John Gielgud and Peter Lorre in Secret Agent (1936)
The scene from top of the bell tower in 'Secret Agent'.
◄ IMDb Polls
Poll: Hitchcock Scenes that Give You Vertigo
Acrophobia, or fear of heights, is explicitly mentioned in Vertigo. However, director Alfred Hitchcock was notorious for using altitudes in other movies as well. In fact, he seemed to be spellbound by them and the suspicion is that in the mind of the 'master of suspense', physical high points and emotional highlights were linked together.
From these Hitchcock scenes involving heights, abysses, and falls, which most likely gives you vertigo?
SPOILERS ahead!
Thank you urbanemovies for contributions to the options!
Make Your Choice
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Peter Lorre in Secret Agent (1936)
In 'Secret Agent', "The General" (Peter Lorre) pushes Mr. Caypor (Percy Marmont) down a cliff.*photo is not from the scene
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Jamaica Inn (1939)
The fall from the mast in 'Jamaica Inn' -
Laurence Olivier in Rebecca (1940)
At the Beginning of 'Rebecca', Maxim de Winter (Laurence Olivier) stands on the edge of a cliff, ready to jump. -
Albert Bassermann, Martin Kosleck, and Joel McCrea in Foreign Correspondent (1940)
On top of the windmill (inside), in 'Foreign Correspondent' -
Laraine Day and Joel McCrea in Foreign Correspondent (1940)
The scene on top of Westminster Cathedral in 'Foreign Correspondent'.*photo is not from the scene
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"Suspicion," Cary Grant & Joan Fontaine. 1941 RKO
Towards the end of 'Suspicion', Johnnie (Cary Grant) drives closely along the cliffs with reckless speed, with his wife Lina (Joan Fontaine) sitting next to him. -
Robert Cummings and Norman Lloyd in Saboteur (1942)
The ending on top of the Statue of Liberty in 'Saboteur' -
Ingrid Bergman and Gregory Peck in Spellbound (1945)
'Spellbound': Anthony/John (Gregory Peck) and Constance (Ingrid Bergman) go skiing and race down a mountain towards a ravine.*photo is not from the scene
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James Stewart in Rear Window (1954)
James Stewart falls out of a window in 'Rear Window'. -
Cary Grant and Brigitte Auber in To Catch a Thief (1955)
The climax of 'To Catch a Thief', when Danielle (Brigitte Auber) holds onto John Robie (Cary Grant)'s hands. -
Reggie Nalder in The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)
The assassin (Reggie Nalder)'s fall from a theater balcony in 'The Man Who Knew Too Much'. -
James Stewart in Vertigo (1958)
Prologue of 'Vertigo': Scottie Ferguson hangs from a rooftop during a chase and sees a fellow police officer fall to his death. -
"Vertigo" James Stewart 1958 Paramount
Scottie looks down the chapel staircase, and Hitchcock invents the 'Vertigo effect'. -
James Stewart and Kim Novak in Vertigo (1958)
The ending of 'Vertigo' -
Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint in North by Northwest (1959)
The climax of 'North by Northwest' on Mount Rushmore -
Martin Balsam in Psycho (1960)
'Psycho': Private Investigator Arbogast (Martin Balsam) stumbles backwards down a staircase. -
The Birds (1963)
'The Birds' attack from above. -
Roscoe Lee Browne, John Vernon, and Carlos Rivas in Topaz (1969)
Philippe Dubois (Roscoe Lee Browne) jumps out of a hotel window in 'Topaz'.*photo is not from the scene
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Claude Jade, Philippe Noiret, and Frederick Stafford in Topaz (1969)
'Topaz': a look down from an apartment window reveals the fate of Henri Jarré (Philippe Noiret). -
Bruce Dern and Barbara Harris in Family Plot (1976)
The drive down a mountain road without brakes in 'Family Plot'.
