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Vertigo (1958)

8.5
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Ratings: 8.5/10 from 148,729 users  
Reviews: 586 user | 163 critic

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

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(screenplay), (screenplay), 3 more credits »
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Title: Vertigo (1958)

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Top 250 #53 | Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 6 wins & 3 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Complete credited cast:
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...
...
...
...
...
Scottie's Doctor
...
Konstantin Shayne ...
Pop Leibel
Lee Patrick ...
Car Owner Mistaken for Madeleine
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Storyline

John "Scottie" Ferguson is a retired San Francisco police detective who suffers from acrophobia and Madeleine is the lady who leads him to high places. A wealthy shipbuilder who is an acquaintance from college days approaches Scottie and asks him to follow his beautiful wife, Madeleine. He fears she is going insane, maybe even contemplating suicide, because she believes she is possessed by a dead ancestor. Scottie is skeptical, but agrees after he sees the beautiful Madeleine. Written by filmfactsman

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

A tall story about a pushover [Video] See more »


Certificate:

PG | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

21 July 1958 (Brazil)  »

Also Known As:

'Vertigo'  »

Box Office

Budget:

$2,479,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$1,486,818 (USA) (22 November 1996)

Gross:

$1,718,928 (USA) (20 December 1996)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

| (1996 restored)

Sound Mix:

(Westrex Recording System)

Color:

(Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.50 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

While Madeleine recovers in Scottie's apartment from her fall into the bay, he waits on his sofa. Seen on his coffee table is a copy of the 1950s pulp men's periodical "Swank", which much later would develop into an extreme hardcore pornographic magazine. At the time, it would have consisted of a mix of cheesecake pictures and action/adventure stories by contemporary writers. See more »

Goofs

In Ernie's restaurant there are two famous profile shots of Kim Novak; in the second shot however (shot later in production) there is noticeably less background scenery visible. See more »

Quotes

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

Crazy Credits

The opening Paramount logo is in black and white while the rest of the film, including the closing Paramount logo, is in Technicolor. See more »

Connections

Referenced in Neighbours: Episode #1.6203 (2011) See more »

Soundtracks

"Symphony No. 34 in C K. 338, 2nd Movement, Andante di Molto (piu tosto allegretto)"
(uncredited)
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Played as 'cue 10B' on a record in the psychiatric ward
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

 
Among the very best.
12 August 2001 | by See all my reviews

In Boileau-Narcejac's French novel "D'Entre les Morts"= from among the Dead"),the revelation only comes in the last pages,but Hitchcock lets the cat out of the bag long before the end. Boileau-Narcejac's novel is a pure detective story,but the Master wanted more:the movie already outdistances the book in a first part visually wonderful,with memorable scenes,wrapped in mystery ,such as the one with the sequoia,symbol of immortality or the one down by the sea,to rival with the best romantic movies of all time.In the second part,Hitchcock explains in the Truffaut's book,we know but Scottie( James Stewart) does not .And he tries to recreate a dead woman,to transform Judy into Madeleine.This folie à deux ends where the first tragedy occurred ,which gives the movie a strength that the book had not.Read it and you'll realize how its end ,speaking in terms of cinema,had to be modified for the screen.That's Hitchcock's genius.

When Boileau/Narcejac learned that Hitchcock wanted to transfer "Celle Qui N'Etait PLus " (=les Diaboliques" )to the screen,they immediately wrote "D'Entre les Morts " on the same pattern for Hitchcock to direct.


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Message Boards

Recent Posts
Don't you think it's a bit overlong? Bonzi_ru
For me, the entire murder plot is a MacGuffin TheMysteriousLady
'Pal Joey' --- 'colorful' influence on Vertigo viaggio1
Greatest Of All Time Because...? mail-2217
Judy seems not to recognise Scottie at her door jiminwatford
'To tell you the truth, I've been picked up before.' TheMysteriousLady
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