Jordan Ilan A-Level Film Studies

Hitchcock as an auteur: - Late 50's: Studio system at height of development + on verge of changes that'd sweep it away by mid 60's - After years of success in film/tv: Hitchcock was household name & one of a few directors that largely gained independence from studio interfence - Late 50's: Hitchcock made films for most of major studios (usually on his terms) & recent hits included Rear Window - Hitchcock 'signature' = brief cameo in all his films. Below is every Hitchcock cameo ever. Hitchcock worked with close knit team of regulars he trusted to fulfil his vision of pure cinema: Robert Burks = DP George Tomasini = Editor Henry Bumstead = Art Director Bernard Hermann = Music Saul Bass = Titles Edith Head = Costume + worked repeatedly with certain stars (e.g. Cary Grant/James Stewart) & could hire any of the leading ladies of the day. Infographic of Hitchcock as an auteur: Pitch Deck Slides Business Infographic by Jordan

Vertigo & Psycho: A Comparison Hitchcock as an Auteur Similarities between the films: Birds - Both films use birds as an animal to give connotations of terror -> The stuffed birds in Psycho create a chilling atmosphere & makes Norman Bates more disturbing to the audience and the villain of Vertigo, Gavin, has the surname Elster which means Magpie in German. Hitchcock also uses birds as a symbol of fear in many of his other films, in particular in The Birds. Blonde Women - Htichcock uses blonde women in his films as 'a symbol of the heroine' and presents them as  perfect, aloof ice goddesses that have a hidden inner fire. This is presented in Vertigo through Madeleine & Judy and in Psycho through Marion & Lila. Cameo - Hitchcock makes a cameo appearance in both films - a signature part of Hitchcock's work and a key theme of Hitchcock as an auteur. Cars - Hitchcock uses cars in both films to create tensions -> the scenes of Scottie and

Vertigo: Initial Viewing Notes What happened? (Plot) 4 main plot points 1 . Meeting Scottie has with Elster; Madeleine's curious behaviour is first outlined; Scottie is tasked with observing her Scottie observing Madeleine - This video presents exemplifies the themes that Hitchcock is presenting during the first main plot point. This scene conveys Madeleine's curious behaviour as it is unbeknown to the audience why she is staring at the picture & Scottie is still trying to work out what is behind Madeleine's 'madness' as he is investigating what she is doing. The music emphasises the tension and mysterious nature in this scene as the non-diegetic sound creates an atmosphere of suspense. 2 . Scene in Scottie's apartment following his rescue of Madeleine; first scene where they directly interact; personal relationship is established   Apartment Scene: This scene is the first scene where they interact; this establishes their relationshi

Vertigo & One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest: A Comparison One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest & Vertigo: film comparison One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest Vertigo Traditional gender roles reversed -> women hold all the power, Nurse Ratched is in charge Traditional gender roles reversed -> Madeleine/Judy holds power over Scottie Colour palette: saturation, white. Inside = bleak + outside = colour (McMurphy’s entry, the ending) to emphasise the bleak nature of the mental asylum Colour palette: blonde hair, uses many colours to stand out McMurphy = Optimistic initially Scottie = Pessimistic initially Women are in control & the men fall under the spell of the women (Candy, Nurse Ratched etc) Men believe they are in control (e.g. Scottie). The male point of view is the driving force. Camera influenced by movement -> Ratched is at the centre of the shot to signify she is the

A History of the American Film Industry - 2nd most prolific film industry in the world after Bollywood Early History of the US Film Industry: - 1893: Thomas Edison constructed a motion picture studio in his laboratory - Edwin S. Porter took charge of motion picture production at Edison's company and began making longer films - Porter's most notable film - and the most famous work of early cinema - was The Great Train Robbery (1903) The Great Train Robbery - Full Film History of the US Film Industry:                               The Kid (Charlie Chaplin) - Trailer - Until WW1, France was the leading film-producing country - By the 1920's, most films come from the United States - Today America is the leading country in the exportation of movies - American Cinema is mainly associated with the Hollywood entertainment industry, 'the dream country' - In the 1920's, Chaplin began making feature-length comedies: including The Kid (1921), The Gold Ru

Factfiles: Alfred Hitchcock & Spike Lee - Spike lee up to do the right thing - Alfred hitchcock up to vertigo - Auteurs - Themes in films YouTube videos on making of Do The Right Thing and Vertigo: (make notes on at a later date) Do The Right Thing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_I5vV4WKc-o Do The Right Thing - 20 yrs later: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6kVN1coXDw Vertigo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDpzLA8qPSQ Alfred Hitchcock - FactFile pre Vertigo: - Born in England in 1899 and lived in a large, extended family - He was a quiet and well-behaved boy due to his father's discipline; when Hitchcock was 5 his father locked him in a cell for 5/10 minutes at police station which caused Hitchcock to have a lifelong fear of policemen. Hitchcock told this story and regularly and whether or not its true, the story illustrates Hitchcock's feelings towards his father. - Hitchcock developed his fear at the Jesuit grammar school as the boys sat through lesson