'Hitchcock's films revisited' by Robin Wood - Summarised notes

"Throughout the film, he is suspended metaphorically on the gutter."

Gavin Elster as more masculine than Scottie, the Gavin's office scene:

-"The camera immediately moves back to take in Elster standing over him, dominating, imposing his story."

-Often framed higher than Scottie in this scene.

-Although Scottie initially says 'no', the scene ends with him having a job and a mysterious character to spy on. This shows how weak willed Scottie is compared to Gavin, he was manipulated into unknowingly letting Gavin off with murder.

-Scottie was introduced in the previous scene with him failing to keep the walking stick up, this phallic imagery can be a visual signifier that he is more feminised and passive in the film. Where as in this scene, Gavin is portrayed with very masculine strong cranes in the background, placing him above Scottie on a masculine scale.

"Madeliene is surrounded by an aura of mystery":

-"The fascination Madeliene exerts over Scottie - and over us - is complex."

-"We watch her cross the restaurant with an easy, gliding motion, and pause near him so that her face is clearly visible, beautiful, smooth, without definable expression."
-"Madeliene certainly is presented as a dream"