She Treads Softly: Vertigo

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Vertigo

Vertigo

1958
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Cast: James Stewart, Kim Novak, Barbara Bel Gedde

I really think Vertigo requires viewing more than once to fully appreciate its brilliance. Like many Hitchcock movies, a one time viewing may mean you will miss some important brief glance, quick scene, or small nuance that will later become important. It is a mystery entangled with the themes of obsession and loss. Stewart did an amazing job showing the complexities and flaws of his character, Scotty Ferguson. We don't always like to see Jimmy Stewart playing a dark role, but this role really showcased Stewart's acting ability. Novak skillfully played two very different personalities. Like all the other characters, Scotty's good friend Midge (Barbara Bel Geddes) also experiences loss.

I noticed that Bernard Herrmann was, yet again, the score composer. His score really has been an integral part of every movie. Consider the time on film spent with Stewart tailing Novak, with the only sound being Herrmann's score. He actually created a gentle, haunting "Madeleine's theme" that you associate with the character.

No comments:

Post a Comment

John Updike's six rules for reviewing:

1. Try to understand what the author wished to do, and do not blame him for not achieving what he did not attempt.

2. Give him enough direct quotation--at least one extended passage--of the book's prose so the review's reader can form his own impression, can get his own taste.

3. Confirm your description of the book with quotation from the book, if only phrase-long, rather than proceeding by fuzzy precis.

4. Go easy on plot summary, and do not give away the ending.

5. If the book is judged deficient, cite a successful example along the same lines, from the author's oeuvre or elsewhere. Try to understand the failure. Sure it's his and not yours?

To these concrete five might be added a vaguer sixth, having to do with maintaining a chemical purity in the reaction between product and appraiser.....Review the book, not the reputation.... Better to praise and share than blame and ban. The communion between reviewer and his public is based upon the presumption of certain possible joys in reading, and all our discriminations should curve toward that end.