Vertigo (1958)

Director:

Alfred Hitchcock

Writers:

Alec Coppel (screenplay) &
Samuel A. Taylor (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

21 July 1958 (Brazil)

Genre:

Crime | 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:

Acrophobia | Shipbuilder | Police | Suicide | Unrequited Love

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 6 wins & 2 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Thur. Dec. 31

3:30 PM

TCM

Cast

James Stewart	...	John 'Scottie' Ferguson
Kim Novak	...	Madeleine Elster / Judy Barton
Barbara Bel Geddes	...	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
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
David Ahdar	...	Priest (uncredited)
Isabel Analla	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Jack Ano	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Margaret Bacon	...	Nun (uncredited)
John Benson	...	Salesman (uncredited)
Margaret Brayton	...	Ransohoff's Saleslady (uncredited)
Paul Bryar	...	Captain Hansen (uncredited)
Steve Conte	...	Burglar (uncredited)
Jean Corbett	...	Mrs. Elster (uncredited)
Bruno Della Santina	...	Waiter at Ernie's (uncredited)
Roxann Delman	...	Ransohoff's Model (uncredited)
Molly Dodd	...	Beautician (uncredited)
Bess Flowers	...	Diner at Ernie's (uncredited)
Joanne Genthon	...	Carlotta Valdes (uncredited)
Don Giovanni	...	Salesman (uncredited)
Roland Gotti	...	Bartender at Ernie's (uncredited)
Victor Gotti	...	Matire d' at Ernie's (uncredited)
Fred Graham	...	Policeman on Rooftop (uncredited)
Buck Harrington	...	Elster's Gateman (uncredited)
Alfred Hitchcock	...	Man Walking Past Elster's Office (uncredited)
Art Howard	...	Juror (uncredited)
Catherine Howard	...	Nun (uncredited)
June Jocelyn	...	Nurse (uncredited)
David McElhatton	...	Radio Announcer - European Version Only (voice) (uncredited)
Miliza Milo	...	Saleswoman (uncredited)
Lyle Moraine	...	Patron (uncredited)
Forbes Murray	...	Diner at Ernie's (uncredited)
Julian Petruzzi	...	San Francisco Flower Vendor (uncredited)
Ezelle Poule	...	Older Mistaken Identity (uncredited)
Kathy Reed	...	Patron (uncredited)
William Remick	...	Jury Foreman (uncredited)
Jack Richardson	...	Escort (uncredited)
Jeffrey Sayre	...	Diner at Ernie's (uncredited)
Nina Shipman	...	Woman in Museum Mistaken for Madeleine (uncredited)
Dori Simmons	...	Woman at Ernie's Mistaken for Madeleine (uncredited)
Ed Stevlingson	...	Inquest Attorney (uncredited)
Sara Taft	...	Nun (uncredited)

Directed by
Alfred Hitchcock

Writing credits
Alec Coppel		(screenplay) &
Samuel A. Taylor		(screenplay) (as Samuel Taylor)
Pierre Boileau		(novel "D'Entre Les Morts") and
Thomas Narcejac		(novel "D'Entre Les Morts")
Maxwell Anderson		contributing writer (uncredited)

Produced by
Herbert Coleman	....	associate producer
James C. Katz	....	restoration producer (1996 restoration)
Alfred Hitchcock	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Bernard Herrmann

Cinematography by
Robert Burks		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
George Tomasini

Casting by
Bert McKay		(unit casting director) (uncredited)

Art Direction by
Henry Bumstead
Hal Pereira

Set Decoration by
Sam Comer
Frank R. McKelvy		(as Frank McKelvy)

Costume Design by
Edith Head		(costumes)

Makeup Department
Nellie Manley	....	hair style supervisor
Wally Westmore	....	makeup supervisor
Florence Avery	....	hairdresser (uncredited)
Hazel Keats	....	hairdresser (uncredited)
Benny Lane	....	makeup artist: Miss Novak (uncredited)
Harry Ray	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Peggy Thomas	....	hairdresser (uncredited)
Lenore Weaver	....	hairdresser (uncredited)

Production Management
Phillip Feiner	....	executive in charge of production (1996 restoration) (as Phillip J. Feiner)
Robert Heiser	....	post-production manager: DTS (1996 restoration)
Frank Caffey	....	production manager (uncredited)
Andrew J. Durkus	....	unit production manager (uncredited)
C.O. Erickson	....	unit production manager (uncredited)
Curtis Mick	....	assistant unit production manager (uncredited)
Don Robb	....	unit production manager: San Francisco (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Daniel McCauley	....	assistant director
Ralph Axness	....	second assistant director (uncredited)
Cy Brooskin	....	second assistant director (uncredited)
Charles C. Coleman	....	assistant director: San Francisco (uncredited)
Herbert Coleman	....	second unit director: San Francisco (uncredited)
John P. Fulton	....	second unit director: back projection (uncredited)
Edward Haldeman	....	second unit director (uncredited)
Clem Jones	....	assistant director: San Francisco (uncredited)
Frank Kies	....	assistant director: San Francisco (uncredited)
Edward Morey Jr.	....	assistant director: San Francisco (uncredited)

Art Department
James Cottrell	....	assistant props (uncredited)
Gene Lauritzen	....	construction coordinator (uncredited)
Dominic Mautino	....	stand-by painter (uncredited)
Martin Pendleton	....	props (uncredited)
Manlio Sarra	....	portrait: Carlotta (uncredited)
Fred Simpfenderfer	....	nurseryman (uncredited)
Lee Vasque	....	props (uncredited)

Sound Department
Charlie Ajar Jr.	....	recordist (1996 restoration)
Michael C. Casper	....	re-recording mixer (1996 restoration) (as Michael Casper)
William Hooper	....	sound editor (1996 restoration) (as Bill Hooper)
William Jacobs	....	sound editor (1996 restoration)
Daniel J. Leahy	....	re-recording mixer (1996 restoration)
Richard LeGrand Jr.	....	supervising sound editor (1996 restoration) (as Richard Legrand Jr.)
Winston H. Leverett	....	sound recordist (as Winston Leverett)
Harold Lewis	....	sound recordist
Laura Macias	....	foley artist (1996 restoration)
Bob McNabb	....	sound editor (1996 restoration)
Sharon Michaels	....	foley artist (1996 restoration)
Albert Romero	....	foley mixer (1996 restoration)
Harry E. Snodgrass	....	sound designer (1996 restoration) (as Harry Snodgrass)
Walter Spencer	....	sound editor (1996 restoration)
Samuel Webb	....	assistant sound editor (1996 restoration)
George Dutton	....	sound (uncredited)
Michael Ferdie	....	foley editor (1996 restoration) (uncredited)
Nick Gerolimates	....	sound cable man (uncredited)
Hayden Hohstadt	....	mike grip (uncredited)
Jim Miller	....	sound recordist (uncredited)
Bud Parman	....	sound boom man (uncredited)
Bert Van Volkenberg	....	sound battery man (uncredited)
Bill Wistrom	....	sound editor (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Chris Bushman	....	photo-chemical supervisor (1996 restoration)
Farciot Edouart	....	process photography
John P. Fulton	....	special photographic effects
Mike Glickman	....	optical cameraman (1996 restoration)
W. Wallace Kelley	....	process photography (as Wallace Kelley)
Scott Dougherty	....	digital restoration producer: Cinesite (1996 restoration) (uncredited)
W. Wallace Kelley	....	director of photography: back projection (uncredited)
Paul K. Lerpae	....	optical effects (uncredited)
Jerry Pooler	....	digital restoration supervisor (1996 restoration) (uncredited)
Tiffany Smith	....	digital restoration coordinator: Cinesite (1996 restoration) (uncredited)
John Whitney Sr.	....	motion control designer: title sequence (uncredited)

Stunts
Polly Burson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jean Corbett	....	stunt double: Kim Novak (uncredited)
Ted Mapes	....	stunts (uncredited)
Fred Perce	....	stunt double: James Stewart (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Earl Canter	....	camera assistant (uncredited)
Robert Coburn	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Earl Crowell	....	electrician (uncredited)
John Friedman	....	camera assistant (uncredited)
Adolph Froelich	....	best boy (uncredited)
Bobby Greene	....	first assistant camera (uncredited)
Loyal Griggs	....	director of photography: second unit (uncredited)
James Hawley	....	assistant camera: second unit (uncredited)
Warren Hoag	....	electrician (uncredited)
Victor Jones	....	gaffer (uncredited)
Michael P. Joyce	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Fred Kaifer	....	camera operator: second unit (uncredited)
James Knott	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Lon Massey	....	electrician (uncredited)
Kyme Meade	....	camera operator: second unit (uncredited)
Walter Newman	....	grip (uncredited)
John Nostri	....	grip (uncredited)
H. Parsley	....	grip (uncredited)
G.E. Richardson	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Irmin Roberts	....	director of photography: second unit (uncredited)
Gus Ryden	....	camera assistant (uncredited)
Leonard J. South	....	camera operator (uncredited)
F. Steiner	....	electrician (uncredited)
Darrell Turnmire	....	company grip (uncredited)
Paul Uhl	....	camera assistant (uncredited)
Edward Wahrman	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Paul Weddell	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
B. Weiler	....	camera operator: second unit (uncredited)
William Williams	....	director of photography: animation (uncredited)

Casting Department
Olive Long	....	secretary: casting director (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Leonard Harris	....	wardrobe: men (uncredited)
Roselle Novello	....	wardrobe: women (uncredited)
Dario Piazza	....	wardrobe: men (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Sharon McGeeney	....	negative cutting: Superior Film Service Inc. (1996 restoration)
William Pine	....	color timer: Deluxe Laboratories (1996 restoration) (as Bill Pine)

Music Department
Muir Mathieson	....	conductor
Leon Birnbaum	....	music editor (uncredited)
Bernard Herrmann	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Saul Bass	....	title designer
Walter Browski	....	theater sales manager: DTS (1996 restoration)
John Ferren	....	special sequence
Robert A. Harris	....	restorer (1996 restoration)
Joanne Lawson	....	restoration assistant (1996 restoration)
Richard Mueller	....	technicolor color consultant
Marlene Noble	....	restoration & research assistant (1996 restoration)
Ken D. Smith	....	production executive (1996 restoration)
Mike B. Smith	....	theater services engineer: DTS (1996 restoration)
Diane Cummings	....	photo double (uncredited)
Diane Cummings	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Kathleen Fagan	....	script supervisor: second unit (uncredited)
Dr. A. Vincent Gerty	....	technical advisor (uncredited)
Bill Gray	....	production auditor (uncredited)
Frank Kies	....	auditor: San Francisco (uncredited)
Luddie Laine	....	dialogue coach (uncredited)
Al Peterson	....	craft service (uncredited)
Peggy Robertson	....	script supervisor (uncredited)
Art Sarno	....	publicist (uncredited)
Anita Speer	....	script supervisor: second unit (uncredited)
Herb Steinberg	....	unit publicist (uncredited)
Dolores Stockton	....	secretary: Mr. Coleman (uncredited)
Constance Willis	....	script supervisor: San Francisco (uncredited)

Thanks
Barbara Bel Geddes	....	we would like to thank those members of the original production of Vertigo who were helpful in this restoration (1996 restoration)
Henry Bumstead	....	we would like to thank those members of the original production of Vertigo who were helpful in this restoration: 1996 restoration
Herbert Coleman	....	we would like to thank those members of the original production of Vertigo who were helpful in this restoration: 1996 restoration
C.O. Erickson	....	we would like to thank those members of the original production of Vertigo who were helpful in this restoration: 1996 restoration (as C.O. 'Doc' Erickson)
Michael Hickey	....	special thanks (1996 restoration)
Patricia Hitchcock	....	special thanks (1996 restoration) (as Patricia Hitchcock O'Connell)
Michael Hyatt	....	special thanks: 1996 restoration
Henry Jones	....	we would like to thank those members of the original production of Vertigo who were helpful in this restoration (1996 restoration)
Kim Novak	....	we would like to thank those members of the original production of Vertigo who were helpful in this restoration (1996 restoration)
Robert J. O'Neil	....	special thanks (1996 restoration)
Tom Pollock	....	special thanks (1996 restoration)
Peggy Robertson	....	we would like to thank those members of the original production of Vertigo who were helpful in this restoration (1996 restoration)
Martin Scorsese	....	special thanks (1996 restoration)
Dan Slusser	....	special thanks (1996 restoration)
Leonard South	....	we would like to thank those members of the original production of Vertigo who were helpful in this restoration: 1996 restoration
Herb Steinberg	....	we would like to thank those members of the original production of Vertigo who were helpful in this restoration: 1996 restoration
James Stewart	....	we would like to thank those members of the original production of Vertigo who were helpful in this restoration (1996 restoration)
Samuel A. Taylor	....	we would like to thank those members of the original production of Vertigo who were helpful in this restoration (1996 restoration) (as Samuel)
Suzanne Taylor	....	we would like to thank those members of the original production of Vertigo who were helpful in this restoration (1996 restoration)
June Van Dyke	....	we would like to thank those members of the original production of Vertigo who were helpful in this restoration (1996 restoration)
Lew Wasserman	....	special thanks (1996 restoration)

Production Companies

• Alfred J. Hitchcock Productions (uncredited)
• Paramount Pictures

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1958) (USA) (theatrical) (as A Paramount Release)
• Paramount-Films (1958) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Les Films Paramount (1959) (France) (theatrical)
• Paramount (1959) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Paramount Pictures (1963) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1965) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Prem'er Video Fil'm (????) (Russia) (VHS)
• Universal Pictures (1983) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1984) (West Germany) (theatrical) (restored version)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1984) (Finland) (theatrical)
• MCA Home Video (1984) (USA) (VHS) (pan-and-scan)
• Alfred J. Hitchcock Trust (1996) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Universal Pictures (1996) (USA) (theatrical) (reissue)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1997) (Finland) (theatrical)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1997) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1997) (USA) (VHS) (widescreen)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures (1999) (Germany) (VHS)
• Universal Pictures (2000) (Germany) (DVD)
• Universal Home Video (2003) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Atalanta Filmes (????) (Portugal) (theatrical) (restored version)
• Seven Films (2008) (Greece) (theatrical) (re-release)
• CIC Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Film Archive, The  special thanks (1996 restoration) (as The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Film Archive)
• Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Margaret Herrick Library  special thanks (1996 restoration) (as The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Margaret Herrick Library)
• American Movie Classics (AMC)  Universal Pictures gratefully acknowledges the following companies for their generous contributions toward the restoration of Vertigo: preservation sponsor (1996 restoration)
• Boston Light & Sound  VistaVision dailies projector provided by (1996 restoration) (as Boston Light and Sound)
• Chivas Regal  Universal Pictures gratefully acknowledges the following companies for their generous contributions toward the restoration of Vertigo: official preservation partner (1996 restoration)
• Digital Theater Systems  Universal Pictures gratefully acknowledges the following companies for their generous contributions toward the restoration of Vertigo: preservation sponsor (1996 restoration) (as Digital Theater Systems L.P.)
• Eastman Kodak Motion Picture Films  restoration produced on (1996 restoration)
• Entertainment Weekly  Universal Pictures gratefully acknowledges the following companies for their generous contributions toward the restoration of Vertigo: preservation sponsor (1996 restoration) (as Entertainment Weekly Magazine)
• Four Seasons Hotel, The  Universal Pictures gratefully acknowledges the following companies for their generous contributions toward the restoration of Vertigo: preservation sponsor (1996 restoration) (as Four Seasons Hotels)
• Pacific Title  VistaVision to 65 mm opticals (1996 restoration)
• Panavision  special thanks (1996 restoration)
• Paramount Pictures  special thanks (1996 restoration)
• Pro-Tek Film Preservation Vault  film element inspection by (1996 restoration) (as Pro-Tek Film Preservation Vaults)
• Sunset Marquis Hotel & Villas  special thanks (1996 restoration)
• Superior Film Service  negative cutting (1996 restoration)
• Universal Studios Sound Facilities  restoration sound editing and re-recording at (1996 restoration) (as Universal Studios Sound Facility)
• Universal Studios Sound Restoration Department  special thanks (1996 restoration)
• Varèse Sarabande  soundtrack on (1996 restoration) (as Varèse Sarabande CDs and Cassettes)

Also Known As:

'Vertigo' (USA) (poster title)
Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo (USA) (complete title)
Darkling I Listen (USA) (working title)
Fear and Trembling (USA) (working title)
From Among the Dead (USA) (working title)
Illicit Darkening (USA) (working title)
Sueurs froides (Belgium: French title) (Canada: French title) (France) [fr]
Vértigo (Argentina) (Spain) (Uruguay) [es]
мЮБЮФДЕМХЕ (Soviet Union: Russian title) [ru]
Ölüm korkusu (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
A Mulher Que Viveu Duas Vezes (Portugal) [pt]
Aus dem Reich der Toten (Austria) [de]
De entre los muertos (Spain) [es]
De vrouw die tweemaal leefde (Netherlands) [nl]
Desmotis tou iliggou (Greece) [el]
En kvinde skygges (Denmark) [da]
La donna che visse due volte (Italy) [it]
Memai (Japan) [ja]
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:

USA:Approved (PCA #18867) | USA:PG (re-rating) (1983) (certificate no. 27072) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) (re-rating) (1997) | Canada:G (Nova Scotia) (original rating) (1983) | Spain:T | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Brazil:14 | Netherlands:12 | Iceland:12 (1984) | 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:

In 2007, the American Film Institute ranked this as the #9 Greatest Movie of All Time.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Scottie gets out of his car in front of the hotel, his window is down. In the continuing shot as he walks away from the car, the window is closed.

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

Featured in Hitchcocked! (2006) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Sardis #4

"I know, I know. I have acrophobia, which gives me vertigo, and I get dizzy." (Scottie to Midge)

Although it was only modestly successful in theaters, time has been kind to VERTIGO and now many believe this is Hitchcock's masterpiece. Time was NOT kind to the original prints of the film, and in the mid-1990s Universal Studios put up one million dollars for a two-year restoration of the film. This is covered completely in a fairly fascinating 29-minute extra on the DVD, originally broadcast as an A&E special. The entire original film-making process is covered, the movie was first called "From Among The Dead", and includes current interviews with many principals, including Novak and Bel Geddes, plus the techniques used for the restoration. This special edition DVD should be a must-own for any fan of the film VERTIGO. The sound and picture are just fabulous for a film made in 1957.

My review, following, contains certain SPOILERS which are necessary for my summary. Please read no further if you have not seen the film. Watch the film first, you will not be disappointed.

The film starts with cops chasing a crook on SF rooftops, Scottie (James Stewart, 49) misses one roof, is hanging high from a gutter, cop returns to offer assistance, but instead falls to his death. This traumatic experience triggers the vertigo in Scottie, makes him unsuited for police work, he quits, and Midge (Barbara Bel Geddes) tells him only another emotional shock will bring him out of it. Midge, an artist, not so secretly wants Scottie, but while they are good friends, he just doesn't love her.

Old college friend, wealthy shipbuilding magnate, hires Scottie to follow his wife who had been acting strangely. He meets Madaleine (Kim Novak, 24) and follows her to find that she visits the grave of Carlotta, who died at 25 in 1857, also visits the portrait of Carlotta at the art museum, has "visions" of being in a Spanish mission, all indications are that the dead Carlotta is taking over Madaleine's mind. While following her, saving her from a jump into SF Bay, and keeping her from jumping into the Pacific, Scottie is falling in love with her, the first time he has had such feelings.

Scottie feels he needs to take Madeleine to the old mission 100 miles south of SF to free her of this possession, but instead she climbs up the mission bell tower, Scottie is unable to follow quickly enough, his vertigo holding him back, he hears a scream, sees what looks like Madeleine's body falling to the red tile roof below, dead. A quick inquest ruled it a suicide, the friend gets out of shipbuilding, travels, while Scottie tries to get over his great loss, his first ever love, includes a stay in a mental hospital.

Not too long after, Scottie sees a woman remarkably similar to Madeleine walking to her residence, a hotel, he follows her, knocks on the door, she is dressed differently, has different color hair, a different personality, speaks differently, and says she is Judy, from Kansas, has lived there 3 years, even shows Scottie her ID to prove it. But Scottie has not gotten over Madeleine, is obsessed with recreating her, asks Judy to dress like her, get her hair colored, all the while Judy just wishes Scottie would like her for who she is, not because she looks like someone else. But she gets completely back to the Madeleine look, same clothes, same hair color.

By now we have seen through Judy's flashback what is really going on. The wealthy husband had hired Judy to impersonate his wife, Madeleine, and had set up the incident at the mission so that he could shove the already dead wife off, Scottie would be the manipulated witness that she had climbed the stairs and jumped off, and after being paid off, Judy could resume her life. To her detriment, he also gave her the heirloom, Carlotta's necklace, and her wearing that is what got Scottie suspicious of the whole scheme. He catches on, brings Judy back to the mission, they climb to the bell, a nun approaches to see what is going on, Judy panics and falls to her death on the roof. Scottie no longer was in love with her, feeling lied to and manipulated, he has no emotion, but goes to the edge of the ledge and looks down, his vertigo gone. The emotional shock that Midge spoke of has cured him.

The story is a tragedy of two lives that only through misfortune become intertwined, Scottie's and Judy's. He is not young, now retired, and had never found true love. In Madeliene he thinks he found it, only to be shocked then disillusioned when the full truth came out. When Judy died, he was back where the film started. Maybe Midge was the one after all. Judy was very flawed, enough to participate in a murder plot and feel no apparent guilt over it. All she wanted was to be loved by Scottie, but a relationship built on fraud has no chance, especially since Scottie was an honest man.

James Stewart is known for his ability to play an "everyman" character, and is superb as Scottie. Kim Novak is a bigger mystery. She was not the first choice for the role, received it virtually by default, but after watching the movie it is hard to imagine anyone else playing the dual roles of Madeleine and Judy, she pulls it off so well. A big bonus is her commentary on the making-of extra, seeing her after all these years. She was only 24 when Vertigo was filmed, but she looked 40, a glamorous and beautiful 40. Actresses today who are 24 often still play teenagers. How things have changed in the movies!