Vertigo

Question 1

what is the auteur

Answer 1

The auteur is one whose work is marked by a coherent world view: has a distinctive set of trademarks, visuals and perhaps even running motifs, across a body of work. Both Hitchcock and Forman have been identified as masters of filmmaking; auteurs in the truest sense of the word.Whereas Hitchcock was both enabled and restrained by the Hollywood Studio System, Forman escaped the repressive Russian-led regime in Czechoslovakia and Hollywood offered him the chance to hone his skills of auteurship, particularly around the political.

Question 2

describe cinematography and the effect of making us voyeurs

Answer 2

The scene starts with a slow close up of the exterior Ernie’s restaurant. After this, there is a slow zoom on Scottie’s face and suit. As the camera pans toward the inside of the restaurant where the Madeline stays, we are taken through a short point of view of Scottie peering to see Madeline into a long, lingering tracking hot which is cleverly used to make the audience voyeurs.This is done to allow us to understand Scottie’s character and align with him

Question 3

emphasis of wealth through mise en scen

Answer 3

The immediate contrast between Madeline’s emerald silk wrapper to the red flocked wallpaper.
This makes Madeline stand out to the audience just as she stands out to Scottie. The overwhelming display of wealth and power in the restaurant alienated Scottie. Scottie’s gaze objectifies Madeline into an object of desire.

Question 4

describe music effects when Scottie finally meets Madeleine including pure cinema

Answer 4

The lack of dialogue during this sequence shows Hitchcock’s intentions of pure cinema.
Pure cinema is conveying information about the story to the audience through images, movement of the camera and editing, and not through the lines the characters say.
When Madeline stands up to leave, the close up profile shot of Madeline is visible to the camera then Hermann’s romantic score intensifies. The zoom into Madeleine coinciding with a crescendo of non-diegetic romantic strings communicates to the audience how Scottie feels about Madeleine.
During this scene, Hitchcock uses non-diegetic music and chatter of the clientele to emphasise the connection and his desire for pure cinema

Question 5

describe a motif in Ernie’s sequence

Question 6

describe the opening cinematography

Answer 6

Question 7

what is the effect of panning across her eyes and zooming in?

Answer 7

we are introduced to the male gaze

Question 8

mise en scen opening

Answer 8

spirals in shape of eyes voyerism
H is shown twice (power in film industry)

Question 9

representation and aesthetic in opening sequence

Answer 9

Question 10

describe the tower scene

Answer 10

Question 11

describe cinematography in the tower scene

Answer 11