(Caution: Spoilers for idiots who've never seen this masterpiece)
"Vertigo" more than any other film by Hitchcock reminds me of a Shakespearean play. Like Shakespeare, Hitchcock organized his films into a form of acts, and it's most notable in this film. There's the opening scene like Shakespearean prologues in which a single act sets forth all that is to follow. In the first act the hero becomes part of a sinister plot unwittingly. He meets a girl, falls in love with her, despite her husband, and vows to always protect her. In the second act, the plot is acted out at the expense of the hero. He comes close to finally solving his love's trouble but loses her as she plummets to her death from all things, a bell tower at a cathedral. In the third act, the secrets behind the crime are revealed and the hero begins to descend toward his final destruction. It wasn't his love who fell to her death, but the wife of the man who hired him in an elaborate plot to inherit her fortunes. He finds the woman who he thought was the wife and begins to remake her into what she originally looked like and who he fell in love with. He, of course, at this point is quite insane. In the final act everything falls apart for the hero as he finally realizes he was a pawn in the vile scheme. He leads his love to the place where she first appeared to have died and this time she actually does. Another lovely element Hitchcock utilizes is the presence of mirrors throughout both to forebode and remind us that Madeleine Elster and Judy Barton are the same woman and will suffer the same fate. Also, the use of the color green as a connection between Stewart and Novak, which disappears as Stewart's love for her becomes unhealthy obsession.
Jimmy Stewart's John Ferguson is reminiscent of Shakespeare's "Hamlet" and "Othello." Kim Novak's a modern Ophelia or even Juliet. Barbara Bel Geddes as the hopelessly tragic Midge Wood is like the countless best friends of the lead characters who are sacrificed. And lastly Tom Helmore as Gavin Elster reeks of Iago as he has everything planned out for his benefit.
If Shakespeare were a filmmaker he couldn't do better than this. He and Hitchcock were truly two of the best artists to ever emerge from England.
"Vertigo" more than any other film by Hitchcock reminds me of a Shakespearean play. Like Shakespeare, Hitchcock organized his films into a form of acts, and it's most notable in this film. There's the opening scene like Shakespearean prologues in which a single act sets forth all that is to follow. In the first act the hero becomes part of a sinister plot unwittingly. He meets a girl, falls in love with her, despite her husband, and vows to always protect her. In the second act, the plot is acted out at the expense of the hero. He comes close to finally solving his love's trouble but loses her as she plummets to her death from all things, a bell tower at a cathedral. In the third act, the secrets behind the crime are revealed and the hero begins to descend toward his final destruction. It wasn't his love who fell to her death, but the wife of the man who hired him in an elaborate plot to inherit her fortunes. He finds the woman who he thought was the wife and begins to remake her into what she originally looked like and who he fell in love with. He, of course, at this point is quite insane. In the final act everything falls apart for the hero as he finally realizes he was a pawn in the vile scheme. He leads his love to the place where she first appeared to have died and this time she actually does. Another lovely element Hitchcock utilizes is the presence of mirrors throughout both to forebode and remind us that Madeleine Elster and Judy Barton are the same woman and will suffer the same fate. Also, the use of the color green as a connection between Stewart and Novak, which disappears as Stewart's love for her becomes unhealthy obsession.
Jimmy Stewart's John Ferguson is reminiscent of Shakespeare's "Hamlet" and "Othello." Kim Novak's a modern Ophelia or even Juliet. Barbara Bel Geddes as the hopelessly tragic Midge Wood is like the countless best friends of the lead characters who are sacrificed. And lastly Tom Helmore as Gavin Elster reeks of Iago as he has everything planned out for his benefit.
If Shakespeare were a filmmaker he couldn't do better than this. He and Hitchcock were truly two of the best artists to ever emerge from England.
