THE 1950S

ALFRED HITCHCOCK

             Alfred Hitchcock was one of the most well known directors of all time. Active in the film industry in the 50s and 60s, he is best known mostly for his psychological thrillers, he emphasized the psychology of the characters and utilized Freudian concepts to create a sense of terror in the viewer without outright violence. Hitchcock was a master of suspense and used it to create the fear and tension his movies are best known for.

 

VERTIGO

        Vertigo, along with Psycho, is hailed as the masterpiece of Hitchcock's works. It is about police officer John "Scottie" Ferguson, who's acrophobia and vertigo causes him to be inept in his field. Consequently, because of this, he has to retire from his work. However he finds work as a private investigator when his friend, Gavin Elster, hires him to figure out what is wrong with Gavin's wife, Madeline. The two eventually fall in love, however their love is not meant to be. Vertigo, a film filled with twists and turns, kept the audience guessing and on their feet until the curtain closed.

 

SIGNIFICANCE

           Vertigo is inherently significant because of its prominence as the most well known Alfred Hitchcock film. However, the severe change in plot lines throughout the story and the acute use of the psychology of not only the characters in the film, but also the audience themselves ushered the arrival of a never before seen era that was a fusion of contemporary tales along with psychoanalytic roots.