Set in the hauntingly secluded locations of mid-twentieth century San Francisco, Alfred Hitchcock's film "Vertigo," is a hypnotic tale of one man's struggle for power, his hopeless search for his ideal love and his abandonment of reality for an illusion. In particular, the scene in Scottie's apartment after he rescues Madeleine from the bay is significant in illustrating these central themes, which is made especially effective through Hitchcock's use of camera angles, framing and background music. .
The camera pans slowly across Scottie's apartment at the beginning of the scene, finally stopping to pause for several seconds at an open bedroom door, drawing emphasis on the subject of the shot. Madeleine, who is shown to be sound asleep inside. When the telephone rings with a jarring sound, she whirls around to face him, the camera zooming in on her startled expression. Her obvious disorientation and fear, coupled with her nakedness, paint her as being vulnerable, helpless and exposed. In stark contrast, Scottie is calm and composed as he says: "Oh, you'll want this."," handing her a robe as if just made aware of her unease, his unintentionally complacent manner suggesting that he holds a position of power. .
Similarly, when she emerges from the bedroom, he asserts his authority by urging her to come on over by the fire, calmly appraising her with a flat, unwavering, almost clinical gaze. He continues to assert his dominance by carelessly dropping two plain, dirty-looking cushions onto the carpet for her, a patronizing action that is usually reserved for a dog. When Madeleine hesitantly obliges, the audience sees her from a high angle shot that further emphasizes her vulnerability and disempowerment, while at the same time highlighting Scottie's obvious enjoyment of the idea of her as a damsel in distress whom he, the hero, has rescued and now has the responsibility of protecting. .
His insistence on Madeleine drinking his coffee and calling him "Scottie" or "John,"" as opposed to Mr Ferguson, as well as the brusque, interrogatory manner with which he directs questions at her showcase his growing confidence in his own masculinity.
