Vertigo

Directed by	Alfred Hitchcock
Written by	Alec Coppel, Samuel A. Taylor
Starring	James Stewart, Kim Novak, Barbara Bel Geddes, Tom Helmore, Henry Jones
Produced by	Alfred Hitchcock (uncredited)
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release date	May 9, 1958
Runtime	128 min.
Language	English
Budget	$2,479,000 (est.)
IMDb page

Vertigo is a 1958 suspense film directed by Alfred Hitchcock. The film is usually taken as a classic of the genre and is considered by many critics to be Hitchcock's masterpiece. Download high resolution version (484x686, 58 KB)Vertigo dvd cover This is a DVD cover. ... Alfred Hitchcock Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, (13 August 1899 – 29 April 1980) was a British film director closely associated with the suspense genre. ... Jimmy Stewart, photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1934 James Maitland Stewart (May 20, 1908 – July 2, 1997) was an American film actor beloved for his persona as an average guy who faces adversity and tries to do the right thing, an image which was largely reflected in his own personality. ... George Sanders and Novak in Moll Flanders Kim Novak (born February 13, 1933) is an American film actress. ... Barbara Bel Geddes as Maggie in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1955 Barbara Bel Geddes (born October 31, 1922) is an American actress. ... Henry Jones is a fictional character in the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. ... Alfred Hitchcock Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, (13 August 1899 – 29 April 1980) was a British film director closely associated with the suspense genre. ... The Paramount Pictures logo used from 1987 to 1995. ... May 9 is the 129th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (130th in leap years). ... 1958 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1958 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... One of the premier programs of the Golden Age of Radio (now known as old-time radio), Suspense advertised itself as radios oustanding theater of thrills and was heard in one form or another from 1942 through 1962. ... Alfred Hitchcock Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, (13 August 1899 – 29 April 1980) was a British film director closely associated with the suspense genre. ... Film criticism is the analysis and evaluation of films. ... Originally, the term masterpiece (or chef doeuvre) referred to a piece of handicraft art produced by a journeyman aspiring to become a master craftsman in the old European guild system. ...

The Plot

Vertigo tells the story of a retired San Francisco detective, Scottie (James Stewart), who suffers from balance disorder and is hired to follow Madeleine Elster (Kim Novak), the wife of an old friend. Despite her trancelike, sometimes obsessive behavior and her suicidal tendencies, the detective falls in love with her and resolves to save her from herself. However, Scottie's balance disorder renders him unable to help her when he is most needed, and Madeleine's apparent death occurs as a result. About a year later, Scottie, still brooding about Madeleine, encounters a woman, Judy Barton, who reminds him strongly of his dead love, and he resolves to bring Madeleine back to life again. Judy, however, has secrets of her own, and the movie inevitably takes a final, tragic turn. This article is about the city in California. ... Jimmy Stewart, photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1934 James Maitland Stewart (May 20, 1908 – July 2, 1997) was an American film actor beloved for his persona as an average guy who faces adversity and tries to do the right thing, an image which was largely reflected in his own personality. ... A balance disorder is a disturbance that causes an individual to feel unsteady, giddy, woozy, or have a sensation of movement, spinning, or floating. ... George Sanders and Novak in Moll Flanders Kim Novak (born February 13, 1933) is an American film actress. ... A balance disorder is a disturbance that causes an individual to feel unsteady, giddy, woozy, or have a sensation of movement, spinning, or floating. ...

The screenplay and its sources

The movie was adapted by Samuel A. Taylor and Alec Coppel from the novel d'Entre les Morts by Pierre Boileau and Thomas Narcejac. Francois Truffaut suggested that the novel d'Entre les Morts was specifically written for Hitchcock by Boileau and Narcejac after Hitchcock was unable to buy the rights to their previous novel, Celle qui n'était plus, which was made into the movie Les Diaboliques. However, Narcejac has subsequently denied that this was their intention. Boileau-Narcejac is the name by which Pierre Boileau (Paris, 28 April 1906 - Beaulieu-sur-Mer, 1989) and Pierre Ayraud, aka Thomas Narcejac (Rochefort-sur-Mer, 3 July 1908 - Nice, 1998) wrote. ... Boileau-Narcejac is the name by which Pierre Boileau (Paris, 28 April 1906 - Beaulieu-sur-Mer, 1989) and Pierre Ayraud, aka Thomas Narcejac (Rochefort-sur-Mer, 3 July 1908 - Nice, 1998) wrote. ... François Roland Truffaut (February 6, 1932–October 21, 1984) was one of the founders of the French New Wave in filmmaking, and remains an icon of the French film industry. ... Les Diaboliques can mean: The 1874 novel Les Diaboliques by Jules Amédée Barbey dAurevilly. ...

The film also alludes to the story of Orpheus and Eurydice. Although the source novel's explicit references to the myth do not appear in the film, certain themes do, including the return of a dead beloved to life, and discovering the fatal consequences of "looking back." The head of Orpheus, from an 1865 painting by Gustave Moreau. ... In Greek mythology, there were two characters named Eurydice, or Eurydíkê. The more famous was a woman - or a nymph - named Eurydice who was the wife of Orpheus. ...

The final script was written by Samuel Taylor from notes by Hitchcock. However, a number of elements survive from an earlier script by Alec Coppel, including the opening rooftop sequence, the Cypress Point kiss, the two visits to San Juan Bautista, and the famous nightmare sequence. When Taylor attempted to take sole credit for the screenplay, Coppel protested to the Writers Guild, who determined that both writers were entitled to credit. It is believed by many that Hitchcock himself was primarily responsible for the character, structure, tone, and thematic richness of this, his most personal film. San Juan Bautista has several meanings: The Spanish translation of John the Baptist. ...

Cinematic qualities

Vertigo is notable for the "Hitchcock zoom," an in-camera perspective distortion special effect created by Hitchcock that suggests the dizzying effect that gives the film its title. A Hitchcock zoom of a sculpture and its surroundings The Hitchcock zoom, also known as the contra-zoom, the Vertigo effect, a trombone shot, forward zoom, reverse tracking, or zoom in/dolly out, is an unsettling in-camera special effect that appears to undermine normal visual perception in a way... In imaging, there are two types of perspective distortion: Perspective projection distortion Perspective distortion (caused by camera to subject distance) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Special effects (abbreviated SPFX or SFX) are used in the film, television, and entertainment industry to create effects that cannot be achieved by normal means, such as depicting travel to other star systems. ...

The film's famous score was composed by Bernard Herrmann. In many of the key scenes Hitchcock essentially gave the film over to Herrmann, whose melodies, echoing Richard Wagner's Liebestod from Tristan and Isolde, dramatically convey Scotty's obsessive love for the woman he imagines to be Madeleine. Bernard Herrmann (June 29, 1911 – December 24, 1975) was a composer, best known for his film scores, particularly for those directed by Alfred Hitchcock. ... Richard Wagner Wilhelm Richard Wagner (May 22, 1813 in Leipzig – February 13, 1883 in Venice) was an influential German composer, music theorist, and essayist, primarily known for his groundbreaking symphonic-operas (or music dramas). His compositions are notable for their continuous contrapuntal texture, rich harmonies and orchestration, and elaborate use... Tristan und Isolde is an opera in three acts by Richard Wagner. ...

Vertigo as a Hitchcock film

Those interested in Hitchcock's biography have often noted the similarities between Scottie Ferguson's attitude toward Judy and Hitchcock's own attitude toward his leading actresses; Hitchcock took an active interest in moulding the on-screen appearance of his actresses to fit his vision of the perfect blonde, and the sequence in which Scottie orders Judy to gradually transform herself into Madeleine is often cited as an example of Hitchcock dramatizing his own obsessions.

Hitchcock used falling, and the threat of falling, in many of his films, for example Blackmail, Foreign Correspondent, Suspicion, Saboteur, Rear Window, To Catch a Thief, and North by Northwest. Critics have suggested that Vertigo uses this recurring motif as a metaphor for sexual obsession, existential angst, liebestod, or original sin. Blackmail is threatening to reveal substantially true information about a person to the public, a family member, or associates unless a monetary demand is met. ... Foreign Correspondent is a 1940 film which tells the story of an American reporter who becomes involved in espionage in England during World War II. It stars Joel McCrea, George Sanders, Laraine Day, Herbert Marshall, Albert Bassermann and Robert Benchley. ... Suspicion DVD cover Suspicion (1941) is a film noir directed by Alfred Hitchcock starring Cary Grant and Joan Fontaine as a married couple. ... This article is about Sabotage sabotage can also refer to: an early Black Sabbath album (Sabotage), the Alfred Hitchcock films (Sabotage or Saboteur), a Beastie Boys song, or a type of shock site. ... Rear Window (1954) is a motion picture directed by Alfred Hitchcock, based on Cornell Woolrichs short story It Had to Be Murder (1942). ... To Catch a Thief is a movie made in 1955, and directed by Alfred Hitchcock, starring Cary Grant, Grace Kelly, Jessie Royce Landis and John Williams. ... North By Northwest is a 1959 MGM thriller by Alfred Hitchcock and is generally considered one of his best works. ... Angst is a German word for fear or anxiety. ... Original sin is the doctrine, shared in one form or another by most Christian churches, that the sin of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (called the Fall), changed or damaged human nature, such that all human beings since then are innately predisposed to sin, and are powerless...

Awards

Vertigo was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and-White or Color and Best Sound. Although he never won an Oscar for any of his movie performances, the comedian Bob Hope received two honorary Oscars for his contributions to cinema. ... The Academy Awards are the oldest awards ceremony for achievements in motion pictures. ... This is a list of films that have received an Oscar for best sound. ...

Vertigo was not a commercial success when first released, and its critical reputation built slowly, due in part to its lack of availability: it was one of five films owned by the Hitchcock estate removed from circulation in 1973. When Vertigo was re-released on film and home video in 1983, its critical fortunes soared. Finally, after a year-long restoration effort by Robert Harris and James Katz, the film was re-released to theaters in its former glory in 1996. The new print featured restored color and an enhanced soundtrack with digital sound. It was also exhibited for the first time in 70mm, a format similar in size to VistaVision, in which it had been originally filmed. 1973 was a common year starting on Monday. ... 1983 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1996 is a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... 70 mm film (or 65 mm film) is a high-resolution motion picture film format. ... VistaVision is a variant of the 35mm motion picture film format created by Paramount Studios in the 1950s. ...

In 1998, the American Film Institute ranked it #61 on its "100 Greatest Movies" list. The film has been deemed "culturally significant" by the United States Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry. 1998 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... The American Film Institute is an independent non-profit organization created by the National Endowment for the Arts, which was established in 1965 when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act. ... In 1998, the American Film Institute polled more than 1,500 artists and leaders from the film industry to select the 100 greatest American films of all time. ... Library of Congress, Jefferson building The Library of Congress is the unofficial national library of the United States. ... The National Film Registry is the registry of films selected by the United States National Film Preservation Board for preservation in the Library of Congress. ...

In 2002, Vertigo was chosen the second greatest film of all time (behind Citizen Kane) by the Sight and Sound critics' poll. 2002 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Citizen Kane is the first feature film directed by Orson Welles (he had directed two short films previously), and is loosely based on the life of the newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst, the reclusive aerospace and movie mogul Howard Hughes, and the Chicago utilities magnate Samuel Insull. ... Sight and Sound is a British monthly magazine about film. ...

San Francisco Bay Area locations in Vertigo

Vertigo is notable for its extensive location footage of the San Francisco Bay Area, leading some to claim the city itself as an important character in the script; San Francisco is famous for its steep hills, expansive views, and tall, arching bridges. Some have noted that in the numerous driving scenes shot in the city, the main characters' cars are almost always pictured heading down the city's steeply inclined streets. This article is about the city in California. ... The San Francisco Bay Area, sometimes referred to as The Bay Area or The Bay, is a metropolitan area that lies along the San Francisco Bay. ...

Visiting the San Francisco film locations (perhaps most famously in a subsection of Chris Marker's documentary montage Sans Soleil) has something of a cult following as well as modest tourist appeal. Chris Marker (born July 29, 1921) is a writer, photographer, film director and documentary maker. ...

Areas that were shot on location (not recreated in a studio), and that still exist:

• Mission San Juan Bautista, although the all-important tower had to be matted in with a painting using studio effects. Hitchcock had first visited the Mission before the tower was torn down due to dry rot, and was reportedly very displeased to find it missing when he returned to film his scenes. The original tower was much smaller and less dramatic than the special effects version however, so in the end the change could be considered fortuitous.
• Mission Dolores, where for many years tourists could see the actual Carlotta Valdez headstone featured in the film. Eventually, the headstone was removed as the Mission considered it disrespectful to the dead to house a tourist attraction grave for a fictional person.
• Fort Point National Historic Site and the Golden Gate Bridge
• Big Basin Redwoods State Park, although the film claims these scenes are from Muir Woods National Monument.
• Cypress Point, a well known location along the 17 Mile Drive near Pebble Beach.
• California Palace of the Legion of Honor: the Carlotta Valdez portrait was lost after being removed from the gallery, but many of the other paintings in the background of the portrait scenes are still on view.
• Coit Tower (appears in many background shots but is not featured). Hitchcock once said that he included it as a phallic symbol.
• "The Brocklebank" (1000 Mason Street): Gavin and Madeleine's apartment building still looks essentially the same. Across the street from the Fairmont Hotel, where Hitchcock usually stayed when he visited and where many of the cast and crew stayed during filming.
• 351 Buena Vista East: the sanitarium where Scottie recovers. Now apartments but looks the same from the outside. Across the street from the southern (most elevated) end of Buena Vista Park. Excellent views of the back of the building, dramatically situated on Buena Vista heights, are available from the Corona Heights neighborhood park.

• The York Hotel [1] 940 Sutter Street: When Scottie first catches a glimpse of Judy Barton, he follows her back to her hotel and invites her to dinner at Ernie's. Judy's room is located on the third floor of the hotel, whose interiors were all created back in Hollywood. The flashing green neon of the "Hotel Empire" sign creates a ghostly effect for Judy's transformation into Scottie's make-believe vision of Madeleine, although the neon sign was replaced when the Hotel was re-named The York Hotel.

Mission San Juan Bautista was founded on June 24, 1797 by Father Fermin de Lasuen, the fifteenth mission in the California mission chain. ... Mission Basilica San Francisco de Asís Mission Basilica San Francisco de Asís, also known as Mission Dolores, was founded on October 9, 1776. ... Fort Point is a location at the south entrance to San Francisco Bay. ... View from the Presidio in San Francisco to the northwest, towards the Marin County headlands. ... Big Basin Redwoods State Park is a California state park, located in Santa Cruz County. ... Trees in Muir Woods Trail in Muir Woods Muir Woods National Monument is a U.S. National Monument located in Northern California, on the west coast of the United States. ... The Lone Cypress The 17-Mile Drive is a scenic toll road through Pebble Beach, California that hugs the Pacific coastline and passes famous golf courses and mansions of the rich and famous. ... Pebble Beach is a small town located on the Pacific coast in northern California. ... The Legion of Honor in San Francisco The California Palace of the Legion of Honor (often abbreviated to simply Legion of Honor by locals) is a fine-art museum in San Francisco. ... Coit Tower (photo courtesy of Michael Doeff) Coit Tower is a notable landmark dedicated to the San Francisco, California firefighters. ... Phallic symbols are forms or concepts considered to be representations of the penis (or phallus) and the fertility and cultural implications that are associated with the male sexual organ. ... The view from Buena Vista Park. ...

Remake

• Director Brian DePalma remade Vertigo in 1976 as Obsession with Cliff Robertson and Genevieve Bujold. Bernard Herrmann, who scored Vertigo, also scored Obsession.

• DePalma's 1984 movie Body Double also featured many plot elements from Vertigo.

Brian De Palma (born September 11, 1940 in Newark, New Jersey) is an American film director. ... Obsession was Brian DePalmas homage to his biggest influence, Alfred Hitchcock. ... Clifford Parker Robertson III (born September 9, 1925) is an American actor notable for his performances in PT 109 (as the young John F. Kennedy), The Best Man, Charly (for which he won the 1968 Academy Award for Best Actor), Picnic and Star 80. ... Geneviève Bujold (born July 1, 1942 in Montréal, Quebec) is a Canadian actress. ... Bernard Herrmann (June 29, 1911 – December 24, 1975) was a composer, best known for his film scores, particularly for those directed by Alfred Hitchcock. ... Body Double is a 1984 film by Brian DePalma. ...

External link

• Vertigo at the Internet Movie Database
• Vertigo:Then and Now - before and after images of San Francisco locations seen in the film