Vertigo, Hitchcock & the Spiral — Hitchcock’s Perfect Symbol for Obsession [Vertigo Analysis]

Our Vertigo analysis looks at the spiral motif in Hitchcock’s haunting tale of obsession. Vertigo Movie Explained ►► StudioBinder Screenwriting Software ►► CHAPTERS: 00:00 Intro — The Spiral Motif in Vertigo 01:33 Story Recap 03:08 Spirals in the Title Sequence 03:26 Spirals in the Score 04:19 Spirals in Production Design 08:08 Spiral Story Structure 12:01 Motif Exercise — American Beauty There are a few motifs in Vertigo (1958) but none are more dominant or meaningful than the spiral. From the higher-level themes like life/death/rebirth and obsession down to the details like hairstyling and props, the spiral is everywhere in Hitchcock’s Vertigo. In this Vertigo analysis, we’ll identify and break down all the ways the spiral becomes both a visual motif and a thematic motif. Scottie (James Stewart) is a retired detective who suffers from vertigo after a traumatic accident. Then an old friend tas