Vertigo (1958)

Director:

Alfred Hitchcock

Writers:

Pierre Boileau (novel) and
Thomas Narcejac (novel) ...

Release Date:

21 July 1958 (Brazil)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

A Hitchcock thriller. You should see it from the beginning!

Plot:

A San Francisco detective suffering from acrophobia investigates the strange activities of an old friend's wife, all the while becoming dangerously obsessed with her.

Plot Keywords:

One Word Title | Male Female Relationship | Unmailed Letter | Self Portrait | Dolly Zoom

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 5 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

James Stewart	...	Det. John 'Scottie' Ferguson
Kim Novak	...	Madeleine Elster / Judy Barton
Barbara Bel Geddes	...	Marjorie 'Midge' Wood
Tom Helmore	...	Gavin Elster
Henry Jones	...	Coroner
Raymond Bailey	...	Scottie's doctor
Ellen Corby	...	Manager of McKittrick Hotel
Konstantin Shayne	...	Pop Leibel
Lee Patrick	...	Car owner mistaken for Madeleine

Also Known As:

'Vertigo' (USA) (poster title)
Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo (USA) (complete title)
From Among the Dead (USA) (working title)
Illicit Darkening (USA) (working title)
Listen Darkling (USA) (working title)
Sueurs froides (Belgium: French title) (Canada: French title) (France) [fr]
Vértigo (Argentina) (Spain) [es]
мЮБЮФДЕМХЕ (Soviet Union: Russian title) [ru]
A Mulher Que Viveu Duas Vezes (Portugal) [pt]
Aus dem Reich der Toten (Austria) [de]
De entre los muertos (Spain) [es]
Desmotis tou iliggou (Greece) [el]
Donna che visse due volte, La (Italy) [it]
Kvinde skygges, En (Denmark) [da]
Punainen kyynel (Finland) [fi]
Röd tår (Finland: Swedish title) [sv]
Studie i brott (Sweden) [sv]
Szédülés (Hungary) [hu]
Um Corpo Que Cai (Brazil) [pt]
Vertigo - Aus dem Reich der Toten (West Germany) [de]
Vertigo - punainen kyynel (Finland) [fi]
Zawrót glowy (Poland) [pl]
Zij die tweemal leefde (Belgium: Flemish title) [un]

Runtime:

128 min | USA:129 min (1996 restored version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.50 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS 70 mm (1996 re-release) (70 mm prints) | DTS (1996 re-release) (35 mm prints) | Dolby Digital (1996 re-release) (35 mm prints) | Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Brazil:12 (2007) (DVD re-rating) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Spain:T | Brazil:14 | Brazil:18 (original DVD rating) | Canada:G (Nova Scotia) (original rating) (1983) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) (re-rating) (1997) | USA:Approved (PCA #18867) | USA:PG (re-rating) (1983) (certificate no. 27072) | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Finland:K-12/9 (1995) | Finland:K-12/9 (1997) | Finland:K-16 (1958) | France:U | Norway:11 (re-rating) (1997) | Norway:16 (original rating) | Portugal:M/12 | Sweden:15 | UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (video rating) (1988) | West Germany:12 | Canada:13+ (Quebec)

Filming Locations:

900 Lombard Street, San Francisco, California, USA

Company:

Alfred J. Hitchcock Productions

Trivia:

The Empire Hotel where James Stewart eventually finds Kim Novak is today (1999) the York Hotel located at 940 Sutter Street in the heart of San Francisco. Kim Novak's character lived in room 501, which still retains many of its aspects captured in the film.

Goofs:

Continuity: The book display in the bookshop window changes between the entering and exiting shots.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Officer on rooftop: Give me your hand. Give me your hand.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "House M.D.: Daddy's Boy (#2.5)" (2005)

Distinctive & Unforgettable Masterpiece

One of the many things that made Hitchcock such a great director is that he did not just stick to the same formula time after time; all of his best movies have their own unique feel and characteristics. "Vertigo" is particularly distinctive, both as a complex story filled with suspense, and as a fascinating study in psychological tension. While it lacks the humor of some of Hitchcock's other masterpieces, and sometimes moves rather slowly, it is unforgettable, and a great achievement by the director and his cast.

If you have never seen it, you will enjoy it more if you do not know too much about the plot, although the actual story is somewhat secondary to the ways that the characters are tested and their weaknesses exposed by the various events. Hitchcock uses a complicated story, interesting characters, lavish visual detail, and deliberate pacing, plus a fine musical score by the incomparable Bernard Hermann, to produce a mysterious, almost unearthly, atmosphere. The tension rarely lets up, and the viewer is caught up completely in it, at times almost to the point of discomfort. It's the kind of film that repays careful attention, as almost every moment is filled with significant detail.

There are also some great acting performances. Jimmy Stewart is outstanding in a role far different from his usual screen persona. He enables the viewer to sympathize completely with him, even as we cringe at many of his character's actions and decisions. Kim Novak is completely convincing in a difficult dual role, and the movie would not have been as compelling without her fine performance. The rest of the cast all have much smaller roles, but are all quite good too, especially Barbara Bel Geddes as Scottie's (Stewart's) old friend, who provides important insight into Scottie's character.

"Vertigo" is a classic by any standard. It's a must-see that remains just as impressive with each viewing.