'Vertigo' versus 'Memento': Page 3

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81:

Vertigo 45:18 vs.

Memento 25:16

The man who made the offer turns and walks away through the door without another word.

82:

Vertigo 45:49 vs.

Memento 25:34

I’m telling you you’re in the wrong place.

83:

Vertigo 45:56 vs.

Memento 25:37

If this isn’t the right place, then how’d I wind up here? asks the blonde.

Bonus: Vertigo with the warm garment and wall colors, versus Memento with the cool collar and cool wall paint.

84:

Vertigo 46:54 vs.

Memento 25:41

The blonde is going to start questioning your version of events.

85:

Vertigo 47:07 vs.

Memento 25:47

Do you remember where you were previously?

86:

Vertigo 47:17 vs.

Memento 25:53

A plausible excuse but it still sounds a little bonkers, everything considered.

Love these nearly mirrored shots of our blondes.

87:

Vertigo 47:31 vs.

Memento 25:55

Why? Because. But that lengthy answer may not seem good enough.

Bright colors on our blondes, and more neutral colors on the other speakers.

88:

Vertigo 47:42 vs.

Memento 26:08

Thanks (for this thing I didn’t ask for, that’s probably benefiting you more than me).

In Vertigo, Madeleine’s sitting by the fire on a couple of little pillows and honestly the whole thing feels set up so that Scottie can look at her while she’s wearing only a robe. In Memento, Burt and the hotel are making money off of Leonard’s disability.

89:

Vertigo 48:03 vs.

Memento 26:16

Here’s what’s best for you, whether or not you know it (but the other person absolutely didn’t request it, either).

90:

Vertigo 48:10 vs.

Memento 26:24

Terribly direct questioning.

91:

Vertigo 48:13 vs.

Memento 26:30

Being rude, perhaps without meaning to...

In Memento, Leonard rushes off without another word.

92:

Vertigo 48:22 vs.

Memento 26:46

Becoming an investigator.

In Vertigo, Madeleine turns the tables on Scottie somewhat flirtatiously by asking him all the same questions he had asked her.

93:

Vertigo 48:42 vs.

Memento 26:55

Driving – but it’s wrong.

In Vertigo, Madeleine says she drives past the art gallery but has never been inside. In Memento, it’s a minor car accident that causes Sammy’s new disability.

94:

Vertigo 48:47 vs.

Memento 26:59

They’re acting funny, and I know it.

While we get the actual dialogue line in Memento, Vertigo just leaves us with Scottie’s look of disbelief, unseen by Madeleine.

95:

Vertigo 48:57 vs.

Memento 27:11

This person’s a burden to others now.

96:

Vertigo 49:12 vs.

Memento 27:15

And I get sent on an errand – but I’m eager to perform well.

97:

Vertigo 49:27 vs.

Memento 27:19

You shouldn’t have brought me here.

For Madeleine it's because it’s scandalous for a bachelor to undress a strange unconscious woman alone in his house, and for Leonard because he’s not there to help this couple but instead to find a way to deny their claim.

98:

Vertigo 49:30 vs.

Memento 27:22

This shouldn’t actually be a problem; there’s at least one (superficial) solution.

99:

Vertigo 49:48 vs.

Memento 28:13

This person (does/doesn’t) know me.

100:

Vertigo 49:50 vs.

Memento 28:16

No, really – this person doesn’t actually know me at all.

101:

Vertigo 49:54 vs.

Memento 28:21

We reintroduce ourselves all over again.

102:

Vertigo 49:55 vs.

Memento 28:27

But (I believe) I’m giving you my name for the first time.

Now THIS is a crazy moment; holy shit! In Vertigo, Scottie’s introducing himself to a woman who’s never met him – but of course if you know the story you know that Judy knows exactly who he is and tons about him. In Memento, Sammy’s introducing himself for the first time as far as he's aware, but has obviously met Leonard before and doesn’t consciously remember it!

103:

Vertigo 49:57 vs.

Memento 28:46

Now... just how friendly are we? (Spoiler: surprisingly so, all things considered.)

104:

Vertigo 50:06 vs.

Memento 29:00

It’s just me, he tells her.

105:

Vertigo 50:08 vs.

Memento 29:09

I’m going to try to put some distance between us again, the woman replies

106:

Vertigo 50:11 vs.

Memento 29:17

I don’t like that, the brunet says.

107:

Vertigo 50:13 vs.

Memento 29:21

I’m going to argue with you about that, actually.

108:

Vertigo 50:18 vs.

Memento 29:24

The woman’s friend, maybe.

By wanting her to call him ‘John’, Scottie’s indicating he wants her to feel friendly toward him. Meanwhile Natalie doesn’t name her friend directly, only describes them by relationship. “Maybe” vs “Should”.

109:

Vertigo 50:24 vs.

Memento 29:30

We’re gonna talk about ‘John’ while a woman finishes pinning up her hair.

110:

Vertigo 50:36 vs.

Memento 29:59

One shouldn’t live alone.

111:

Vertigo 50:52 vs.

Memento 30:15

Talk to him.

Bonus: the woman’s cup is highlighted in both scenes.

112:

Vertigo 51:44 vs.

Memento 30:16

I’m no good on the phone.

113:

Vertigo 51:48 vs.

Memento 30:26

We’ll arrange a meeting soon.

114:

Vertigo 51:59 vs.

Memento 30:36

Look, just don’t worry about it.

115:

Vertigo 52:02 vs.

Memento 30:52

The blonde doesn’t/won’t know what happened.

116:

Vertigo 52:13 vs.

Memento 31:09

The blonde doesn’t/won’t know what happened.

Now the meaning is reversed: death in Vertigo becomes romance in Memento.

117:

Vertigo 52:30 vs.

Memento 31:23

At least return my clothes before you vanish on me.

Red dressing robe in Vertigo versus blue button up shirt in Memento.

118:

Vertigo 52:37 vs.

Memento 31:25

The blonde makes a precipitous exit to their nice car parked outside.

119:

Vertigo 52:50 vs.

Memento 31:42

But just then the sidekick shows up out of nowhere with a pithy observation.

Bonus: Johnny-o vs Yo Lenny.

Another stalking break for Vertigo occurs from 53:06 to 55:21, where Scottie follows Madeleine back to his own apartment.

Interestingly enough, this does cover the space occupied by the “Sammy couldn’t pick up any new skills at all” monologue in Memento [31:44 - 32:35]. The correspondence here might be repetition, as the slow motion car chase scenes keep occurring.

120:

Vertigo 55:21 vs.

Memento 32:41

He parks and gets out of the car to go talk to the woman in the doorway.

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