When a police detective, John “Scottie” Ferguson (James Stewart), is forced to retire from the force due to personal reasons, he quickly becomes embroiled in an obsession of two beautiful women in quick succession. After the first seemingly commits suicide, he attempts to transform the second into the same lady, while pondering whether the pair have some sort of spiritual connection. Another classic flick but one that doesn’t quite hit the dizzy heights of its contemporaries.

Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Writers: Alec Coppel, Samuel A. Taylor, Maxwell Anderson
Starring: James Stewart, Kim Novak

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock and based on the 1954 novel D’entre les Morts (From Among the Dead), written by Boileau-Narcejac, Vertigo was brought to the big screen in May 1958. The film marked another notable release from the English director, arriving after Rear Window (1954) and just prior to Psycho (1960).

One of the main strengths of Vertigo is the way in which the filmmakers deliver one or two excellent twists along the way. While some viewers may find them slightly predictable in nature, they remain entertaining and help keep the audience guessing throughout. There is also an almost dreamlike quality to the picture, with its hypnotic atmosphere making it feel as though events are unfolding somewhere between reality and fantasy.

With the strengths, however, come a few negatives. Vertigo does feel as though it stretches on for a little too long, with a runtime of one-hundred and twenty-eight minutes that seems somewhat excessive for the story being told. While the picture remains engaging throughout, there are moments when the pacing slows, leaving the impression that the story could have reached its climax much sooner than it actually does.

In terms of cast, James Stewart adopts the role of “Scottie”, the man leading the obsession, while Kim Novak is also prevalent in a support role. Both are impressive, with the latter pulling off a tremendously haunting job in her challenging role.

Some say Vertigo is a flick you really have to watch more than once to gain a full appreciation of its mastery and maybe that’s a true statement. Ultimately, Vertigo is a solid flick that is enjoyable on the whole, especially when taking into consideration its 1958 release date.

“We stood there and I kissed her for the last time, and she said, ‘If you lose me you’ll know that I loved you and wanted to keep on loving you.’ And I said, ‘I won’t lose you.’ But I did.”

Scottie – Vertigo