Vertigo (1958)

Director: Alfred Hitchcock

Screenplay: Alec Coppel, Samuel A. Taylor (based on the novel by Boileau-Narcejac)

Cast: James Stewart, Kim Novak

Music: Bernard Herrmann

Time: 129 minutes

Bottom-line: Perhaps a bit far-fetched, but a classic thriller

 Very classy, very Hitchcockian is Vertigo. This 1958 Hitchcock thriller stars James Stewart (in his fourth collaboration with Hitchcock) and Kim Novak in the lead roles. Often considered the director’s best work, Vertigo masterfully combines romance and suspense to give a different type of psychological thriller. Known for its chilling score and some unique camerawork, this film reinforces why Hitchcock is one of the greatest and most influential directors of Hollywood. In my 100th review, I revisit that very film. 

James Stewart as John "Scottie" Ferguson

Everyone has a fear of their own; John “Scottie” Ferguson (Stewart) has a fear of heights. That’s where the story begins. After seeing a fellow cop fall to his death, Scottie has quit the force, and is slowly recovering from acrophobia and vertigo. His friend, Galvin Elster, asks him to undertake a private investigation: he wants Scottie to follow his wife Madeleine (Novak), who is supposedly possessed by the spirit of a woman named Carlotta Valdes. She seems to wander away into another world, and never remembers anything about it either. Scottie reluctantly follows Madeleine, and in the process falls in love with her. Galvin informs Scottie to be more careful, as Carlotta committed suicide when she was 26, and Madeleine was also 26. With his vertigo and acrophobia causing problems, Scottie must still try his best to save Madeleine. Whether or not he does so forms the rest of the film. 

Kim Novak as Madeleine

Remarkable work by Hitchcock: be it in direction, casting and the other touches. Hitchcock puts his trust in Herrmann with the score, and he never disappoints. Then there is the camerawork. The ones used to show Scottie’s dream after the church scene, and the ones used to show his fear are brilliant. One technique which has its roots in this film is the (aptly named) Vertigo effect, where the camera moves away, but zooms in at the same time. Some shots of silhouettes and other shots taken from different camera angles are few of the Hitchcock touches I liked. 

A dream sequence that Scottie has, after being
haunted by a particular incident that takes place
at the church

The story initially starts out as a mystery thriller, with the reason behind Madeleine’s weird behaviour causing doubts. The story goes pretty well, and at a rapid pace, till the sequence of events that take place in the church. Towards the last thirty minutes or so, the story gets a little far-fetched, as we know the answer by then. In the remaining 40 minutes or so of the film, it is about how Scottie tries to finally solve the mystery. Until then, you will feel eager to know what actually happened to Madeleine and why she is behaving in such a way. Is she really possessed? Or is it an elaborate set-up? The answer to these questions is what makes the film a wee bit far-fetched, but yet, the mystery is perfectly constructed: no loopholes or flaws. The romance may seem like it is offbeat and is ruining the tempo, but love has a big part to play in the mystery.

In my opinion, among the four Hitchcock-Stewart films, this is the one where James Stewart has acted the best. The way he portrays a fear of heights is excellent: his facial expressions, body movements, all make you feel that James Stewart really does have acrophobia. The way he expresses love, shock and surprise are also superb. Kim Novak has also acted well, and her portrayal of being possessed is quite good. The film was known for the way it portrayed vertigo, mainly because of the score and photography, but I feel that James Stewart also has an equal contribution in making the film great in that aspect. 

The scene where the Vertigo effect is used.

Great work by Bernard Herrmann on the score, which is another driving force of the film. It is chilling, and in some places hypnotic. The score during the church scene, especially during the places where Scottie’s fear is shown, and the music when the story gets more romantic are simply brilliant. His score was voted the 12th best score of all time. The film Vertigo was recognized as the 18th best thriller, the best mystery film, and the 9th greatest film of the past century by the American Film Institute. 

Overall, Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo is another masterpiece among many other films of his. Splendid acting by James Stewart and Kim Novak, great background music, a well constructed – albeit far-fetched - mystery and some unique photography make Vertigo a Hollywood classic. It may not appeal to the modern day youth, but it is a good entertainer for sure. 

My Rating: 4.5/5

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 98%