“Vertigo” (1958) directed by Alfred Hitchcock; starring James Stewart and Kim Novak / Z-View

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Vertigo (1958)

Director:  Alfred Hitchcock

Screenplay: Alec Coppel, Samuel Taylor; based on D’entre les morts by Pierre Boileau and Thomas Narcejac

Stars: James Stewart, Kim Novak, Barbara Bel Geddes, Tom Helmore, Henry Jones, Ellen Corby, Konstantin Shayne, Lee Patrick, John Benson, Paul Bryar and Raymond Bailey.

Tagline: Somewhere…Somehow – He’d Loved and Killed That Self-Same Girl Before!

The Plot…

San Francisco Detective John “Scottie” Ferguson and a patrol cop are in a rooftop chase of a wanted man.  The chase, high above the city, goes from building to building.  When Scottie falls short on a jump, he barely grabs hold of a gutter.  As Scottie begins to slip to a sure death, the cop eases down to assist.  The cop makes a misstep and plummets to his death.

Scottie survives but is traumatized from his near fall.  Scottie’s vertigo and fear of heights is so bad he retires from the force.

Gavin Elster, a college buddy that Scottie hasn’t seen in years, reaches out.  Elster is worried about his wife Madeline’s recent strange behavior.  He wants Scottie to follow her to see what’s up.

Scottie trails Madeline for days. He discovers she’s obsessed with a woman named Carlotta Valdes who committed suicide in 1857.  Elster becomes worried that Madeline may believe she is possessed by Carlotta’s spirit.  Worse still, Madeline may commit suicide herself.

The next day Scottie follows Madeline all over town.  She ends up at the San Francisco Bay where she jumps in.  She is drowning when Scottie pulls her out.  Madeline has no memory of the places she’s been or her attempt to kill herself.  Scottie has become infatuated with Madeline.  They begin spending time together… and she falls in love with him.

One day Madeline tells Scottie about a nightmare she had.  The setting was at the Mission San Juan Bautista.  It was Carlotta’s childhood home.  They decide to drive there.  Once there Madeline breaks away from Scottie.  She runs to the church’s bell tower and heads up.  Scottie attempts to follow, but his vertigo and fear of heights slows him down.  He isn’t to the top when he sees and hears Madeline fall to her death.

Scottie is devestated.  He was unable to save the woman that he loved.

Time passes.  One day Scottie is in the city.  Across the way he spots a woman who looks like Madeline.  It’s not the first time it has happened.  But this time is different.  Although there are subtle differences the woman could pass as Madeline.  Scottie makes a point to meet her.  He’s obsessed with winning her over.

Scottie has no idea what he is in for.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Vertigo was nominated for two 1959 Academy Awards…

  • Nominee for Best Sound – George Dutton
  • Nominee for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and-White or Color – Hal Pereira, Henry Bumstead, Sam Comer, Frank R. McKelvy

San Juan Bautista, the Spanish mission doesn’t have a bell tower; it was added with trick photography.

Alfred Hitchcock is one of my all-time favorite directors and many consider Vertigo to be his masterpiece.  While I am a huge fan of the movie, their are other Hitchcock films I prefer.  Your mileage may vary.

Vertigo (1958) rates 4 of 5 stars.