Analyzing Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo

AUTHOR'S NOTE: It is near impossible to discuss "Vertigo" without talking about some of the key plot points. If you have not yet seen this film, I strongly advise not reading this analyzation.

“Vertigo” is Alfred Hitchcock’s 1958 film about love, manipulation, and obsession. The story centers around Scottie, a retired detective, who has acrophobia. Contacted by an old friend, he is given a new assignment: to follow his friend’s wife Madeleine, who he believes is possessed by her dead relative. He then becomes obsessed with her, leading up to the unforgettable and unavoidable conclusion.

“Vertigo” has, quite possibly, one of the best tales of obsession brought to screen.

Their love seems natural at first, but following Madeleine’s tragic death, Scottie isn’t the same. His impression of her lasts, and at any sighting of somebody resembling her, he is reminded of what he thinks is his fault.

But one day, one of the look-alikes almost exactly resembles her. In fact, she is her, as the Madeleine Scottie knew wasn’t the real wife; his friend created an elaborate scam to murder his real spouse.

Not knowing this, Scottie begins to reconstruct his dead lover. He begins with her clothes, but then moves on to more drastic alterations, such as hair color.

These scenes are particularly hard to watch, because all we’re really seeing is a man contorted with obsession and guilt. He wants to believe Madeleine is still alive, and that is exactly what he gets.

But not for long.

Their relationship seemed doomed from the start: it was full of lies, obsession, guilt, and anxiety. Scottie didn’t want the real woman that played the role of Madeleine; all he wanted was Madeleine herself.

In the exact same location that the real Madeleine died, the manipulative woman falls to her death. It was unavoidable, and the downwards spiral into that conclusion was astounding.

This analyzation of “Vertigo” of mine was hard to write, as the film has to be seen to be believed. If you have not seen this film, I give it my highest recommendation.