Alfred Hitchcock Film Analysis

The film was made in 1941 and won best screenplay at the Oscars and was also nominated for best picture, best director, best actor and best cinematography. It was directed by Orsen Welles and its main actors were Joseph Cotten , Dorothy Comingore and Agnes Moorehead. The film has aged incredibly in the last 75 years from its release and has defined film in how good it really was. Citizen Kane changed the way movies are made because it became the starting point for many filmmakers first learning about how films are made and how a director can give a film a particular style. The editing (by Robert Wise) was as innovative as the cinematography by Gregg Toland - add these two talents to the talent of director Orson Welles not knowing how to direct properly and you have stylistic flourishes and a film that still impresses today. It didn't immediately change how movies were made citizen Kane was actually a somewhat forgotten film for several years until it was rediscovered in the late 50s - but it was definitely ground-breaking and many of the techniques used were copied and used by later directors.

Vertigo is about a man named John “Scottie” Ferguson that lives in San Francisco and suffers from acrophobia, which is the fear of heights. Throughout the movie, he investigates the unusual activities of an old friend’s wife, Madeline, and during this process, he becomes obsessed with her. Scottie’s acrophobia gets to him while trying to save this woman’s life and it is a critical point of the movie because it is where the title comes in. His fear of heights is the most important thing to pay attention to in this movie and it is shown through many points during the movie. There are also many themes, motifs, and symbols in this film to know about.

Another common theme in Hitchcock’s two films is the female loss/lack of identity. In “Shadow of a Doubt,” Young Charlie feels alone and empty until her uncle comes to town. Initially, she is nothing without him. Comparably, in “Vertigo,” Judy is nothing to Scottie or herself. He wants her to be exactly like Madeline and she does it for him. At some point, both women experience a lack or loss of identity.

I really enjoyed this film because it all takes place nearly in one location. The set is elaborate, and you can see from the inside of Jeff’s apartment into the windows of his neighbors. It is filmed in such a way that you feel as though you are looking out of a window, and you become a part of the chaos with the actors. The pace of the film also intrigued me. I enjoyed how it was filmed almost in real time and you become drawn in because everything is timed perfectly. It is suspenseful because you are watching everything happen and it is also possible to notice things in the

Alfred Hitchcock’s stance in the film business is something to be marveled. His prominent position as the “Master of Suspense” is due in part to the textbook blueprint he created in the thriller genre. His catalogue has many examples, but the two with the most similar psychological depth would be Vertigo and Rear Window. Not only do these two movies thrill on the surface level, but they also thrill from the character’s emotional and psychological stand point. This makes the suspense less abrupt and more of a gradual progression into the classic Hitchcock climax. Hitchcock puts his viewers on a psychological roller coaster due in part to his three useful components: fear, guilt, and redemption.

I think that he did a fantastic job at really bringing the character alive. You could really see the passion when he was performing. For example, when he was doing his narrative and he would go to where the audience was , he was so into it that I felt like he didn't even know that they audience was there. The next one was Nurse Ratched , I feel like one of that hardest character to play is the villain because it's the character that no one like. I think that she did a fantastic job at it.

It is just as easy to fall into the trap of our voyeuristic society today as it was for the people of the 1950’s. In Alfred Hitchcock’s, “Rear Window” voyeurism is a major theme conveyed throughout the movie. J.B. Jefferies, Lisa, and Stella prove that human fascination with voyeurism is not only addicting, but over time becomes contagious and emotionally detrimental.

Alfred Hitchcock’s film Shadow of a Doubt is a true masterpiece. Hitchcock brings the perfect mix of horror, suspense, and drama to a small American town. One of the scenes that exemplifies his masterful style takes place in a bar between the two main characters, Charlie Newton and her uncle Charlie. Hitchcock was quoted as saying that Shadow of a Doubt, “brought murder and violence back in the home, where it rightly belongs.” This quote, although humorous, reaffirms the main theme of the film: we find evil in the places we least expect it. Through careful analysis of the bar scene, we see how Hitchcock underlies and reinforces this theme through the setting, camera angles,

“There’s only one person in the world to decide what I’m going to do – and that’s me.” – Charles Foster Kane from Orson Welles’ Citizen Kane.

Alfred Hitchcock is arguably the greatest director of all time. Many of his films are considered standards of American cinema and inspired many of today’s directors. Even though Hitchcock is known as timeless director, he had an understanding of philosophy that was beyond his time. Hitchcock had a brilliant perception as to how the mind works and human reaction. Hitchcock’s understanding of philosophy can be seen in his film Vertigo and illustrates how many theories can be debilitating in everyday life.

     The actors are believable in their roles. Steven Martin who acts as George Banks is outstanding in his role, he acts very well, so the audience knows his feelings, and feels sorry for him. The stars are not the main reason for me to see the film, but the title is.

Everyone who was in this movie played their part perfect. Leigh Ann was one of the best actors she really showed her feeling in her part. The caring and worried mother of Michael. She shows a lot of effort and doesn't give up until she has gotten what she wanted. She wanted michael to succeed and he did.

Alfred Hitchcock’s attention to detail in his films is one of the many things that makes him one of the most recognized film auteurs of all time. He was very particular what about he wanted seen on screen and how he wanted to get those shots. From camera movements to the things found in the mise-en-scène, Hitchcock was very precise about every little thing that is seen in his on screen worlds. He would strategically place objects throughout the mise-en-scène and have characters wear certain clothing. By doing this, Hitchcock is able to let the audience know things about the characters and the plot without it having to be said on camera. Hitchcock once said that “If it's a good movie, the sound could go off and the audience would still have a perfectly clear idea of what was going on” (Tiffin). That’s why there’s no surprise that when Hitchcock finally made his first color film, he began to use color as another way of communicating with his audience.

Alfred Hitchcock’s 1954 film, Rear Window, explores many dimensions in cinematography. The phenomenal film is well known for proclaiming its voyeurism issues that goes on in today’s society. Even though voyeurism is an act that should not be done, this film portrays it in an affirmative way. Rear Window introduces primary structural components in the first act which sets the mood for the audience to interact with J.B. Jefferies in a way as it is the audiences duty to help him solve the mystery on whether Thorwald murdered his wife or not.

When it comes to movies, many directors are good at their jobs. However, other directors are great in the art of film making. There is no doubt such statement is considered utterly subjective, but what would life be without subjectivity, for it is our differences that make us thrive against a monotonic existence. By the same token, Alfred Hitchcock and Christopher Nolan utilize their singularities to create films that for decades have impacted the movie making universe. In fact, it is their differences that provide us with a high contrast to compare and scrutinize their job and find what made them great at it.