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

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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.
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Vertigo -- Detective Ferguson figures out the plot.
Vertigo -- Scottie chases Madeline up the mission tower, but it's too late.

Overview

User Rating:
Top 250: #53  (login to vote)
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Up 19% 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 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. Full summary » | Full synopsis »
Plot Keywords:
See more »
Awards:
Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 6 wins & 3 nominations See more »
NewsDesk:
(572 articles)
The 10 Hottest Men of Hitchcock Movies
 (From The Backlot. 10 May 2013, 10:26 AM, PDT)
Alfred Hitchcock: Ranking His Movies From Worst To Best
 (From Obsessed with Film. 9 May 2013, 7:13 AM, PDT)
Press Release: Man Of Steel To Be Screened Early At This Year's Los Angeles Film Festival
 (From ComicBookMovie. 9 May 2013, 2:14 AM, PDT)
User Reviews:
A Standard Rave See more (586 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
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
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
Saul Bass .... poster designer (uncredited)
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
Winston H. Leverett .... sound recordist (as Winston Leverett)
Harold Lewis .... sound recordist
George Dutton .... sound (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
Farciot Edouart .... process photography
John P. Fulton .... special photographic effects
W. Wallace Kelley .... process photography (as Wallace Kelley)
Paul K. Lerpae .... optical effects (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)
 
Music Department
Muir Mathieson .... conductor
Leon Birnbaum .... music editor (uncredited)
Bernard Herrmann .... orchestrator (uncredited)
 
Other crew
Saul Bass .... titles designer
John Ferren .... special sequence
Richard Mueller .... Technicolor color consultant
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)
 
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:
Mono (Westrex Recording System)
Certification:
Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Finland:K-12 (1995) | 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) | USA:Approved (PCA #18867) | USA:PG (re-rating) (1983) | 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 (video rating: DVD audio commentary) (2005) | UK:PG (tv rating) | USA:TV-PG (TV rating) | Italy:VM14 | UK:PG (re-rating) (2012)
Filming Locations:
1000 Mason Street, North Beach, San Francisco, California, USASee more »
Company:
Paramount PicturesSee more »

Did You Know?

Trivia:
In 2007, the American Film Institute ranked this as the #9 Greatest Movie of All Time.See more »
Goofs:
Continuity: The ice cubes in Gavin and Scottie's drinks disappear.See more »
Quotes:
[first lines]
Officer on rooftop:Give me your hand. Give me your hand.
See more »
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "The All New Alexei Sayle Show: Episode #1.1" (1994)See more »
Soundtrack:
Sardis #4See more »

FAQ

Where was [insert name of place ] filmed?
How did Judy get Carlotta's necklace?
What did Martin Scorsese write about "Vertigo"?
See more »

User Reviews

   (Review this title)
253 out of 341 people found the following review useful.
A Standard Rave, 10 July 2002
Author: james.king@optusnet.com.au from Sydney, Australia

Starting in 1958, Alfred Hitchcock directed a remarkable sequence of films in a row, each of them a classic; Vertigo (1958), North by Northwest (1959), Psycho (1960) and The Birds (1963). Never has a director made four such genuinely great movies in such a short space of time, either before or since.

The pick of this high standard bunch is undoubtedly Vertigo. From the opening titles, with their circling spiral imagery, to the dramatic final scene this is a movie that takes you to a different time and place. Specifically, to a San Francisco of the past; full of deserted parks, discrete rooming houses, oddly menacing art galleries and florists where the customers enter and exit through the back door. Through this landscape wanders Jimmy Stewart, towering in the lead roll as a former detective recently retired after a bungled arrest leaves him with chronic vertigo. Plot machinations lead him to the alluring Kim Novak (one of Hitchcock's famous "blondes"), the young wife of a friend who has started behaving rather oddly.

"To reveal more," as Leonard Maltin wrote, "would be unthinkable."

While the performances of Novak and Stewart are memorable, the movie is really set apart by the intelligent script and the stylistic touches provided by the director. Hitchcock is in his very best form creating hypnotic scenes and a general sense of unease and dread in even the most banal of situations. He is aided in this by the wonderful score of Bernard Herrman. A particular favourite of mine is the extended (largely silent) segment where Stewart follows Novak for the first time. Nothing much happens, but the atmosphere of these scenes is enough to keep you on the edge of your seat!

One of the all-time greats. They definitely don't make them like this anymore.

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Message Boards

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Recent Posts (updated daily)User
For me, the entire murder plot is a MacGuffin TheMysteriousLady
Color Scheme Shambala_Elephant
Judy staying in SF muvifrks
Greatest Of All Time Because...? mail-2217
the mission church mheckman-1
Judy seems not to recognise Scottie at her door jiminwatford
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