Director William Friedkin (THE EXORCIST, THE FRENCH CONNECTION) discuses how Alfred Hitchcock "invented" the usage of suspense in cinema, and the film VERTIGO. Contains Film Plot Spoilers
Vertigo is one of the towering achievements in art. The mood Hitch sets is unparalleled, particularly the scene in the Palace of the Arts. But Hitch reaches past the ultimate opponent - death - in Vertigo, and creates a victory so astonishing only to pull the rug from under the viewer in one of Hollywood's cruelest acts
The long scene where John follows Judy is almost 12 mins long, has two lines of dialogue and is the heart of the movie where she tricks and draws John, and us, into her deception. Everything in that scene is a trick by her, the plant of her lies, and we won't know it until later. Diabolique does the same thing as a tribute to Hitch.
I lived across the street from the Palace of Fine Arts and was home with the flu when the shots were filmed. The amount of equipment was amazing. Watched Scotty and Madeline walking along. Birds flew up when a shotgun was fired. At one point looked out the front door and Hitchcock was sitting on my steps.
Even though hitchcock was the most famous director in his lifetime his films did not get appreciated enough when he was alive especially as far as awards go
Was there ever a wiser thing said: (paraphrasing) to those of you who want to go to film school, watch the films of Alfred Hitchcock, that's what I did. That's all you need to do.
Friedkin is always fun to listen to, on any subject. There is a great analysis of his work called "William Friedkin: Films of Aberration, Obsession, and Reality, " which I highly recommend.
One theme in the film is resurrection; the resurrection of a life and a love. Stewart's character believes he has recreated what he thought he had lost. Scottie falls into a deep depression after he loses Madeleine, and he brings himself back to life by bringing Madeleine back to life. When Scottie and Judy kiss in the hotel room, after the transformation to Madeleine is complete, it's the moment he realizes that what was once dead can live again--for a little while, at least. A beautiful, emotionally charged scene that says so much about love and death and the desire to bring back those we have lost. One of Hitchcock's best.
Yes, the greatness of a film is to what extent it reverberates in your mind over time. Conversely, I have all but forgotten about a rotten film by the time I unlock my car to go back home after seeing it.
Friedkin is no slouch as a director himself. He's right about Hitchcock's ability to create suspense. A prime example of this was in " The Birds. " Hedren sits on a bench outside the school. Hitchcock's editing allows the audience to see the impending danger but she is unaware. The cutting of this scene informed many directors. Brilliant! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-19r7ctge2lI.html
Friedkin's view on this film is very well thought out. Its a true masterpiece. The storyline about a man falling in love with a woman. He thinks he sees her die. It turns out shes not dead. He thinks this woman looks like her tries to make her to look exactly like the woman he feel for. Its just amazing. The acting from Stewart and Novak is right up there. The music is great. this is a masterpiece and one of the best films Hitchcock ever did
@GratefulVince I am a Friedkin fan -- based on a few of his movies. I'm not in love with most of his movies, but admire his technique. That book is a must-read and you will love it.
Like a spiraling whirlpool that starts slowly gathering momentum, Scotty follows Madeline/Judy down into the abyss. Three times he quickly follows her UP the spiral instead of down. All three times he loses her.
Vertigo is the greatest movie ever made. Period! Nothing will ever achieve the height of this movie. Nothing. It's the deep human sane insanity of emotional depth. The more I say about it, the more gibberish I'd sound. Better quit at "the greatest period!"
So is north by northwest which practically kickstarted the spy genre from James Bond to mission impossible to Jason Bourne. And the manhunt chase movies like total recall, the fugitive, minority report, etc.
xptardum -r i think its mostly a way for her to shake scottie off, so he doesnt follow her all day. but also to show how she was toying with him, making think hes crazy. and the fact that he goes to that exact hotel room, that is so key later on. and the audience also get to see the inside of that hotel room, that becomes so key later on in the film. its a classic hitchcock move to make the suspense and confusion even greater. manipluating with the audiences way of thinking.
That scene is a prime example of an 'icebox talk' which is a narrative conundrum that Hitchcock put in his films to give the audiences something to talk about long after the film is over.
That was to imply the woman in charge of the hotel must have been "in on the conspiracy" to mystify and confuse Scotty by setting up a clever escape for Madeleine. Madeleine was probably gone before Scotty got 2 words out in his investigation.
I'm fascinated by "Hitch" yet there's always a nagging feeling of dissatisfaction. It can't be the directing, can't be the actors, can't be the editing, pacing, sound, music; any of that stuff. Maybe it's that the plot is missing something. His signature style was that the audience knows more than the characters about the ptory. But "Vertigo" left me confused about what was happening. Still, I couldn't help seeing every movie by him that I could. "Family Plot" is an exception to any of my complaints.
I love Hitchcock but Vertigo is probably his dumbest film, certainly most overrated. Possibly the worst 'mistaken identity' in film history - her eyebrows are a different colour!!!!!!!!!!
Philip Moore: Hitchcock the most famous director of his time?! That may be your opinion, how many would agree. Maybe he wasn't appreciated, owing to his having directed a good many crap movies, of which the appalling Vertigo was one.
Thats not an opinion he clearly was and is the most famous director ever. Even people i know that dont know anything about directors or who they look like know who and what Alfred Hitchcock looks like. Its a fact hes the most famous ever not an opinion.
