Rent Vertigo (1958)

Classic Hitchcock - Vertigo review by GI

This is considered to be Alfred Hitchcock's greatest achievement and it has occasionally been cited as one of the greatest movies ever made. It is certainly a masterpiece of suspense and for its time it's a bold tale of sexual obsession, misogyny and an example of the 'male gaze' theory of American drama. A mystery thriller it stars James Stewart, who was criticised for being too old for the role, who plays 'Scottie' Ferguson, a former police detective forced to retire after his fear of heights resulted in the death of a colleague. He is hired by an old friend to follow his wife, Madeleine (Kim Novak), who suffers from blackouts and Scottie is asked to keep a protective eye on her. But soon Scottie becomes obsessively in love with her and they start an affair. When another tragedy strikes and Madeleine is killed Scottie falls into a deep depression until one day he sees Judith who bears a resemblance to Madeleine. They start a relationship and Scottie tries to influence how she dresses and acts in order to look more and more like Madeleine. This has some great twists in the plot and it's a brave role for Stewart who was better known for wholesome roles. Hitchcock utilised new photographic effects to simulate the dizzying effects of Scottie's vertigo and he resisted attempts to over explain the plot. This is a major American film and certainly one that every film fan should make sure they see.

Classic Hitchcock but with some reservations - Vertigo review by AW

BEWARE, there be SPOILERS:

1958 Hitchcock with James Stewart & Kim Novak. Multiple language subtitles.

I'm sure I've seen this film several times before but perhaps never finished it or watched enough for the plot to sink in - except that it had Barbara Bel Geddes in it.

Classic Hitchcock scenes, original camera angles, effective suspense, can't fault AH on that, but it's been oft quoted that at age 50 perhaps James Stewart was a tad too old to be the male lover lead...I didn't really have a problem with that and Kim Novak was yet again a classic beautiful Hitchcockian blonde leading lady (remember AH's obsession with blondes, ie: T.Hedren, G.Kelly, J.Leigh, E.M.Saint) but in my mind the outstanding woman in this film was Bel Geddes - who really only gets a very short part but is wonderful - modern, feisty, clever, educated, well read, but ultimately disappointed that Stewart as Scottie is no longer interested in her. She lives above the San Francisco skyline in a fascinating, colourful flat, designing brassieres.

To be honest I thought Novak, even though playing an apparently confused and tortured soul was a bit wooden and afterwards, Stewart, when going after Judy turned into a domineering and somewhat sinister character - forcing her to wear reproductions of Madeleine's suit, shoes, even the hair style. Weird or what?

Wonderful views of a clean and tidy, non- traffic congested San Francisco in the '50s, sadly SF is now apparently populated with homeless and drug addled people.

In a way the plot as it stands is also a tad unbelievable, {So now for the SPOILERS!! Kim is a decoy for the murder of the real Madeleine, Scottie has been duped as the fall guy to testify that the woman he is obsessed with, genuinely fell from a bell tower}.

The twist at the end is therefore a bit of retribution even though it's not particularly karma as it is rather more accidental due to the sudden appearance of a nun.

Hitchcock's best? Hmmm. Not really. Personally I liked NORTH BY NORTHWEST, MARNIE and TO CATCH A THIEF better but that may just be me.

Kudos go to the 2 men who oversaw the film's restoration from a nearly destroyed and faded master to a clear and crisp copy for posterity.

Disc doesn't contain the director's cut longer version, apparently a lot was cut out, but it does have interesting extras, a Feature Commentary, and a Obsessed with Vertigo Featurette.

Critics' Favourite Hitch. - Vertigo review by Steve

Since critics at Sight and Sound voted this the best ever film, Vertigo now gets labelled the ultimate Hitchcock. It certainly deserves that status in recognition of a coming together of key collaborators: costumes by Edith Head; orchestral score by Bernard Herrmann; Robert Burks' innovative camera effects; script by George Tomasino; and Saul Bass' title design and effects.  

They say Vertigo was personal to the director, as it imitates a film making process; of turning an actor into a character. Scottie (James Stewart) tries to transform Kim Novak into the image of a woman out of his troubled past. Though, while it does mimic that exercise, it doesn't really draw any profound conclusions. This is primarily a thriller with a twisting, disorientating plot.

 Hitch uses motifs of spirals and falling which make us vicariously experience Scottie's psychological trauma. Stewart was far too old for the part, though he is effective.  Kim Novak is excellent,  giving contrasting performances in her two roles. The San Francisco locations and local myth making add a lot of atmosphere.

Hitchcock and his team were creating their own genre in this period. One that many others would copy. It is difficult to compare his films to the work of others except to the degree they imitate. This is quintessential Hitchcock and a summation of his art at the time of his Hollywood peak. 

Very dated but enjoyable melodrama - Vertigo review by PV

When watching this, first remember that the story comes from a novel - the sort of melodrama novel best forgotten now - and that Hitch had a screenplay to work with. I tend to get annoyed that people think film directors create everything - the story, the script, the characters. They don't/ They merely interpret it.

Having said that, this is an enjoyable watch. Very dated though - and perhaps the trendy (for 1958) dream sequence bit is the most dated of all. Strange to think just 10 years after this it was 1968 with all that implies.

Efficiently directed. Unbelievable plot twist at the end (from the book), and a plot hole in Stewart's first hotel visit looking for the girl.

The direction of the height scenes with camera effects is still effective though; probably the best bit is the opening sequence though - which has been much copied in more recent movies.

Three stars.