MovieChat Forums > Jules et Jim (1962) Discussion > Jules et Jim: Vertigo homage

Jules et Jim: Vertigo homage


When the sculpture of the woman is shown for the first time in its actual setting (Jules and Jim go on holiday to see it), it is seen in a dolly-in-zoom-out shot, as was made famous by (although it may have preceded) Hitchcock's Vertigo.

Only noticed it for the first time today (very easy to miss things when you're concentrating on the subtitles, unfortunately). The theme being explored at that point is very similar to that of Vertigo: Men on a quest for perfection/the perfect woman; men using a woman to recreate an ideal.

A few scenes later, Catherine (Moreau) is being filmed in a very similar way to how Madeleine (Kim Novak) was filmed in her early appearances in Vertigo, ie a very distinctive side shot, showing her profile. It instantly evoked Vertigo for me.

Given Truffaut's admiration for Hitchcock, and the thematic similarities between Jules et Jim and Vertigo, I am sure the camerawork was not a coincidence.

I may add that one particular motif in George Delerue's (brilliant) score was reminiscent of Hermann's score for Vertigo, too.

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And you mustn't forget Madeleine's (Vertigo) and Catherine's (J&J) unexpected jump into the water!!

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I see what you're pointing out here and its interesting, but I really wish I could like Jules et Jim even a fraction as much as I loved Vertigo. Maybe DePalma isn't the only notable second-rate Hitchcock wannabe...

I found Vertigo fascinating, but I just found J&J (and especially Catherine's character) thoroughly annoying. I also think they should've used the real life ending, not the preposterous cinematic one that takes place on the bridge.

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"It's such a sadness that you think you've seen a film on your *beep* ing telephone. Get real."

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What "real life ending"?

I love your user name, by the way!

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I should warn you -- he's a Fourierist.

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