Hitchcock’s Work at an Auteur in his Movie, Vertigo :: Movie Film Essays

Hitchcocks Work at an Auteur in his Movie, VertigoThough complex and brightly written for its time, the plot of Alfred Hitchcocks film, Vertigo, is only half of the genius behind it. Alfred Hitchcocks unique presence as an auteur is truly what sets his films apart. There is symmetry to his shots that institutionalise the film an artistic feel, as if each frame were a painting. Many times, within this symmetry, Hitchcock places the characters in the center of the frame or if not centered, then match by whatever else is adding density to the shot. For example, as Madeline sits and looks at the painting in the museum, there is a balance within the frame. To counter-act her position to the right of the painting, Hitchcock puts a contribute and another painting on the left side, which is visually pleasing to the eye of the audience. The use of red and green not only adds a visual military force as well, but later serves as a clue that Madeline is not actually dead, when the women who looks like her is wearing a green dress. Hitchcock has a way of throwing clues in the face of the spectator, yet still allows some room for the spectator to find their own less obvious details. In the same museum scene, Hitchcock shows the viewer exactly what he wants them to see. In a sense, Hitchcock can be very manipulative with the camera. The audience sees the picture containing the women with a curl in her hair holding flowers, and then the select connection is made by the camera, by showing the curl in Madelines hair, and the flowers sitting next to her. The spectator is led to believe that they have understand the mystery and she is truly possessed by the women in the picture. However, Hitchcock does this on purpose to lead the audience away from the truth that she is only acting. It is for these reasons that Hitchcocks work at an auteur adds a level of depth and intrigue. Hitchcock has characteristics as an auteur that is apparent in most of his films, as well as this on e.