or Scottie’s character?
3. What do you make of the film’s ending? What does it suggest?
4. How do cause and effect link together in this story? Why does Gavin Elster contact Scottie? What is Elster’s actual role in the plot? Why don’t we see more of him?
5. How do the design elements of setting and costume work in this film? How do they advance the plot, define character, or suggest meanings?
6. How do particular camera placements and movements work in individual scenes? Do you notice any particular effects?
7. What does the film suggest about the power of the past, or the power of obsession?
Note: Hitchcock’s cameo appearance comes as Scottie is walking into Gavin Elster’s office.
Vertigo and Narrative
Plot Events in Vertigo:
1. Scottie suffers psychic trauma from policeman’s death in chase
[time elapses]
2. Scottie is placed on medical leave, talks to Midge, receives message from Gavin Elster
3. Scottie follows Madeleine to graveyard, art museum, hotel
4. Scottie and Midge learn story of Carlotta
5. Scottie “rescues” Madeleine from drowning by Golden Gate Bridge
6. Scottie and Madeleine talk, Midge sees Madeleine leave
7. Scottie and Madeleine go to Muir Woods, coast, become lovers
8. Scottie and Midge quarrel
9. Scottie and Madeleine go to Mission Dolores, Madeleine “jumps” to death
10. Coroner’s inquest
11. Scottie suffers mental breakdown
12. Scottie revisits places associated with Madeleine, meets Judy
13. Judy’s flashback to real Madeleine’s death
14. Scottie recreates Judy in Madeleine’s image, finds “Madeleine’s” necklace
15. Drive to Mission Dolores, Scottie exposes Judy, Judy falls to death
Story Events in Vertigo (reconstructed from plot):
1. Elster reads about Scottie’s vertigo, begins to form plan, recruits Judy to impersonate real Madeleine
2. Scottie follows Madeleine, gets hooked into Elster’s plot
3. Elster drugs real Madeleine, pushes her from tower when Judy arrives
4. Elster escapes
5. Judy stays with Scottie despite original plan to leave
6. Scottie discovers necklace, understands plot
7. Judy falls to death
Note: The real villain gets away with it!
Common Hitchcock Themes in Vertigo:
Doubling
· Mirrors/reflections
· “Scottie” is also known as “John,” “Johnny-O”
· Madeleine/Carolotta
· Judy/Madeleine
· Return to settings: Ernie’s Restaurant, Madeleine’s apartment
· Two deaths
· Three falls—the final one “cures” Scottie
Obsession
· “Madeleine” is supposed to be obsessed with Carlotta
· Scottie becomes obsessed with Madeleine
· Judy becomes obsessed with Scottie
Guilt
· Elster bears real guilt for real Madeleine’s death but
· Judy and Scottie are both implicated, even if Scottie doesn’t know it
· Scottie feels guilt for “Madeleine’s” death, becomes responsible for accidental death of real Judy
Appearances are deceiving
Evil lurks in the most ordinary settings