Vertigo

  Vertigo

    Part Five : Midge Guesses - Madeleine Jumps


Before Watching
Kim Novak

Read this anecdote about Kim Novak, who plays the part of Madeleine :

When filiming the movie Kim Novak kept asking him "Mr. Hitchcock, what should my motivation be"? One day he became exasperated and took her aside: "My dear Kim," he said, "one must not take these things too seriously. After all, it's only a movie." Apparently she was more relaxed after this.


While Watching

Kim Novak

  • Answer the following questions :

    1. What does Midge guess about the mystery?
    2. Why does she think Scottie is interested in the case?
    3. What else links Madeleine and Carlotta?
    4. What was the relationship between Carlotta and Madeleine?
    5. Why didn't her mother mention Carlotta?
  • Watch the next sequence then describe Madeleine's journey. Where does she go?

After Watching

Read another anecdote about Kim Novak and answer the questions that follow:

When first meeting Kim Novak he invited her to his home and discussed all sorts of subjects--from fine wines to art and music and literature--but not the movie, itself. She was 26 andrelatively uneducated at the time and came away feeling like a helpless child. Which wasexactly his point. "I have her right where I want her now," he said. Later she approached himwith some definite ideas about her costumes: "I'll wear anything except a gray suit. It makesme looked washed out." Of course that was the very point--that she look "ghostlike" asthough she'd just stepped out of the San Francisco fog. Hitchcock agreed--no gray suit--thenwent ahead with his plans and dressed her in the gray suit that played such a prominent role in the movie.