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Vertigo (1958)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
21 July 1958 (Brazil)
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Tagline:
A Hitchcock thriller. You should see it from the beginning! more
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. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Nominated for 2 Oscars.
Another 6 wins
&
2 nominations
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NewsDesk:
(59 articles)
Is Rihanna's 'Russian Roulette' Video An Homage To A David Lynch Movie?
(From MTV Newsroom. 17 November 2009, 2:45 PM, PST)
Culture Warrior: What is Hitchcockian Suspense?
(From FilmSchoolRejects. 15 November 2009, 9:30 PM, PST)
(From MTV Newsroom. 17 November 2009, 2:45 PM, PST)
Culture Warrior: What is Hitchcockian Suspense?
(From FilmSchoolRejects. 15 November 2009, 9:30 PM, PST)
User Comments:
Distinctive & Unforgettable Masterpiece
more (496 total)
Cast
(Complete credited 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 |
Additional Details
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)
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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)
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Parents Guide:
Runtime:
128 min | USA:129 min (1996 restored version)
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.50 : 1 more
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:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
The film was unavailable for decades because its rights (together with four other pictures of the same period) were bought back by Alfred Hitchcock and left as part of his legacy to his daughter. They've been known for long as the infamous "Five Lost Hitchcocks" amongst film buffs, and were re-released in theatres around 1984 after a 30-year absence. The others are The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956), Rear Window (1954), Rope (1948), and The Trouble with Harry (1955).
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Goofs:
Continuity: The book display in the bookshop window changes between the entering and exiting shots.
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Quotes:
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Prima della rivoluzione (1964)
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Soundtrack:
Symphony No. 34 in C K. 338, 2nd Movement, Andante di Molto (piu tosto allegretto)
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FAQ
How did Scottie get down from the rooftop?What's the name of the lady who manages the hotel?
How did Scottie come to have acrophobia and vertigo?
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more (496 total)
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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.