I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been thinking about Vertigo quite a bit lately, mostly because I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been trying to find something decent to say about it. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s been especially difficult as this is my first experience with Hitchcock, and it was everything I thought it would be and so much more. So needless to say, I really enjoyed it. Obviously there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s lots of doubling in the film, but there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s some tripling too, thanks to Midge and her portrait. Midge\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s role is the one that intrigues me most, and I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been trying to figure out her role in the film. She starts out as a potential love interest for Scottie, but it quickly becomes clear she won\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t fulfill that role. One thing I did notice was that as she\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s leaving the hospital after Scottie\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s mental breakdown she\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s framed in front of a window with a large white building behind it. As the camera pulls out and looses focus, it looks like Midge is standing in front of a white tower, not unlike the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153steeple\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Madeline throws herself out of. The bars of the window also create a cross-like image, calling Christ and self-sacrifice to mind. This is particularly intriguing to me as we never see Midge again \u00e2\u20ac\u201c this is her one big moment. So what\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s the deal? Does she sacrifice herself for Scottie? Does her relationship with him push her over the edge like it finally does with Judy (though her final jump might not be his fault)? It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s hard to say as Hitchcock doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t give us much to go on, but I think this scene gives us something to go on. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m not really sure what it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s implying though \u00e2\u20ac\u201c I hope not that Midge throws herself off a tower, because I really like her. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been thinking about Vertigo quite a bit lately, mostly because I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been trying to find something decent to say about it. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s been especially difficult as this is my first experience with Hitchcock, and it was everything I thought … Continue reading