4. Bernard Herrmann and Saul Bass Flashcards
Who was the master of film scoring for ‘Vertigo’?
Bernard Herrmann was an absolute master of the strange art of film scoring, and in a career that stretched from ‘Citizen Kane’ to ‘Taxi Driver,’ the 1958 ‘Vertigo’ was probably his peak.
How did Herrmann revolutionize movie scoring?
He abandoned the musical techniques that dominated Hollywood in the 1930s and wrote short, obsessively repeated figures and static collections of chords.
What did Hitchcock find in Herrmann’s music?
In Herrmann, Hitchcock found a composer whose music would blend into the action with uncanny directness.
What design did Saul Bass create for ‘Vertigo’?
Saul Bass created a hypnotic design of spirals rotating in space, overlaid with a few uncanny shots of Kim Novak’s eyes.
How does the music in ‘Vertigo’ relate to its visuals?
The music rotates in tandem with the visuals: endless circles of thirds, major and minor, interspersed with shuddering dissonances.
What was the challenge with casting Jimmy Stewart in ‘Vertigo’?
Jimmy Stewart was too easy-going an actor to pull off the lead role of Scottie, misjudging both his skill and Hitchcock’s conception of the ordinary collapsing into madness.
How does Herrmann’s music shift during the Madeleine sequence?
In the Madeleine sequence, Herrmann shifts fluidly but uneasily among a few simple, cryptic chords, dominated by high or low instruments.
What talents did Bass combine in ‘Vertigo’s opening credits?
Vertigo combined two of Bass’ talents together, utilizing live as well as graphic action in its opening credits.
What key image appears in Bass’ intro for ‘Vertigo’?
The key image in this sequence was a spiral, which appears almost constantly throughout the intro’s three-minute running time in different shapes and colours.
What does the spiral represent in ‘Vertigo’?
The repeated image of the swirling spiral perfectly encapsulates Scottie’s ‘dizzy whirlpool of terror.’
How does Bass suggest entering the mind of the individual in ‘Vertigo’?
In Bass’ intro, the spiral emerges from the woman’s eye to resemble an iris, suggesting we are entering the mind of the individual.
What significance does the close-up of a woman’s lips have in Bass’ intro?
The close-up of a woman’s lips demonstrates the obsession of James Stewart’s character; the lips tremble at one point, showing Judy’s fear.
What colors did Bass pay particular attention to in ‘Vertigo’?
Bass painted the spirals or the tint of the frame in three important shades: green, red, and blue.
What does the color green represent in ‘Vertigo’?
Green is commonly used throughout ‘Vertigo’ in both the costumes and the lighting.
What does the color blue signify in ‘Vertigo’?
Blue can be seen as a visual indication of Scottie’s guilt, particularly his suit color during the trial of Madeline’s death.
