Vertigo (1958) | Hitchcock Review #21

My thoughts on the movie currently considered the best film of all time.

[@Weiselberry]

To anyone who hasn't seen Vertigo yet (and plans to) and doesn't want to know about the plot twist, you might want to avoid the comment section. :)

[@feslenraster]

great review! never seen it, but will after this detailed review, Ms J.

[@jimbryant590]

Vertigo is my favorite movie of all time. The way Hitchcock weaves a sense of obsession, neurosis, and confusion into every aspect of the film from the music, to the cinematography, to the production design. It is the only film I have watched that made me feel the exact themes it is presents and experience the same emotional roller coaster Scotty is throughout the film.

[@gammaanteria]

Bernard Herrmann was (to me) the greatest film score composer. He really could get at the psychology/essence of the film and translate it to music like no other. In "Vertigo"'s opening credits, one beautiful little detail I would like to point out. We first hear the 'hypnotic'/cycling ostinato (repeating pattern) of the strings/harp, and then also the menacing, piercing lines of the brass. When Herrmann returns to these later on [where at the top of the credits it reads "Art Direction - Hal Periera"], he does a neat thing, which I think subconsciously reinforces an off-kilter feeling to the listener: he speeds-up/doubles the ostinato harp line, while at the same time protracting out/slowing-down the brass line. Musically, I think it is a terrific complement to Hitchcock's famous dolly zoom shot...

[@Weiselberry]

Cool! I'd never thought of the shift in the music that way before!

[@FourLoopMedia]

I think there is a difference between people who go in blind and see it the first time as an adult vs people who have grown up with it. The twist is just so freaking shocking...

[@denisrodrigues1455]

For me, "Vertigo" is one of the greatest thriller movie in the history. In my humble opinion, is one of the five best productions in the Hitchcock catalogue. James Stewart has one of the greatest performances in all his long career, and Kim Novak bring a fantastic variation between the two characters she had to be. The Bernard Hermann's musical score is a essential part inside the production. Congratulations, for your very good review!

[@rosskirby9886]

Thanks for another excellent review - this time Hitchcock's Vertigo. I have to say that Vertigo is my favourite Hitchcock movie along with Rear Window, but I understand your misgivings due to the sheer depressing darkness of the subject matter. Every time I view the film, I sit there in wonder at every aspect of the movie - the story, the characters, the cinematography, set designs, evocative use of colour, Herrmann's passionate and moody score and the brilliant use of location shooting in San Francisco. Thanks again and please keep the reviews of these classics coming.

[@MsBackstager]

I adore Barbara B.G - especially in this movie. She has always been an understated talent and beauty.

[@DavidPeacockChannel]

I recently rewatched The Stranger with Orson Welles and the climactic scene in the clock tower immediately reminded of the climactic scene in Vertigo.

[@4CardsMan]

Loved that slow trip through San Francisco in that De Soto

[@TheCastlepoet]

This is an outstanding, highly intelligent review that "gets" so many things about this complex film that most "first-time-watching" reactors miss completely. I think it's quite normal to have mixed feelings about Vertigo; and indeed, for most viewers, those feelings likely will change with each successive viewing. There are so many elements to admire in the filmmaking: the imagery, the use of color, costume, sets and settings; the performances of the principal actors, among many other things. And of course Bernard Hermann's astonishing score. It's an easy film to admire and perhaps love, but, by Hitchcock's design, it's a highly unsettling film, and it isn't, for me, an easy film to like. It conjures complex emotions that preclude mere likeability.

[@boilingfrog783]

I think this is really a movie which, by means of an extreme premise, deconstructs romantic notions associated with "love" while exposing the manipulative and self-centred agenda that often accompanies such. Scotty is effectively "in love" with a woman who doesn't exist. Maddy is an ethereal, fantasy creature who really only lives in his imagination. His projection of this fantasy onto Judy reveals the utterly self-gratifying nature of this "love". He has no real interest in Judy as a person in her own right but only in what he can mold her into. Scotty is an emotionally immature character. He is still, as a middle-aged man, a bachelor. Regarding Midge he has an association with a woman that he clearly has a rapport with and who obviously harbour's genuine love for him. She would most likely make a very good companion for Scotty, given the chance. Instead, he chooses to chase a dream, a fantasy, apparently happier to pursue an image rather than an adult relationship. I like to think that this movie is about the main character's journey from out of his childish notions of love into a kind of emotional manhood. Through a "trial by fire" he overcomes his vertigo which is perhaps a metaphor for *fill in the blank* and if a sequel were to be made, we'd find him happily married and content with Midge, occasionally reflecting on the entanglement that nearly ruined him but from which he emerged wiser and stronger. No, it's not Hitchcock's best film, in my view. While *The Lady Vanishes* lives, how could it be? 😁 Yet it is a very thought-provoking piece that definitely repays repeat viewings. I love the photography also, which lends an almost otherworldly air to the locations. Of particular note is the apartment scene with Maddy bathed in a green glow making her appear ghost-like and unattainable (as indeed she is). Anyway, a very good picture and way better than *Citizen Kane* for sure. Apologies if you're a *Kane* fan 🙂 Thanks for the review 👍

[@2ndavenuesw481]

He's being taken in by a deceptive illusion, made more believable by Judy/Madeleine's real feelings for him. Scotty is vulnerable because of trauma, and the "vertigo" one gets from sailing to the heights of emotion renders him incapable of understanding what is happening until it is too late. Calling Scotty "immature" doesn't really fit, except in the sense that he does not have cynicism about women that is taken for granted in today's main leads. Vertigo is about psychology, and it is about how a certain vulnerability, a combination of physical and mental injury, leads to a vulnerability to severe delusion. The end of his police career made him vulnerable to the delusion about Madeleine being real, the death of Madeleine at the tower made him a psychological wreck. When he is out of the hospital, recovers from the catatonia (I guess that was the result of his immaturity, eh?) he is possessed by a mad compulsion to try to find Madeleine, so when the incredible happens and he meets her doppelganger, he has simply become wholly detached from reality. Vertigo is about a certain type of psychological disability, injury, weakness, being aggravated to the point that it leads to madness. One can say his ideas of romantic love are deluded, but by that point he is basically on autopilot (having nothing else to live for) until the appearance of Carlotta's jewelry snaps him out of it.

[@2ndavenuesw481]

The belief that Madeleine has been restored to him removes enough pain that he's actually able to get back into the detective's frame of mind.

[@Venejan]

@@2ndavenuesw481 I think it's important to remember that Scottie is, by training and profession, both a detective and a lawyer, and those instincts kick back in when he sees the necklace and starts putting two and two together.

[@joefpsunset]

A couple of summers ago I went to the actual Mission that Vertigo was filmed at. It looks exactly the same now as it did in the film. It was a cool experience to be there. I hate to pick a favorite Hitchcock but this one is close to the top of my list. Also, I don't think I would have liked it as much if Kim Novak wasn't in the movie. She is so attractive and she draws you into the film. Thanks for the review.

[@jeffgreenberg5306]

Book Pal Agreed about Kim’s presence. No offense to Vera Miles, but it wouldnt have been as compelling, not only because of Kim’s beauty but also her ability to express vulnerability.

[@slowry12]

“At moments throughout, Vertigo’s images shimmer with an incandescent beauty that few films in history could pretend to match, even as other moments- awkwardnesses in the script, longueurs in the storytelling-induce discomforts not originally intended by the director or his crew. Vertigo is not the perfect, pure cinema of Rear Window. Yet who is haunted, dogged, pursued by Rear Window?” Dan Auiler

[@LazlosPlane]

Part of the genius of this piece is that it doesn't matter what you or I WANT to happen -- sad ending -- happy ending --- it's just.... an ending... a series of events that has led to this final moment that resolves all the conflict of the the earlier part of the film... The film (Hitchcock) is indifferent to our needs... as is the Universe: sometimes things turn out the way we wish them to; sometimes, they don't and sometimes we are at a loss to understand the denouement. We sit in awe of Fate, with, perhaps a feeling of privilege that we were given a glimpse into these extraordinary events. Perhaps, as Shakespeare said, "it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing..."

[@michaelm6948]

I admit to watching Vertigo multiple times, hoping against hope that I'll feel differently about it. I never do. It strikes me as a very cold and abstract film. A great exploration of dark themes that never leads to a catharsis. I'll keep watching it though, and that confirms it's allure.

[@c.7610]

You are not alone. I have loved Hitchcock’s films for 50 years but I have never managed to love Vertigo, or even like it very much.

[@johncilia7696]

I have never heard anybody speak of this. In the scene in the barn Scotie is talking to Judy. She is facing outside looking over his shoulder at something. For a second we see it too. Its Elster pulling up in his car with dead wife. This is Judy's signal to go up tower. Took me 2 views of movie to see it. WOW ! Love Hitchcock.

[@Venejan]

Great observation! I always notice that worried look she gives, but till now I'd never associated it with Elster himself.

[@iakona23]

The actors Jimmy Stewart and Kim Novak had real personal chemistry with each other in the 2 movies they did together in 1958, and I believe that it shows on camera. Kim Novak talked in an interview about “probably the most honest, beautiful time of an animal instinct I’ve known” in reference to her feelings toward Stewart when she was with him on set in Bell, Book and Candle.

[@Adam_Le-Roi_Davis.]

I love this film, and I feel that your review of it was very fair, it's a complex and in many ways a disturbing tale, quite definitely of obsession, not just on James Stewart's character either, but just about all of the characters, the husband about wanting rid of his wife and the story that goes along with it, Mitch's with man that she wants but can't be with because of herself, as she was the one who called off their marriage, Judy who wants the man who she met in a lie, a person who only see the character she portrayed and not the real her, all the people in this are driven by one obsession or another, and I think this is why in the end they all lose.

[@michaeldebellis4202]

I agree with your review (btw, don't read this if you don't want spoilers). I think it's a great movie but it's not my favorite Hitchcock film. I don't mind the parts that are creepy and upsetting, I think you got it right, that's what Hitchcock wanted and that's what being obsessed with someone is like (talking from personal experience unfortunately). What always bothered me was the ending. It just seems so abrupt and also kind of unfair. She was an accomplice to the guy murdering his wife but we don't know that she knew that. She just took a job and got sucked into something much more complex and sinister than she ever imagined. It seems like such an easy way out when suddenly "she's dead now". I've often wondered if the ending was partly due to the movie code that was just starting to go away but I think was still in force for this film. Where a criminal couldn't be seen getting away with their crime. Whatever the reason I find the ending very unsatisfying. I think Psycho is Hitchcock's masterpiece. Everything about that film is perfect and it is such a shift from conventional mysteries where we start with someone who seems to be the protagonist only... to have her be out of the picture. I also like Rear Window and North by Northwest more. Those two are the two I never get tired of rewatching because of the excellent way they integrate humor and mystery/tension. BTW, anyone who likes Vertigo should check out Body Double by Brian DePalma. It's a big nod to Vertigo as well as Rear Window and IMO a really amazing film. That one also had an ending I found unsatisfying the first time but after multiple viewings it makes sense.

[@lindenstromberg6859]

Midge's fatal flaw is her obsession with Scottie, but she sits on the border of obsession and loyalty; it's relatively grey because loyalty and obsession are treated hand in hand to no benefit to her or Scottie, who she seems to care a lot about. I love the range of Kim Novak on display in Vertigo... Scottie isn't interested in Judy, he's interested in the idea of a person she could be.

[@zoufletteultime3232]

You are one of the best movie reviewer on KZbin. Thank you so much !

[@Weiselberry]

Aw, thank you!!

[@violetwinspear4466]

back in film school, our theory professor would teach the freshmen a sort of overview of the history of cinema, and then the next three years were spent on a variety of topics. i took theory classes about the avant-garde, horror and exploitation (we were a stone's throw from 42nd st. and NYC) the silent era, westerns, and about hitchcock. i loved my teacher, he was a truly brilliant little man with an incredibly broad pool of knowledge and a rather eclectic sensibility. he was also a very hard a, and i'm still proud of my marks. as long as you could argue your point and back it up, flights of fancy could be welcome. anyhow, we'd just watched vertigo, and he was discussing the film with the many students, matriculated and not, who filled the auditorium. his classes were legendary, and even sciences and humanities students would sit in, spilling out onto the stairs and in the aisles. i had just watched this movie, again, and we had been talking about the dead and possession and obsession, and whether or not judy had ever truly existed for scottie. he was pacing back and forth, and he asked us who it was that emerges from the darkness of the bell tower to precipitate the final moments of the film. there were a lot of answers, all of which were unsatisfactory to him. i wasn't very brave in class, but finally squeaked out "in that moment--the nun, she's not a nun. she's a ghost. she's madeleine's ghost" which elicited a great aha! lots of clapping, and a new discussion about revenge. i was red faced, but so pleased. it's one of my favorite memories of that class and that professor. i was just so excited to be on the same wavelength as someone whose thoughts i respected so much.

[@ragejoona431]

Vertigo is my all time favorite movie. There is no other film that makes me feel the same way.

[@stonewick0073]

Hey Jerome, i started watching hitchcock movies after going thru your videos and i fell in love with them. I watch them one by one and last week i watched North by Northwest and it's my top fav now, it was like a james bond film before james bond. Coming to vertigo, it's a good movie. I felt movie was a lil slow in the first half, the end was a bit abrupt too 😅. Also i do have to say, if i was born in that era i wud be impressed, but since many of the things in the movie has now become cliches, it kind of didn't feel something that is the best of alfred Hitchcock. North by Northwest, rear window and dial M for murder are my personal favorites. Surprisingly, most Hitchcock movies stand test of time. I have watched many interviews of hitchcock n he is now one of my fav directors too ✌️ Love your videos, and i think you're beautiful.

[@TheHGN2001]

Enjoyed your review, and as the Bernard Herrmann score is a favorite of mine, I had it playing in the background while watching the review. VERTIGO, I think, has become my favorite Hitchcock movie. It was stuck in the vault for a large portion of my life, but once I got to see it sometime in the 80s, I began to realize how special it was. Today, in the days of high definition and Blu-rays, the film gets even better as the colors become so vibrant and so important to the plot. Who can think of Madeline and not think of the color green?

[@Weiselberry]

Since making this video, I've listened to the entire soundtrack separately several times. I think it's become one of my favorite scores too.

[@davefsmith6040]

You are allowed to like - or dislike - any movie you want.... everyone has different tastes... that's why there are more flavors of ice cream than just Vanilla.... :D

[@fuyu5979]

After watching Vertigo many many times n from your analysis of the film, Hitchcock intended to purposely keep the viewing audience off-balance through out the film. That's the feeling I have even after watching it numerous times. Thanks for your film analysis. Looking forward to your next one.

[@ER1CwC]

Thank you for this really fair review! I did notice Vertigo’s omission from your Hitchcock series and am very glad to see this. Vertigo, Shadow of a Doubt, and To Catch a Thief are probably my favourites, even though they couldn’t be more different. I think the distinction you draw between admiring a movie and enjoying it is apt. I feel the same way about Sophie’s Choice. I think the ending is the only logical resolution to this movie. The first time I watched it, I found it perplexing (and abrupt). But the more I think of it: Julie had completely self-abnegated in order to be with Scottie, and Scottie rejected her (“Too late, too late...”); what else was there left for her? I think the age difference between Stewart and Novak is also purposeful. It adds to the perversity and toxicity of their relationship.

[@jdsantibanez]

I first saw this movie in the early eighties, in a movie theater that just played old movies. It was great. I also saw more Hitchcock movies in that theater. Although I don't like the ending, it's a wonderful film.

[@MrGpschmidt]

My fave Hitch flick of all-time. Stewart & Novak are both heart-breakingly perfect - a DynamicDuo. Poignant and elegiac.

[@wolandbegemotazazello]

This film recently overtook Citizen Kane as number one in Sight and Sound's influential poll of the best films ever made. Personally, I don't like these best of beauty contests since they are inherently absurd. Beauty is ultimately in the socialised eye of the beholder and no one, no one, has ever seen every film made. That said, this is to me a great film.

[@2ndavenuesw481]

If Vertigo hadn't been restored and favored by Scorsese it wouldn't be #1. If Citizen Kane hadn't had a political context in which Hearst blackballed Orson Welles then it would never have been #1. However, everyone has favorites. It isn't taking away from great movies that they are not a favorite. Vertigo being a favorite movie of so many film fans is not surprising, really. In the future, it will be harder to rely on lists of favorites because the political aspect is coming into the fore again.

[@thomasmiles340]

Thanks for your work. On the blu-ray, they give an alternate ending which was filmed at the request of the censorship board. Also, in the original story, you don't find out until near the end that Judy and Madeleine are the same person. Hitchcock reveals this halfway through the film, which makes it more interesting. Cheers.

[@josephmayo3253]

Good review JW. It does make my top 25 Hitchcock movies. But it drags too much for me to really love it. I get that it has its greatness. It has its moments of excitement, but the lulls in between those moments don't keep me riveted. And a Hitchcock suspense thriller should keep me riveted. I will say I like it more than Citizen Caine, but I've never seen Caine as as great as others see it. I get that it's influential, but the story bores me to tears. And since I see movies as a storytelling medium, I can't rank it highly at all. Im glad to be making my way slowly through your back catalog. It's been fun, and your movie reviews are wonderful.

[@barbarabrown7974]

My favorite movie. Each time I watch it, I see something new.

[@Venejan]

I recently read the novel "Vertigo" is based on. The first part is almost identical to the movie. The main difference is that it is set in Paris in the spring of 1940 when the Germans were fast approaching the gates of Paris. The feeling of impending doom gives the whole story an air of urgency and irreality, which nicely matches the bizarre plot and makes the Scottie character's gullibility believable. After Madeleine appears to fall to her death, the protagonist escapes to North Africa, returning to France shortly after the liberation (but before the end of the war). Here (+SPOILER ALERT+) the story deviates a little from the movie, and the ending - while essentially the same - is extremely brutal. Let's put it this way - fake Madeleine doesn't fall from a bell tower this time... The Scottie character differs somewhat in the fact that he's no Jimmy Stewart. An alcoholic since his traumatic experience as a policeman, he's a generally unpleasant character and it's hard to root for him. But it's a decent novel and well worth reading!!

[@philipgior3312]

For the 2nd week in a row I am glad you weren't yet able to review the Godzilla movie, because look what you did instead: you dared to review one of the most reviewed and discussed movies of all time! And a damn fine job you did too! You Jerome should never ever feel intimidated to review a film such as this - I've seen you tackle other great classic films and you always do an excellent job displaying insight and pointing out details that I may have missed. As for my feelings on Vertigo, I'm pretty much on point with you - It is a great film by any yardstick but I can think of a good few Hitch films which I have enjoyed more, I do think that this was Stewart's most interesting role and perhaps the best performance of his career. Anyway, once again, awesome review Jerome!

[@Barot8]

I came here for Godzilla Final Wars. I kid.... Vertigo is good. The color pallet is really beautiful. Also a good film score. Many thanks Jerome. I hope you and your family have a wonderful day and week! That scene with Stewart, and Midge brings back the memory of Stewart in Rear Window. I'm going to put out an idea you've probably have heard before. You should write a book on films. You're very knowledgeable and willing to do research. I think it would be a good seller. Thank you again for all your work! But what about Godzilla? lol I kid again.

[@guyjperson]

Dolly Zoom is also called a "stretch" in the biz.

[@RSEFX]

Thanks. Very comprehensive overview, as per usual from you, knowing how much to detail to hit on and what to stay away from for the sake of new viewers of older films like this. I first saw VERTIGO at the drive in with my parents! Not idea way to see a VistaVision film. I always remembered the zoom-in/pull back effect which was used so effectively to suggest falling/not-falling, an effect used so often since VERTIGO's release (most notably in that beach scene in JAWS). I understand this film's rise to the top of "best of" status, though I feel that that first place kind of honor (to me) is better given over to films (like CITIZEN KANE) that deal with bigger, more universal themes than personal stories (of course, personal stories can also convey big, universally-applicable themes). I'm just saying that I prefer a film that can tell both a personal story and one with multiple layers of thematic substance on all kinds of levels, and I feel KANE and films like it tend to do that. In fact, a lot of the controversy about "best films" voted by the Academy has been the questioning of why certain less popular films have won out so often over extremely popular movies. I understand that very clearly, as the Oscar is not, in theory (as well as often in practice) not a popularity context, but an effort to acknowledge a film that aspires to the widest range of themes, that are aimed beyond only entertainment (not that that the choices over the decades are beyond question either). I tend to agree with what was the original philosophy of the Academy, which, after all, was meant for acknowledgement among peers---an "insiders' award, so to speak---rather than popularity. Yes, it still turned out that many films of highest quality have lost out to far more successful, popular movies, but i still support the principle. Anyway, I SUPER digress into an area that makes a lot of people's blood boil, so...er, guess I should just get back to the subject at hand. VERTIGO. An amazingly inventive film that certainly overlaps into a variety of "types" as you say---crime, ghostly, thriller, romance....Again, thanks for the posting!

[@arnepianocanada]

If Hitchcock thought Jimmy too old, why did he engage the actor? His own dang fault.

[@willmccormick947]

Great review. Thank you very much. When I'm in the right mood, Vertigo may be the best movie ever made. But it isn't the easiest of Hitch's stuff. It lacks his humor, adventure and it has a slow, dreamish pace. Rear Window,, Shadow of a Doubt, Psycho, The 39 Steps are all easier to watch for some "fun" Hitch. But, as I said, when I am ready for something more serious. Wow. Novak (in essentially if not literally a double role) and Stewart give the best performances of their careers. And the last 1/3 is mesmerizing. Judy maybe an accomplice to murder, but we feel for her. For me, the ending is perfect. I can't think of a more powerful image and they cut away. Awesome.

[@Jeff_Lichtman]

SPOILER ALERT!!!!! Sometimes I like to imagine that Scottie realized that Judy actually was Madeleine the moment he first (?) saw her. That instead of using Judy as a prop for his obsession with Madeleine, he deliberately tortures her to get even with what she did to him. Even without taking things to this extreme, there's the question of when Scottie first figures it out. I've lived in the San Francisco Bay Area my whole life, so one of my pleasures in watching Vertigo is all the location shots. These make all those scenes of Scottie driving around the city more interesting to me than they might be to most people. As for whether Vertigo is the best movie of all time: I think it's kind of silly to take creative works like movies, music, painting, etc. and treat them like sports teams with winners and losers, where only one gets to win the championship. Just about everyone agrees that Vertigo is a great film. What does it serve to hold it up next to another great film like Citizen Kane to try to figure out which is better?

[@maxdewinter9472]

Your conviction about not giving away the plot is very commendable. You always handle that so thoughtfully. This is my favorite movie. I have watched it annually since 2007, and I had seen it several times before that. For me the best movies are all about how they make me feel, and 'Vertigo' really packs a punch, even after so many viewings. I feel that a really good movie can be experienced as a piece of music. Would listening to Beethoven's 9th once a year be too much? I don't think so. It's hard to describe how 'Vertigo' makes me feel. I really empathize with Scotty Ferguson. But I can see why others might be uncomfortable in places, especially women. The implausibility of the story has never bothered me, but I do wonder about one particular moment: When Judy opens her door to find Scotty standing there. How could she not be startled or react even a tiny bit?

[@Weiselberry]

Good point. I've often scrutinized her face in that moment, trying to detect some barely visible sign that betrays her reaction. I never catch one, though.

[@no288]

Hitchcock has left the audience confusing and still wondering if this is really the same woman. If Judy showed any expression seeing Scottie at the door the audience would know right away. Its not up to her to give the big twist plot away at that moment, not just yet. Hence why she has to act like Scottie was a completely stranger to her.

[@BigDave21000]

This is my 2nd favorite Hitchcock film next to Rear Window.

[@billolsen4360]

Yes, Midge was a unique character in a Hitchcock film. Once saw an interview with Hitchcock where he said, "The audience should suffer as much as possible."

[@johneyon5257]

yes - the movie is squirm-worthy for Scotty's obsession - like psycho is psychopathic - read window is voyeuristic - each person reacts differently to each and every movie theme - nothing wrong with that - - this was a very good analysis of the film

[@LazlosPlane]

Certainly not "Best Film of All - Time," but a Hitchcock masterpiece. Stewart's acting is brilliant, particularly in that final scene going up the stairs.... you know.... brilliant.

[@jaxrax21]

You and your followers may enjoy thinking about this question, which I think may have been raised a few years ago by a reviewer. It concerns a scene that could have been left out of the movie. After Scottie has found Judy and talked to her in her room, she thinks through her options which admit to us that she was an accomplice to a murder. So from then on, we're effectively waiting to see if she can carry off a dreadful secret. If we weren't shown her inner dialogue, would it have helped or hindered the movie?

[@Weiselberry]

I might have actually seen the reviewer you're referring to discuss this question. If I did, hopefully I don't just end up repeating something I heard someone else say. It certainly would have been an interesting change. Without her confirmation that she and Madeleine were, in fact, the same person, the next part of the film would have been more of a mystery--how is this girl so similar, is she a ghost, is she actually the same person? But Judy giving us that information lets us in on the secret; we know something our main character doesn't know, so then we're waiting for him to figure it out too and bracing for his inevitable bad reaction. Thus you've got the suspense that Hitchcock was most known for. I couldn't say if the movie would be better or worse without that scene, but I bet Hitchcock wouldn't have wanted to go in that direction. He almost always opted for suspense over mystery. I also think it would change the emotions in the climactic scene. As is, we've been clued in for a while, gotten a little used to the idea, and watched Judy squirm with the discomfort of the lie. We've had enough time and insight to take pity on her and view her sympathetically, so we feel sorry for her when he's accusing her and treating her roughly. If we'd found out what she did at the same time Scottie did, our vicarious sense of outrage and betrayal would be fresher and more intense. Possibly we might have been rooting for Scottie to get revenge, maybe even to kill her. That would have completely changed the tragic mood of their final moments together. I might have even made if feel like more of a film noir. Anyway, that's my view. Personally, I like the movie fine the way it is, and I admit it's hard for me to imagine it any other way. I couldn't say if it would have been better or worse without that scene. It would have been different, though.

[@jaxrax21]

@@Weiselberry Great reply- I feel the same indecision. Occurred to me recently that eliminating it would have been riskier, since our disbelief would have been stretched a little further, but besides the great job Novak did of creating a different person, Hitchcock would have something else going for him- we are acquainted with the occasional practice of using the same actor to play entirely different people. So I think he might have gotten away with it, and your ideas about the final scene would all be correct.

[@sergeantwarden471]

This is a movie that I never really quite understood. That being said, these women that review these movies have given me some hope that society isn't completely dumbed down almost to the earth's core. Thanks.

[@PittOriole]

When my kids hit puberty, I'm going to sit them down and have them watch this film. Then I'm going to tell them to find themselves a good Midge, and don't go chasing after Madelines. Also, don't be a Judy -- if who you truly are isn't enough for a romantic partner, they're not worth it.

[@Richard-st8ds]

Definitely my favourite Hitchcock film, but also my favourite film ever its beyond brilliant ❤

[@lindenstromberg6859]

Vertigo is my favourite film of all time, Rear Window is fairly high up too, at least top 5 up with Silence of the Lambs, Chasing Amy, and Casablanca (Casablanca is weird film for me, throwing out a water of Vichy water and kicking it over, and the singing of a song to combat the Nazi's singing in the bar were the most powerful scenes for me). Sunset Boulevard, American Beauty, Goodfellas, Gandhi, and Hereditary round out my top 10. From Hitchcock, I also really like Rebecca, Dial M for Murder, Spellbound, and Notorious. But I also really like a bunch of other films as well: North by Northwest, Psycho, Strangers on a Train, Rope, and so on... I almost feel like you can't go wrong with Hitchcock. Even Family Plot, which I think is considered his worst.

[@lindenstromberg6859]

Oh, and since you don't like queasy, NEVER watch Hereditary =P

[@donniegarcia8586]

A movie so good Harvey Danger wrote a song about it.

[@chrisstilley9365]

This is my fave Hitchcock film....when it isn't Strangers on a Train :)..you seen that one yet?.. Its very amusing.

[@Weiselberry]

Yes, a couple times.

[@whiskyandpoetry]

In my late teens/early twenties I considered Vertigo my favourite Hitchcock film, but as I get older it slips further and further back to the point where now I wouldn't even rate it in my top ten. Partly because I've seen more now, and partly because my tastes have changed a little over the years. It's probably even third place in the Stewart/Hitchcock collaboration rankings for me now.

[@Weiselberry]

That's an interesting trajectory, sort of the opposite of my own in the sense that I've come to appreciate and understand the movie more as I get older. I don't gain affection for it, though, so it doesn't claim a spot on my top ten list either.

[@soulfoodie1]

Really thoughtful review

[@michaelpippa1540]

Great movie, but i think my favorite Hitchcock is a toss up between Notorious and North by Northwest, maybe because they both have happy endings. You mentioned obsession here, which massage me think of Brian De Palma's movie Obsession from 1976. De Palma always paid Homage (or maybe just copied) Hitchcock, but Obsession copies Vertigo in its theme and mood.

[@bespectacledheroine7292]

I sensed you might’ve been holding back but I’m always open with people that Vertigo doesn’t even crack my top 10 for Hitchcock. I rarely give “overhyped” as a reason I didn’t care for a film because I strive to judge a movie based on what it is rather than what I wanted it to be, and I’d rather disassociate myself from people who frankly can be rather annoying about movies not meeting their expectations, but Vertigo was one of my most highly anticipated movies of all time so it’s sort of inevitable that I fall prey to this dreaded affliction in such a case. My beef with Vertigo is that the Madeleine ghost story portion just isn’t worth dedicating so much time to. It should’ve been wrapped up far more quickly because the film really only gets steam going when Judy shows up and Scotty attempts to fashion her into what he believes to be his lost love. That portion holds so much intrigue and promise but I can’t help but feel that it’s squandered with that abrupt-to-a-fault ending. It feels forced to me. Compared to the graceful dance present in endings of say, Psycho or Rear Window that completely impress upon you the magic of cinema in an effortless seeming way. Vertigo just makes me think, “Huh....that was clumsy.” But as I said, the moments of greatness, while fleeting, are great. Additionally, any word of praise that is breathed about the score I side with entirely. I’m almost okay with Vertigo being dubbed the greatest just because that haunting score is connected to it. I remember actually thinking the movie would be worth my while because the marriage of the opening credit sequence and music is so spine-chilling. Sadly, I just couldn’t bring myself to feel like that about the majority of what followed. As far as stories of obsessive love are concerned, I’ll take Laura into my corner and be content with that.

[@Weiselberry]

Ha, you're kind of right: I didn't overtly state it, but Vertigo doesn't seem to make it into my Hitchcock top 10 either. Oh yes, given a choice between the two, I would definitely choose Laura over Vertigo. Love that movie.

[@franco426]

This is the first video of your channel that I have watched. It was excellent! Your reviewing skills are top notch! Me thinks I should check out your other videos too!

[@Weiselberry]

Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@iakona23]

Vertigo is a superb dream-like meditation on the human emotion of obsession, and I do think that it is a very high-level Hitchcock film. It’s wonderful to watch on blu-ray with a very good TV and speakers. But it starts to get a bit over-rated when it is ranked as the greatest film of all-time or that it is above Hitchcock’s other excellent films. I think that it is on the same high level as films like Rear Window, North by Northwest, Notorious, The Lady Vanishes, Rebecca, Psycho, etc. Personally, my 2 favorite Hitchcock films are The Lady Vanishes and Notorious, but I would not argue with anyone who prefers Vertigo as their favorite. It’s great for what it sets out to achieve.

[@garyhart6421]

Indeed, I much prefer 'Rope' and/or 'Rear Window'.

[@winterburden]

I love the Midge character, and think it's a shame that we never find out what happens with her. It would be super cool if someone made a spinoff sometime that follows her as the lead and explores her life.

[@iakona23]

I would like to think that Scotty and Midge came together after the tragic events of Vertigo and got married and had a family.

[@winterburden]

For me, I like to imagine that the reason Midge and Scotty never wound up together is because Midge knew deep down just how messed up he was, and rejected him as a real romantic possibility, but still loved him and enjoyed his company despite knowing that he was a creepy weirdo.

[@iakona23]

Maywither Dragon That’s horrible, ha ha! What an awful thing to imagine. Jimmy Stewart is awesome, he just got bewitched by a beautiful woman in distress.

[@bartolomeuomacduibheamhnad6855]

Another terrific review, I've seen Vertigo quite a lot but was fortunate enough to see it recently again but on the big screen for the first time, seeing the nightmare scene on such a large screen was pretty incredible. Your feelings on the character Midge are very interesting, I have never read a review where her character was given as much empathy and attention as you've shown her, she absolutely deserves it, I've always felt bad for her, but!...she has a great apartment :) strangely whenever I think of Hitchcock I think of apartments, homes in general. Midges great apartment in Vertigo with a fantastic view, the guys apartment in Rope, another great view, James Masons characters house right next to Mount Rushmore in North by Northwest, and probably my favourite film set ever, Stewart's apartment along with all the other apartments surrounding it in Rear Window, I think I could live there even with a murderer living across from me lol. I also love the Library and the little town from Shadow of a Doubt, my favourite Hitchcock film. I do like Vertigo a lot but it's behind other Hitchcock films for me, it would be in my top five though, it can be an awkward watch at times for the very reasons you've mentioned. Where some think bloody shower scenes when Hitchcock's name comes up others think brown suits and apartments lol. ~ thank you Ms Weiselberry ~

[@Weiselberry]

Wow, I can't say I'd really thought about it before, but you're absolutely right, the apartments in Hitchcock movies are great!

[@deanwhite8230]

I think Vertigo, queasy and obsessive, as really unenjoyable as it is, stands yet as Hitchcock's greatest most mature artistic statement. How much more winning and fun are Rear Window and North by Northwest! Yet neither addresses (well Rear Window sort of), the art and pure cinematic style of Vertigo. Is it because of the sad shocking ending? Because the friend is not brought to justice? I think it's because it's just not a good story. I never believed in the central mystery or story like the other two movies; Hitchcock makes his points in the other films and we have fun, enormous fun while he's doing it. Vertigo though, is all about Hitchcock's private obsessions: adulterous feelings, yes, necrophilia!! Is that important for the emergence of a truly great artist? Yes. Is it fun? No!! That's why, perhaps it arouses feelings of admiration though not, perhaps, feelings of love. These are somewhat my own thoughts plus what I've read about Vertigo and Hitchcock. I just remember being a young boy seeing the policeman fall to his death on TV, and then having to go to bed!! And my dad and how much he loved Hitchcock movies. Thanks for your forum and your obvious love and insight and intelligence about cinema.

[@jeffgreenberg5306]

I agree, with you, not Hitchcock's best. I would take Rear Window, Psycho, and Strangers on a Train, and maybe a couple of others over it. But very good for sure, and I appreciate your thoughts about it.

[@leftcoaster67]

I think the obssession, and flawed Scottie is tough to watch. This is why the movie isn't as popular. The love story finds it hard to rise above it. I'd feel better if Scottie noticed some things that led him to be suspicious of Madeliene/Judy. This is why Rear Window works better with the mystery/voyeur theme. The age difference isn't a big deal. Cary Grant always had lovely younger ladies chasing after him. Just the nice guy Jimmy Stewart is hard to buy as a flawed hero.

[@rachelport3723]

This is my very favorite Hitchcock. The first time I saw it the whole second part surprised me, and Novack is so good it took me a while to figure out she really was the same person. His obsession with her is very disturbing - yet he is still a detective and somehow cuts through all of that to the truth, and in spite of her ignorance of what was intended in the murder plot, I don't think a happy ending would have been possible. I enjoy your Hitchcock reviews, so thanks for this. I was wondering when you'd get to it. By the way, I left a comment on your Psycho review sometime in the past year, which you probably haven't seen, so you can look if you're interested.

[@mayaadobe]

I've not seen your Godzilla reviews cuz Godzilla was not a particular favorite of mine. Not even as a kid. So not having seen your reviews I wasn't sure if you'd already made mention of some of its cinematic origins. But I was wondering if you've ever delved a little into the history of stop motion animation and photography. Especially around the turn of the last century . I just saw an interesting KZbin about wladislas starewicz who was a pioneer in the field. If you've not seen it you might wanna check it out. It's short but interesting. Influenced the making of king Kong and Godzilla. I agree with your vertigo review totally.

[@ClassicswithCourtney]

Another great review! I've seen this movie years ago and though Kim Novak is drop dead gorgeous, the cinematography great, and that climax!!!!! The movie was a bit of a bore for me. I am thinking about seeing it again later on maybe but it wasn't good my first time seeing it :/

[@Weiselberry]

Thanks! I know, there's a big section that can feel especially slow. I'd still recommend checking it out again sometime. Maybe knowing where things are going a second time around would make it a little more engaging? :)

[@emmagrove6491]

My film professor said this was the one film where Hitchcock revealed personal things about himself--- his obsession with blondes, his obsessive-compulsive tendency, his controlling personality, and his ability to jerk around an audience and manipulate them into thinking and feeling whatever he wanted. After this film flopped at the box office, he never did it again.

[@reneescala7526]

Vertigo is a dream -- it's not a linear plot. Hitchcock's vertigo is a visual metaphor for time. Here time becomes space. History repeats itself. It's the same story, Told first as tragedy, then as farce. Hitchcock, the director hovers, over the action, forcing the actors into a predetermined plot. Stewart isn't the only monomaniac here, being the director is a little strange.

[@marshallalbritton9521]

I like Vertigo but it’s not my favorite either. The age difference doesn’t bother me (unlike High Noon). Novak makes me feel creepy. I wonder if it was made in the modern era and there was a bit of skin and a physical relationship between them that it would have made it better. The way it is, the movie almost feels like a dream. Midge is great!

[@stuartmw8156]

Great movie

[@trainstories2503]

Give it some time (another 20 years), and you will find it is the most significant American movie of the 20th century.

[@ironjade]

Vertigo is a beautiful-looking film but the story makes no sense. There's a theory that Vertigo is happening in Scottie's mind as he falls to his death. We never see his rescue, which on the face of it, seems to be impossible. This would account for the abrupt changes in tone and character behaviour. Not to mention the overall silliness of the story. Vertigo is not a fear of heights; that's acrophobia.

[@WolfGratz]

Ok so ignoring the technical stuff and suchlike all of which you summarised well and swerving any specific spoilers I am happy with identifying with the characters , despite obvious reservations, whilst not sharing your concerns over pace or age differences. However the $64,000 question that you don't quite confront headlong or perhaps can't, understandably, quite decide is how does it it make me feel about about life, the universe and indeed everything. So here's the thing - it makes me miserable. When I think about about things afterwards I actually feel slightly queasy. I think it does the dirt on life (I seem to recall Lawrence coining that one?). So no, I don't think it's Hitch's "best" though it may be one of his most impressive and it's not even a contender for best film of all time. So sue me guys....

[@sumo0172]

Good review. Personally VERTIGO doesn't rank that high on my greatest movies list or even on my list of greatest Hitchcock films. It is memorable, atmospheric beyond measure, visually haunting and I think has one of the best "Holy crap, what just happened!" moments in all of movies not just Hitchcock's. But it's not one I'd watch if I was in the mood for an enjoyable watch or a great Hitchcock movie. I just don’t enjoy it. I feel like great Hitchcock is fun to watch, VERTIGO is a little depressing I guess. I can't really think of any other way of describing how it makes me feel. My personal favorite Hitchcock movie and is, to me at least, the most fun to watch is ROPE. Another fun one is THE TROUBLE WITH HARRY. I need to check if you've reviewed those I'd love to hear what you think of them

[@Weiselberry]

I've reviewed Rope, but haven't gotten to The Trouble with Harry. I was actually thinking of doing it recently because it's such a perfect fall movie, but I kind of missed the boat...

[@sumo0172]

@@Weiselberry I hope you do get to review The Trouble With Harry. I'm very interested in your opinion of it. Keep up the great videos, you are consistently one of my KZbin watches I look forward to

[@Weiselberry]

Thank you! It's been a long time since I've seen it, but I remember it being one of my favorites when I was younger, for the simple reason that it made me laugh. :)

[@stevewynnearts]

Its a good one for hair dos

[@gammaanteria]

Hi Jerome, I just discovered your website through this link and look forward to viewing more of your thoughts on Hitchcock, books, and other movies! I like your enthusiasm! Over time, "Vertigo" has become my favorite Hitchcock movie, I think because it is tapping into deeper emotional themes such as trauma, the pain of loss, guilt and resolving these things. Although we think of James Stewart as being the likeable everyman, I find his acting also had this intense/'grimly obsessive' side that could come out in his performances, and "Vertigo" really captures that side really well...I was curious if you've ever seen the interesting movie "Sans Soleil" (1983) by Chris Marker, which weaves an homage to "Vertigo" into its fabric (it's on KZbin, search "Sans Soleil - Insane Memory").

[@Weiselberry]

Thanks! Welcome to the channel. :) I'm not familiar with Sans Soleil at all!

[@buzzawuzza3743]

Bring back Citizen Kane.

[@williamblakehall5566]

"Romey" -- yeah, I'm with you on this one, beautifully made but I don't find anyone in it very sympathetic, particularly Stewart, it gets on my nerves. How far along are you on Hitchcock's movies? Because if you're taking on all of them, I salute you, that takes fortitude. Oh, and you get extra points today for saying "skeedaddle," a verb definitely worth keeping alive just for the fun of it. Looking forward.

[@Weiselberry]

As far as the reviews go, this is #21. But I've seen almost all of his suspense films already, many of them multiple times, and a few of his non-suspense movies too. Not sure if I'll review them or not...

[@ashdoginc]

I was going to make a comment about the movie, but I can't articulate what I feel about it (very unusual for me). It is a hard movie to grapple with and I think Jerome Weiselberry did a great job in this video.

[@chrisdigitalartist]

I can't recall seeing this one...and the thing is, Jimmy Stewart is probably my favorite actor! Thanks for the spoiler alert. I can't stand when others say things like " Oh it's been so many years, there are no spoilers now...etc..." It's like..um...that's doesn't matter. If some people still haven't seen something, you should always try not to spoiler it. Right? LOL

[@johnzeszut3170]

One strange strange movie - the true villain was Scotty.

[@lindenstromberg6859]

Vertigo's ending is really messed up in terms of its structure. It all happens very suddenly at the end of the fourth act. There is no fifth act, which is very weird since virtually 99.99% of every film is a three act or a five act film. Typically you only see four acts for a entry in a series; Vertigo isn't that, but it leaves you with the information that you can kind of piece together the fifth act in your head, however you want it to be... Maybe you know who just _really_ hurt their legs on landing =P

[@SloanePaoPow]

Have you considered reviewing Brian de Palma's movies? It seems Hitchcock fans either hate him or love him and I'd be I'd interested in hearing your insightful thoughts.

[@Weiselberry]

I reviewed Phantom of the Paradise by request last October (kzbin.info/www/bejne/h2aTiYSuf7Zlrqc ). My thoughts on it were mixed, so I don't know how I'd feel about other De Palma films. I'm familiar with many of his titles, but none of them have ever grabbed me.

[@bighands69]

To really appreciate Vertigo you have to see it on 70mm in a theater. It gives the special effects scenes a really dreamy artistic look that simply does not come resonate on a tv set. The image is also crystal clear as well and the colors really pop.

[@MsBackstager]

Have you ever reviewed REAR WINDOW?

[@iluvmusicals21]

Not a fan of Vertigo, but I will give it another chance.

[@johnpjones182]

Wouldn't newspaper articles about the mission tower death have shown photos of the victim? Did Scotty not see those photos?

[@joealexandra7185]

I just discovered your channel and I'm enjoying all your reviews so much. You are very charming, and fun to watch. I'm a big Hitchcock fan myself, have all the movies and books and so forth. I know that some people feel that Vertigo is slow, but to me it has the pace and rhythm of a difficult dream (or nightmare) that one might have. The storyline is not exactly logical either, to say the least, but it definitely has the logic you'd find in a bad dream; things might not add up on the surface, but they fit in perfectly in a deeper, sub-rational way. To me, more than any other movie I've ever seen, Hitchcock captured this dreamlike atmosphere in Vertigo. So I love it for that. However, the one problem I have with the film, and it's the same problem I have with another movie of his that I love, Rear Window, is that, simply, Jimmy Stewart is much too old for the part. I know it's almost a sacrilege to say such a thing, but there it is. His romantic scenes with Kim Novak (and Grace Kelly) have always made me extremely uncomfortable, and I actually can't watch them. He's too old! It always gave me the absolute creeps. He was also too old for the part in Rope, but that's another story. So for me, the casting of Jimmy Stewart undermines these otherwise wonderful films. More than this, I never saw what other people saw in Jimmy Stewart the actor. I know that he was much beloved and respected, and it seems like he was a great guy all around -- but so far as his acting is concerned, I don't get it. It was never my cup of tea.

[@Weiselberry]

Thank you! I'm glad you like my videos, and I appreciate your honest opinion. :)

[@paulcunneen3519]

I find Vertigo a visually stunning, slow, pretentious bore. It will fall in the rankings over time.

[@jermaineperry8860]

Plus it example use love and fearfully to manipulate old school use many movie

[@jacquigriffin5973]

??

[@THEPETERC1]

Vera Miles husband was Gordon Scott, the muscleman film Tarzan and friend of the legendary film Hercules Steve Reeves.

[@13down13]

Your movie per year brought me here now and I see why it didn't make your favorites list. I can see why because, even though you say you like it, you seem conflicted between the quality of the movie and what it makes you feel. I understand that because it is most definitely not your run-of-the-mill type of movie and that is why I love it so much. I generally like movies that have good people doing good things with happy endings, but this movie has none of that. The main characters except for Midge are not good people and none are particularly likeable. What this movie has is originality, style, glamour, suspense, and of course great acting. You want to like Kim Novak, but you realize that she's complicit with a murder of an innocent woman. You want to like Jimmy Stewart because... well, he's Jimmy Stewart. However, he treats Midge and Judy like crap mostly. The ending is both shocking and poetic. One of my favorite movies, but not even my favorite Hitchcock movie. I like North by NW and Rear Window better - maybe even Notorious. Is this an easy, breezy movie to watch? No, but it should be watched by everyone - it's a classic.

[@darkwolf9253]

Rear Window, To Catch a Thief, Vertigo, North by Northwest, Psycho, and The Birds are my favorite of Hitchcock's films... I do think Vertigo is his best film... Whether it's the greatest film ever made or not, that's not for me to say.

[@tombrown1898]

Midge is one of the creepiest characters I've ever seen! When she sees Madeline leaving Scotty's apartment and says, "Was it a ghost, Johnny-O? Was it fun?" There's more than a touch of Glenn Close in "Fatal Attraction" in Midge.

[@stephenvelez9710]

I think you hit on why Vertigo is so challenging for so many of us. So much of Hitch’s work is exhilarating, yet Vertigo is utterly soul-crushing (💯agree about Barbara bel Geddes) and the character set follows, played with the built-in goodwill that Jimmy Stewart rightfully brings, is just sick. It's a discomfiting film. It's brilliant, but not my favorite of his. It makes me feel awful.

[@donbrown1284]

Did it bother you that the whole plot hinges on the unlikely plot point that the murderer would gamble his life that Scotty wouldn't make it up the tower to reveal the whole thing?

[@no288]

Sorry to butt in. Hitchcock mention this as well. But I think as long as Judy/ Madeleine was ahead of him and he saw her fall out of the tower. Scottie would have no reason to continue. He was also in a state of shock. I think Hitch failed in showing us how bad his vertigo was. E.g Scottie visited Midge even though she seem to live on the top floor in her apartment. (Going by the view from her window) How did he get up there? When Scottie visted the McKittricks hotel he ran up the stairs went to the window in the room and looked down on the street to see her car was gone and yet show no signs of acrophobia.

[@sfinthecity]

Also, what if Scotty went back down to see the cops and the body?

[@no288]

@@sfinthecity Or if he was asked to ID if this was the same woman he saw going up to the tower?

[@sfinthecity]

@@no288 How did Gavin Elster convince his wife to go up that tower at the exact time? Elster and Judy were still up in the tower after the event - VERY risky to depart down those stairs and out onto the field without being sighted, especially her in the same outfit and blonde updo.

[@no288]

@@sfinthecity We don't know how Gavin got his wife up there. (That's all speculations). However he was after all the mastermind of this plan so he would probably already know how to solve that too. Since he manipulated both Scottie and Judy he could have made up some kind of excuse to his wife for them to go there and then killed her. I don't see the problem why Galvin/Judy could not get away without being seen? I don't recall anybody around when Scottie and Madeline was there..

[@jiinx1048]

Ive tried watching vertigo twice,i just cant get through it even though kim novaks hot,im more into north by northwest,psycho,rear window,great review anyways jw

[@drake.707]

cat mafia your comment gets zero uploader love. I feel u. I’m dog mafia. Keep yunz head on a swivel. SooWoo