Vertigo

Question 1

What was its production company

Answer 1

Paramount

Question 1

When was Vertigo released

Answer 1

1958

Question 2

What was its production budget

Answer 2

$2.5 million

Question 3

All time box office revenue

Answer 3

$3.2 million

Question 4

What were its two Oscar nominations

Answer 4

Best Art Direction
Best Sound

Question 5

Who created the opening credits

Answer 5

Saul Bass

Question 6

Whose score is used throughout the film

Answer 6

Bernard Hermann
Mozart in scenes with Madeleine

Question 7

How many other films did Hitchcock employ the Hermann for

Answer 7

9

Question 8

Who were the art directors

Answer 8

Hal Pereira and Henry Bumstead

Question 9

Who was the costume designer

Answer 9

Edith Head

Question 10

Who played Madeleine and Judy Barton

Answer 10

Kim Novak

Question 11

Who was originally cast for Madeleine’s role

Answer 11

Vera Miles-She posed for the Carlotta but fell pregnant

Question 12

Who played Scottie Ferguson

Answer 12

James Stewart

Question 13

Who played Midge Wood

Answer 13

Barbara Bel Geddes
She was givin strict instructions and no creative freedom

Question 14

What is the conventional Hollywood scene progression

Answer 14

Guidelines of a sequence
-Establish time, location and relevant characters through establishing shots
-Character drives the narrative by progressing towards their goal

Question 15

What are Hollywood conventions for narrative progression

Answer 15

-Shot in controlled environments
-Made to feel realistic
-Invisible continuity
-1 main plot, few side plots

Question 16

What are the 3 acts and 3 endings of Hollywood cinema

Answer 16

Confrontation, Set-up, Resolution
Cultural, Counter-Cultural, Soft Spot

Question 17

Explain Objective storytelling and Realism

Answer 17

The audience know more than the characters do, who never look at the camera. Scenes are realistic to adhere to the standards

Question 18

Name 3 other Hitchcock films

Answer 18

Psycho (1960)
The Birds(1964)
Rear Window (1954)

Question 19

What are the recurring themes of Vertigo

Answer 19

Guilt
Voyeurism
Taboo subject matter

Question 20

In which other films did he use the colour red

Answer 20

Dial M for Murder (1954) similar backlighting
Rear Window (1954)
Topaz (1969)

Question 21

In which other films did he use the colour green

Answer 21

Rear Window (1954)
North by Northwest (in the title sequence)

Question 22

What book is Vertigo based on? What does this say about auteur?

Answer 22

“D’entre les morts” by Boileau-Narcejac. Disproves auteur theory, although it could be argued that the heavily stylised visuals carry the film.

Question 23

Why is Vertigo considered his most personal film

Answer 23

-Scottie’s loneliness: Hitchcock’s lack of childhood friends
-Scottie’s treatment of Judy: His treatment of actresses
-Scottie’s guilt: Catholic upbringing

Question 24

When is the God’s eye view shot often used

Answer 24

In moments of chaos and disorder. Used in The Birds and North by Northwest. Used after Madeleine dies and James Stewart walks out, making him look tiny and vulnerable

Question 25

What is Pure Cinema and how did Hitchcock feel about it

Answer 25

Relying on visuals, rather than dialogue, to tell the story, much like German Expressionism. Hitchcock believed that dialogue should only be used where necessary, and that storytelling should rely on the visual aspect of films.

Question 26

How is Soviet Montage used in Vertigo

Answer 26

-Judy’s makeover scene: close ups of her features and their transformation to recreate Madeleine.
-Realisation scene: match cuts as Scottie pieces the story together.
Both Soviet Montage and Pure Cinema. Influenced by the time in which the film was made, but also aligns with Hitchcock’s personal preferences.

Question 27

How is Kuleshov effect used in Vertigo

Answer 27

When Scottie follows Madeleine. Close up, subjective POV then reaction shot.

Question 28

What’s the story between Hitchcock and Selznick

Answer 28

Both were used to being the most significant person in the filmmaking process. After Rebecca (1940) won Best Film, Hitchcock decided not to work in the same way again, instead proposing film ideas to studios. Gave him Creative Control as a household name and celebrity.

Question 29

How was Hitchcock able to have such creative control

Answer 29

He would cameo in his own films. Also had his own TV show, logo and signed off each film in the credits, essentially taking credit and owning the films he directed. Studios allowed him to have creative control, knowing that it was an effective marketing ploy to have his name on it.

Question 30

What was Truffaut’s theory

Answer 30

The director is the sole author of the film, translating their own experiences and their identity onto the screen.

Question 31

How does Vertigo affirm or contradict Truffaut’s perspective

Question 32

What was Sarris’ theory

Answer 32

In order to be a true auteur, your films must display technical competence, a distinguishable personality and an interior meaning

Question 33

How does Vertigo affirm or contradict Sarris’ theory

Question 34

What was Pauline Kael’s theory

Answer 34

She preferred to analyse films without considering the director’s other works. A film is a collective work, no one person is wholly responsible for its success.