6. The Scene When Madeline Dies In Vertigo
The 1958 technicolour film Vertigo is a mind-boggling drama from start to finish. A man suffering from extreme vertigo and a woman who is determined to kill herself; it's obvious that this isn't going to be a simple love story at all. Starring James Stewart as Scottie and Kim Novak as Madeline, the terrifying steeple scene in point is accompanied by a score composed by Bernard Herrmann which is really the cherry on the cake to this tense and dramatic plot point. Scottie and Madeline have just declared their love for each other; but suddenly Madeline runs off to a local church. Scottie runs after her; and an unrivalled chase scene follows. Stewart's portrayal of a man suffering from vertigo is authentic; he chases the woman he loves up and around the stairs of a grim steeple tower, with camera shots between his sweating face and increased height perspective making the scene ever so unbearably tense. And then suddenly he hears a scream; looks out of the window - and Madeline's body drops right past it. It's creepy because it's unexpected, and there's an underlying plea for sympathy for Scottie - because he just couldn't get past his own fears to save her. The body falling past the window is incredibly eerie.