IMDb > Vertigo (1958)
Vertigo
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Vertigo (1958) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (See all 116 | slideshow) Videos (see all 11)
Vertigo -- 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.
Vertigo -- Detective Ferguson figures out the plot.
Lawrence of Arabia -- AFI's 10 Top 10 - The 10 Greatest Films in 10 Classic Genres
Vertigo -- Scottie chases Madeline up the mission tower, but it's too late.
Vertigo -- Detective Ferguson saves Madeline from drowning after she jumps in the bay under the Golden Gate Bridge.

Overview

User Rating:
Top 250: #49  (login to vote)
8.5/10   123,657 votes »
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Up 3% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Alfred Hitchcock
Writers:
Alec Coppel (screenplay) &
Samuel A. Taylor (screenplay) ...
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for Vertigo on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
21 July 1958 (Brazil) See more »
Genre:
Mystery | Romance | Thriller See more »
Tagline:
A Hitchcock thriller. You should see it from the beginning! See 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:
See more »
Awards:
Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 6 wins & 2 nominations See more »
NewsDesk:
(325 articles)
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 (From Alt Film Guide. 22 May 2012, 2:03 PM, PDT)
User Reviews:
A true Hitchcock classic; Stewart's gutsiest role See more (551 total) »

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

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 ... Capt. 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)
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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
Jim 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 .... sound re-recording mixer (1996 restoration)
Richard LeGrand Jr. .... supervising sound editor (1996 restoration) (as Richard Legrand Jr.)
Winston H. Leverett .... sound recording (as Winston Leverett)
Harold Lewis .... sound recording
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)
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)
Vic Jones .... gaffer (uncredited)
Michael P. Joyce .... assistant camera (uncredited)
Fred Kaifer .... camera operator: second unit (uncredited)
W. Wallace Kelley .... director of photography: back projection (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)
Val O'Malley .... camera operator (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 .... titles 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)
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)
 
Crew verified as complete


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Additional Details

Also Known As:
"Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo" - UK (complete title), USA (complete title)
"'Vertigo'" - USA (poster title)
See more »
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
128 min | USA:129 min (1996 restored version)
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.50 : 1 See 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) | Sweden:11 (re-release) (1984) | Germany:12 (DVD rating) | West Germany:16 (nf) (original rating) | UK:PG (tv rating) | UK:PG (video rating: DVD audio commentary) (2005) | USA:TV-PG | 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 (original rating) | UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (video rating) (1988) (2000) | West Germany:12 (f) (re-rating) | Canada:13+ (Quebec)
Filming Locations:
1000 Mason Street, North Beach, San Francisco, California, USASee more »
Company:
Paramount PicturesSee more »

Did You Know?

Trivia:
Alfred Hitchcock originally wanted Vera Miles to play Madeleine, but she became pregnant and was therefore unavailable.See more »
Goofs:
Continuity: As Scottie parks alongside Madeline in front of his apartment, his car (actually the camera truck) cuts across several parking spaces. When the angle changes and Scottie is shown stepping from his car, it is parked within one parking space.See more »
Quotes:
[first lines]
Officer on rooftop:Give me your hand. Give me your hand.
See more »
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "House M.D.: Post Mortem (#8.20)" (2012)See more »
Soundtrack:
Sardis #4See more »

FAQ

Is this movie based on a book?
Why does Judy jump?
What is the explanation for Madeleine's mysterious disappearance from the McKittrick Hotel?
See more »

User Reviews

   (Review this title)
17 out of 25 people found the following review useful.
A true Hitchcock classic; Stewart's gutsiest role, 23 April 2003
Author: george.schmidt (GSchmidt0609@aol.com) from fairview, nj

VERTIGO (1958) **** James Stewart, Kim Novak, Barbara Bel Geddes, Tom Helmore, Henry Jones. Alfred Hitchcock's masterpiece of suspense and romantic obsession: Stewart (in one of his best go-against-the-grain performances) stars as San Francisco cop John 'Scottie' Ferguson, whose eponymous phobia leads him to an on-the-job lethal accident. Sitting out his time off from the force he's enlisted as a private eye to watch a friend's troubled wife Madeleine Elster (the ethereal Novak), who believes she has been reincarnated. Scottie's case leads to complications including the necropheliac emotional overhaul he succombs to after Madeleine's 'suicide' and seeing her in mystery woman Judy Barton (Novak again, proving to be an accomplished actress).

More psychological underpinnings you could shake a stick at and thanks to The Master's multi-layered storyline the film never falters largely thanks to the incredibly affective cinematography by Robert Burks, the adaptation of Pieree Bouileau & Thomas Narcejaq's novel 'D'Entre les Morts' by Alec Coppel & Samuel Taylor and once again the excellent chemistry between the tormented Stewart and the bewitching Novak, proving to be one of the most passionate ill-fated couples in cinematic history. Perhaps the icing on the cake is the hauntingly evocative score by long-time collaborator Bernard Herrmann. A true American classic.

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Message Boards

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Recent Posts (updated daily)User
How Scotty climbed up alone... gopicd
I believe that this is the only art film in his cannon. filmfancritic
Kim Novak's make-up bokibongbing
Absolutely Stunned... luvbjl
How could she not tell that someone was following her? dyed_red
Does the mission actually exist? LCShackley
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