Vertigo unlike many of the the other Hitchcock Films features a much more developed, as well as more relatible female lead. In past movies the female lead always seemed to have an icy, cold, un-phased by anything exterier and this alufness seemed to appeal to the male lead but also to kept the audience from relating to her. Furthermore in films like North by Northwest or Rear window the female lead never seems to have a very developed storyline or any motivations that progress beyond what her male counterpart wants.
In Vertigo the character of Judy played by Kim Novack is very different than the typical Hitchcock female character and it is this difference that makes her more interesting and complex and therefore all the more fun to watch. She may have the same major motivation as the other women in these movies (to get her man) but it is the fact that her storyline contains plot twists and just a lot more content that allows the audience to feel a connection to her and there by relate to her on a more personal level. It is this connection that makes this movie special and a standout among the many great films of Hitchcock.
An interesting idea that came up during our class discussion was the comparison of Charlotte York from Sex and the City to Jim Stweart's Scottie in that they are in charge of what happens in there lives. I disagree I think Charlotte has more in common with Judy in that in this film for just as Charlotte outfits herself in the hopes of finding a man Judy allows herself to be outfitted in the hopes of keeping a man. Both women are ready and willing to use any means at their collective disposal to accomplish this goal. This is what I feel makes them more similar than Charlotte and Scottie.
4 comments:
Looking at the comparison of Charlotte and Judy I can see how the two are similar as well. I can see how Charlotte plays up the ideal of what she thinks men are seeking in the perfect wife, while Judy is trying to maintain and become that ideal that she herself created.
Seema
I totally agree that the Madeline / Judy role is more dynamic than the traditional Hitchcock blonde. We really do start to identify with her as Scottie gets more and more obsessed.
While Charlotte seems to define herself in an attempt to find a mate, what about the rest of the cast of Sex and the City? If they don't seem to think their role as potential wife is as important as Charlotte does, and they seem to be doing just fine, what does that say about Charlotte's ability to decide how important she wants that sort of thing to be in her life? At the same time, Judy has the opportunity to leave Scottie with a letter. Instead she sticks around. Doesn't this seem to suggest that both Judy and Charlotte, at least to some extent, choose the roles they play?
don't have much else to say, but heavily agreeing with how you described Judy (in Vertigo). She is more interesting than Hitchcock's other female characters. I always thought Hitchcock was a genius, but after watching Vertigo, I am astonished. The character Judy is of course one of the main reasons.
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