Sequence

A repertoire of filmmaking techniques is fundamental to the establishment of a film’s storyline by conveying explicit and implicit ideas and by taking the viewer through a heightened emotional journey. Alfred Hitchcock employs his unique film style to augment the patterns of narration in the monumental film, Vertigo. The narrative patterns follow the male protagonist, Scotty, who is inescapably drawn into the conflict of the story as he unceasingly follows Madeleine, the female protagonist. Overall, the film employs a restricted narrative in which the audience’s knowledge is equal to that of Jimmy Stewart’s character, Scotty. The Muir Woods sequence in Vertigo conveys patterns of narration through the combined elements of editing, mise-en-scene, cinematography, and sound.
The shots are uniquely assembled to form the visual and narrative whole of the Muir Woods sequence in Vertigo. Various aspects of editing, such as shot transitions, rhythmic and temporal relations, and continuity elements, help to enhance the action throughout the scene. The sequence is almost entirely divided into separate shots by straight cuts, although more sophisticated shot transitions are also employed. It is introduced from the previous scene and leads into the proceeding scene by use of dissolve shot transitions. The intentional placing of the dissolves at the beginning and end of the Muir Woods scene symbolize Scotty’s gradual, heightening involvement in the narrative’s conflict. Prior to this scene, Scotty had only reluctantly followed Madeleine around and had saved her life due to innate human instincts. The Muir Woods scene represents the first time Scotty willingly becomes involved with Madeleine, and both dissolve cuts are symbolic of this transit...

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...mentally complements the narrative and enhances important moments in the plot.
Many elements of film style contribute to the unity and fluidity of the film, conveyed messages and ideas, and implied themes and patterns of narration. The Muir Wood scene, in particular, contains many influential aspects on the narrative patterns. In Vertigo, Scotty is in a constant effort to follow Madeleine, at first by obligation and later by desire. An important component of this theme is the idea of Madeleine’s life and afterlife, and the impact each has on Scotty’s actions. The Muir Woods scene also serves to emphasize the restricted depth of information provided by the film, which builds up to the moment of surprise later in the film. Alfred Hitchcock uses a combination of elements of film style to illustrate these ideas and convey the patterns of narration throughout the film.