PSYCHO BY ALFRED HITCHCOCK
I have researched and analysed Psycho. I picked psycho as it was a film that changed the horror suspense genre. It brought in new techniques of editing and shot, new heights of suspense, and new ways to scare and shock an audience.It was extremely influential for film makers that followed.
Below is my analysis of the opening credits and begging of Psycho. This is linked from my You Tube account. I have annotated the film via movie maker and added background research on the film and Hitchcock.
This video is interesting at seeing how Psycho was controversial It pushed boundaries and shocked audiences in a way that entertained and intrigued them. Psycho changed the conventions, tone and shape of thriller films from them on and his technique will theory will live on in other film director's work. A inspirational film director for many!
This page is very interesting in seeing problems with filming. Many continuity problems and it is interesting to go back and watch the film and see these mistakes in filming and editing.
Pysco in 9 frames
Vertigo
Vertigo is a hypnotic title sequence.
It is very striking and stirs many emotions for the audience. Even in the first shot Hitchcock is toying with the audiences emotions and confusing them. Vertigo was advertised as a technicolor however the first shot of the institution is in black and white.
We then see extreme close ups of a girls lips and her eyes. The shot gives a deep focus and is intimidating to look directly into her eyes and so closely at her face. Very intimate and chilling to watch. The black and white film really threw audiences off lulling them into a sense of comfort shortly to be juxtaposed. They would be confused as to why the film was in black and white still & not colour?
Suddenly a jump cut at 0.35 (s) brings a shot bright blood red. It creates a huge contrast from the black and white shots that have previously been shown. The colour is so bright, eerie and full of colour; This contrast add shock & adds to the impact of the opening. Very effective and clever technique used by the 'Master of suspense'. This would have really surprised audiences when first watching this on the big screen! The red presents poignantly the title 'Vertigo'.
Her eye twitching supernaturally or nervously is intimidating and menacing to look at. From her eye appears a hypnotizing moving circle. This introduces a highlight in the score that accompanied the credits. The score is orchestral and classical but very menacing and creepy to hear. Created by Bernard Herman it is a highly structured score and has a strong theme of love, tragedy and a sense of modernism. It is thematic and has a strong rhythm that builds a pace to the opening. Vertigo's score by Bernard is said to be way before its time and was one of his most successful and well known scores. The score includes strong brass notes and strings that make you feel dizzy. He used a four note motif to represent fear and mystery that is very effective throughout.
Overall- Vertigo is a gripping opening. Hitchcock used method's to capture the audience and had such a different style to other directors in and after his time. His use of colour is very effective and Bernard Herman's score builds a thrilling and gripping opening credits!
Would have been a thrilling experience to watch at the cinema.
Here is an interview i found from the BFI 'British Film Instite'. The interview is with Martin Scorsese an American film director regarded as one of the best directors!
A valid source i thought speaking of Hitchcock's Vertigo!
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