Vertigo
Following his early retirement as a detective from the San Francisco Police Department, John Ferguson - Scottie to his friends - becomes obsessed with two women in succession, those obsessions which trouble his long time friend and former fiancée, Midge Wood, a designer of women's undergarments. The first is wealthy and elegant platinum blonde Madeleine Elster, the wife of his college acquaintance Gavin Elster, who hires John to follow her in Gavin's belief that she may be a danger to herself in thinking that she has recently been possessed by the spirit of Carlotta Valdes, Madeleine's great-grandmother who she knows nothing about, but who Gavin knows committed suicide in being mentally unbalanced when she was twenty-six, Madeleine's current age. The second is Judy Barton, who John spots on the street one day. Judy is a working class girl, but what makes John obsessed with her is that, despite her working class style and her brunette hair, she is the spitting image of Madeleine, into who he tries to transform Judy. The initial question that John has is if there is some connection between Madeleine and Judy. What happens between John and individually with Madeleine and Judy is affected by the reason John took that early retirement: a recent workplace incident that showed that he is acrophobic which leads to a severe case of vertigo whenever he looks down from tall heights.
Despite its small-scale budget of $2.5M, Vertigo became a box office success, earning $7.8M worldwide—a 215% return. The film's fresh perspective connected with viewers, demonstrating that strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
Nominated for 2 Oscars. 9 wins & 8 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Vertigo (1958) exhibits precise dramatic framework, characteristic of Alfred Hitchcock's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 8 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 5.2, the film takes an unconventional approach to traditional narrative frameworks.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Scottie hangs from a rooftop gutter after a failed pursuit, paralyzed by vertigo as a fellow officer falls to his death trying to save him. This traumatic image establishes his crippling acrophobia and the guilt that will define him.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 14 minutes when Gavin Elster asks Scottie to follow his wife Madeleine, claiming she's possessed by the spirit of her dead great-grandmother Carlotta Valdes. This supernatural mystery disrupts Scottie's quiet retirement and draws him into obsession.. At 11% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 29 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 22% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to Madeleine throws herself into San Francisco Bay and Scottie rescues her, bringing her to his apartment. His professional detachment is shattered—he has physically committed to saving her, crossing from observer to participant., moving from reaction to action.
At 58 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 45% of the runtime—arriving early, accelerating into Act IIb complications. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat At the Mission San Juan Bautista, Madeleine runs up the bell tower and Scottie's vertigo prevents him from following. She apparently falls to her death. This false defeat devastates Scottie—he has failed to save the woman he loves., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 86 minutes (67% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Scottie encounters Judy Barton on the street—a woman who resembles Madeleine. His obsession takes a darker turn as he begins manipulating her, trying to remake her into his lost love. He has become a man possessed, mirroring the supposed possession he tried to cure., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 92 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 72% of the runtime. Scottie notices Judy wearing Carlotta's necklace and realizes the entire truth: Judy was hired by Elster to impersonate his wife so Elster could murder the real Madeleine. Scottie's romantic delusion shatters into terrible clarity., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Vertigo's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Vertigo against these established plot points, we can identify how Alfred Hitchcock utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Vertigo within the mystery genre.
Alfred Hitchcock's Structural Approach
Among the 20 Alfred Hitchcock films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.6, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Vertigo takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Alfred Hitchcock filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional mystery films include Lone Star, The Wicker Man and A Soldier's Story. For more Alfred Hitchcock analyses, see Family Plot, The Birds and Rear Window.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Scottie hangs from a rooftop gutter after a failed pursuit, paralyzed by vertigo as a fellow officer falls to his death trying to save him. This traumatic image establishes his crippling acrophobia and the guilt that will define him.
Theme
Midge tells Scottie that the only cure for his condition is "another emotional shock," foreshadowing that obsessive love and loss will be the forces that both destroy and transform him. The theme of dangerous obsession is planted.
Worldbuilding
We see Scottie's post-trauma life: retired from the police force, dependent on Midge, struggling with his vertigo. Gavin Elster contacts him about his wife Madeleine, establishing the mystery and San Francisco's haunted atmosphere.
Disruption
Gavin Elster asks Scottie to follow his wife Madeleine, claiming she's possessed by the spirit of her dead great-grandmother Carlotta Valdes. This supernatural mystery disrupts Scottie's quiet retirement and draws him into obsession.
Resistance
Scottie debates taking the case but agrees. He follows Madeleine through San Francisco—to the flower shop, the grave of Carlotta, the museum, the McKittrick Hotel—becoming increasingly captivated by her mysterious beauty and behavior.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Madeleine throws herself into San Francisco Bay and Scottie rescues her, bringing her to his apartment. His professional detachment is shattered—he has physically committed to saving her, crossing from observer to participant.
Mirror World
Scottie and Madeleine begin their romantic relationship as he tries to understand her trances. She represents everything he lacks—mystery, beauty, a connection beyond his mundane existence. Their love story becomes the thematic heart of the film.
Premise
Scottie plays romantic detective, following Madeleine through her dreamlike episodes while falling deeply in love. They visit Muir Woods, drive along the coast, and he becomes consumed with saving her from her supposed possession by Carlotta's tragic fate.
Midpoint
At the Mission San Juan Bautista, Madeleine runs up the bell tower and Scottie's vertigo prevents him from following. She apparently falls to her death. This false defeat devastates Scottie—he has failed to save the woman he loves.
Opposition
Scottie suffers a complete psychological breakdown, institutionalized with acute melancholia and guilt. After release, he wanders San Francisco like a ghost, haunted by Madeleine's memory, visiting the places they went together, seeing her everywhere.
Collapse
Scottie encounters Judy Barton on the street—a woman who resembles Madeleine. His obsession takes a darker turn as he begins manipulating her, trying to remake her into his lost love. He has become a man possessed, mirroring the supposed possession he tried to cure.
Crisis
Scottie methodically transforms Judy—changing her clothes, her hair, her makeup—into Madeleine. Judy submits out of love and guilt, revealing in flashback that she was the real Madeleine all along, part of Elster's murder plot.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Scottie notices Judy wearing Carlotta's necklace and realizes the entire truth: Judy was hired by Elster to impersonate his wife so Elster could murder the real Madeleine. Scottie's romantic delusion shatters into terrible clarity.
Synthesis
Scottie forces Judy to return to the mission bell tower, reenacting the murder scene. He drags her up the stairs, confronting both her deception and his own obsessive madness, finally conquering his vertigo through rage and desperation.
Transformation
A nun's shadow startles Judy and she falls to her death from the tower—exactly as the real Madeleine did. Scottie stands cured of his vertigo but utterly destroyed, having lost the woman twice. His transformation is complete but tragic.