William Friedkin on Vertigo

William Friedkin reacts to Alfred Hitchcock's 1958 masterpiece Vertigo.
Source: DVD Commentary

[@nameprivate2194]

R.I.P., *William Friedkin,* d. Aug 7, 2023 at 87 years of age.

[@scotia7326]

Thank you so much for uploading this. Friedkin’s Vertigo commentary is one of the best I’ve ever listened to.

[@yohei72]

Weird, I found it dull and obnoxious and turned it off after a few scenes.

[@RandomDudeOne]

@@yohei72 Dull and obnoxious? Look in the mirror, talk about projection.

[@ianlowden6168]

​@@yohei72What planet do you reside on?😂 Friedkin, as always, is a knowledgable, fascinating, insightful and down to earth fellow who is a charismatic raconteur...and this is clearly no exception

[@Fanfanbalibar]

bad taste !@@yohei72

[@billolsen4360]

@@RandomDudeOne Stop acting like a troll.

[@jonboz7585]

Love listening to William Friedkin’s experiences and interpretations regarding movies and moviemaking. He’s a wealth of information about action behind the scenes. Yes, he sometimes embellishes the narrative, but it only enhances the story. RIP, Mr Friedkin, you are much appreciated. ❤❤❤❤

[@marianofranciscogarciazaba9650]

Great Friedkin´s analyze. R.I.P.

[@EBurstyn]

I can’t imagine anyone but Stewart in this role. He’s able to be completely sympathetic and sweet in his obsessive possessive frustrating drive to grasp for the unobtainable

[@billolsen4360]

I can only imagine George Peppard as the one actor of this era who could have pulled off the Scottie role and then probably not as well as Stewart did, because Stewart had suffered a lot.

[@EBurstyn]

@@billolsen4360 maybe Burt Lancaster?

[@scottrose220]

I like Jimmy Stewart but I think he’s miscast in Vertigo

[@macrowatchman]

Incredible breakdown of this film

[@magicknight13]

Excellent!! Both Friedkin and Vertigo 😄

[@steveconn]

My favorite quote from the Basic Instinct DVD commentary: Director Verhoeven: "This shot of her coming down the stair ees a tribute to Vertigo." Cinematographer Renny Harlin: "Vat are you talkeen about? The whole movie ees a tribute to Vertigo! The staircase, gimmee a break!"

[@masterofallgoons]

I belive you mean cinematographer Jan de Bont

[@steveconn]

@@masterofallgoons Yeah, that's who I mean. Damn hilarious.

[@WalterBurton]

"To make voyeurs of all of us." I hope the Library of Congress preserves commentary. I just reminded myself to check on that. 👍

[@WalterBurton]

@justthink5854 : Sure pal. Have a nice day.

[@joehuiras4955]

The way he says Voyeur

[@Fanfanbalibar]

?????????????

[@Tremuoso]

love listening to Friedkin talk about films and he's responsible for one of my personal favourite pictures ever, The Exorcist.

[@kendalson7100]

The restaurant scene was filmed at Ernie's, San Francisco's most fashionable French restaurant. I'd forgotten Barbara Bel Geddes was in Vertigo.

[@steveconn]

Mom remembers Ernie's, now closed.

[@aaronjclarke1973]

Thanks for posting. 🙏❤

[@balto8111]

Most shots look surprisingly good in this Techniscope reframe.

[@troygaspard6732]

Great piece, it is a perfect noir film.

[@Pet.Wifey.Voice.Of.Reason]

Mr. Friedkin: "...not unpleasant dizziness, in fact, that's known as vertigo..." Me: ...(had suffered horribly from actual vertigo)...

[@rickwalter8032]

This is my favorite Alford Hitchcock movie

[@mainmanmainlining7575]

This is from the blu ray commentary fantastic

[@nobodynothing00000]

Vertigo is the ultimate movie about making movies. So many directors were influenced by it.

[@d3nza482]

No. It is one of the movies film student types love to masturbate to, though. Intellectually AND literally. It has a LOT of those "rule breaking" moments that people with huge egos and small talents and skills like to present as an example of non-existence of rules in art - and thus proof of their garbage being "art actually". The truth is the exact opposite. An artist must know and have full control of rules of the art - technically, emotionally and intellectually - in order to be able to break them in such a way to achieve the intended effect. Break, not mangle. E.g. Lens flare is a flaw unique to photographic tools. There is no lens flare in painting, sculpting or theater. Leaving it in or adding it is a choice which can achieve certain effects - associations of summer, heat, blinding lights of oncoming traffic, glittering of inanimate objects as if they are alive... Dumping it in "because it's cool" we get JarJarist and Snyderist trash. Incompetent egoist idiots producing garbage. Similarly, students of film with no actual talent, little or no skill but with huge egos look at Hitchcock playing with light, color, perspective, animation, extreme closeups... TO PRESENT A MIND THAT IS BREAKING APART... and come out thinking that extreme visual effects are "cool".

[@TheKitchenerLeslie]

Nah, Citizen Kane

[@stephencarter7266]

​@@TheKitchenerLeslieNah, American Pie 2.

[@TheKitchenerLeslie]

@@stephencarter7266 That's just a lame Porky's ripoff.

[@stephencarter7266]

@@TheKitchenerLeslie I rest my case.

[@TheKitchenerLeslie]

I wonder what he would say about the Faith No More video for the song Last Cup of Sorrow that parodies this movie.

[@Llllltryytcc]

Something excruciatingly condescending I'm sure

[@chefjono]

Super

[@borysvengerov3398]

Friedkin shares some vibes with Herzog, for sure

[@Studeb]

Wonder if Brian DePalma has made any similar commentary considering many consider him taking over Hitchcock's mantel in movies.

[@sammihaka2056]

Allegedly, Hitchcock's "...Obsession with a particular kind of Woman..." Involved stalking, sexually harassing or blacklisting them like Tippi Hedren.

[@nobodynothing00000]

yeah he talks about it in the DePalma documentary that was on HBO max.

[@stephenallen4625]

he took a lot of shit back in the day for those hitchcock parallels

[@Fanfanbalibar]

De Palma, this copy-paste man!

[@Fanfanbalibar]

A COPY-PASTE MAN !

[@ichatodcrane3783]

What is the little bit of music at the end credits?

[@gluglu7639]

why was the last video's comment section turned off?just curious

[@classiclife7204]

This channel gathers together a lot of assholes, for whatever reason

[@motherfinestudios]

It was most likely turned off by KZbin, that usually does that with videos that presents children in it.

[@christophlohnherr]

Off topic question: does anyone know what movie the video‘s short title sequence comes from?

[@retter2critical]

What is the movie in the opening on the bike?

[@austinavery4556]

Lori Loughlin Rad (1986)

[@retter2critical]

@@austinavery4556 Thanks man

[@Alexander-tj2dn]

Kim Novak was so beautiful and sexy and Herrmann´s music is just awesome. What I don´t like so much are all those back projections and matte paintings Hitchcock used to put in his films.

[@BraxtonSwine]

probably not a dead fish though, Bill

[@billolsen4360]

Hitchcock would have loved Friedkin's little joke tho.

[@of1300]

its dollying in, while zooming out actually.

[@josejrtuti]

Some people hitchhike, others Hitchcock

[@billolsen4360]

Jose! You naughty man 😁

[@PhilMoskowitz]

It's weird how Hitchcock is much like Stewart's character in Vertigo. Hitchcock couldn't have Grace Kelly so he, like Stewart, made his own version. Not only here but in Psycho and The Birds too.

[@vershilpatel3813]

whats the opening clip from

[@jackjbrewster7799]

Rad, the BMX movie

[@TeatroGrotesco]

Shoot. Ai thought this was Friedkin talking about, "Rad".

[@plasticweapon]

i would rather hear him talk about that.

[@josephkearny5874]

Kim Novak has the right quality for the role and is very good. And more effective than Vera Miles would have been. Miles was Hitchcock's choice for the role.

[@tinderbox218]

I already miss Friedkin so much. And I agree about Stewart, love him but felt he was miscast in this. Among the top actors of the time I'd have preferred someone more obsessive and a little younger such as Montgomery Clift, Charlton Heston, or even Paul Newman or Marlon Brando.

[@lynnturman8157]

Couldn't disagree more (with you or Friedkin--ha ha). Stewart's all-american/boy next door/every man image really helps to bring the audience into the movie, IMO. Not to mention it's some of the best acting ever recorded on film.

[@Fanfanbalibar]

None of them would have fit with Novak (in both roles)

[@Scorchy666]

Agreed. He looks more like Novak's father throughout. Great actor, but in the VHS version you can see just how much make-up Stewart is wearing (as well as his toupee). Ralph Meeker would have been fantastic in my opinion.

[@lubnaqureshi2853]

I agree with you. This was Jimmy Stewart's greatest performance.@@lynnturman8157

[@lynnturman8157]

@justthink5854 I have nothing against Kim Novak. She was great in Vertigo. But I'm a huge Vera Miles fan and I would love to have seen her in the role.

[@johngrayatkinson1214]

This is friedken crazy but I am watching RAD right now. Send me an Angel. Huh Anywho, VERTIGO,such a Great movie, excemptified by its Amazing musical score Rest Easy William❤

[@artkub5396]

If only his audio commentary for The Exorcist was as good...

[@johnwwirtanen1283]

Friedkin has it backwards. Acrophobia does not cause vertigo. If anything, it's the reverse. Vertigo is a condition usually caused by a problem with inner ear fluid which normally enables people to stand without dizziness and be able to walk a straight line. I have vertigo. It causes one to feel unsteady and looking over heights, such as being on the observation deck and looking over, is very mentally uncomfortable. Hence, the vertigo can cause fear of heights. When it's severe, the room and objects literally can seem to be spinning. It's a fear of not being able to prevent yourself from falling. I can fly and look out the window with minimal difficulty. Why? Because I am surrounded by the fuselage. However, if the windows were floor to ceiling, I'd flip out in fear since I would no longer have a visible, reliable barrier in front of me. BTW, I largely agree with his other comments. In fact, Vertigo is my absolute favorite film of all time, Kim Novak is my favorite actress of all time. I cannot see any other actress doing the role justice. I'm glad that Vera Miles did not get the role as Hitchcock originally wanted. I do disagree with James Stewart not being ideal. His chemistry is perfect with Kim.

[@Fanfanbalibar]

I fully agree with your statement !

[@joeldb]

Quiet you

[@jeremiahlyleseditor437]

I still don't understand the film

[@erghface7697]

Vweiyuuurs

[@koomo801]

Wow! Pre-excrement San Francisco was such a beautiful city.

[@orangebean325]

C’mon, man. Just be here for the movie. Don’t belch in the elevator.

[@tlmiller301]

Guy who has never been to SF has a take on SF

[@TheRealNormanBates]

@@tlmiller301 someone hasn't been to San Fransisco.

[@kendalson7100]

It sure was. Even into the 1970s The City was beautiful. Since then it's all been downhill.

[@Someonesaidthis]

San Francisco before 1967 was a perfect city in every way.. ❤

[@jimlaguardia8185]

Friedkin is wrong. I have vertigo, and it is no fun, and very disturbing.

[@itsokifwedisagree8909]

Clearly, you don't have Kim Novak with you

[@kathleencunningham6236]

I hear you. Vertigo sucks.

[@mumboslick89]

Had no idea Trump was a cinephile! 🤣

[@TheKitchenerLeslie]

Sounds nothing like him

[@TheRealNormanBates]

@@TheKitchenerLeslie yes he does. Like a grumpy cousin.

[@Fanfanbalibar]

Shut up about that SOB !

[@TheKitchenerLeslie]

@@TheRealNormanBates Not at all. You might need to get your ears cleaned.

[@shinola]

What country are you from, where Chicago and New York accents sound the same to you?

[@luciferdzhugashvili]

I want Donald trump to narrate everything.

[@Fanfanbalibar]

Reading all those stupid comments about Trump being in a Hitchcock movie, please ,keep you sleazy combover for election days if this is what USA has become ! (and let's have DVDs to watch and rewatch Sir Alfred's movies and his great actors-actresses )!

[@scottanderson2458]

​​​​@@FanfanbalibarI think you've misunderstood the post. Friedkin has a similar accent to Trump ( to British ears at least ) and a similar tone. Obviously William wasn't a wannabe authoritarian bampot but his voice can sound like Trump at times.

[@luciferdzhugashvili]

R u яетаяь?

[@TheRealNormanBates]

12:38 Is it a bit concerning how Friedkin brings up "making love to a dead person"? I mean, if I got a nickel for every time he said it, I'd have 2 nickels... but it's still pretty concerning. And now that someone has mentioned how much he sounds like Trump, I can't unhear it. 11:14 "The audience at this point is completely confused." Is it me, or did anyone picture something out of *Airplane!* Out of context, this is a hilarious line. It's like you're trying to compliment a movie, only to go so avant garde with your compliment that it circles back around and slaps it in the face.

[@tuanjim799]

Ehh.. I definitely never felt “concerned” during this video, not even once lol. I think you’re making way too much of what he said there. And there’s nothing insulting about the “audience is confused” line either. Believe it or not, some artists’ intention is not to hand-hold and spoon-feed the audience every step of the way, and is sometimes even to deliberately confuse them a bit.

[@johncall7532]

Friedkin sounds a little like Trump

[@scottanderson2458]

Agreed. I realise they are from different regions in the USA but they have some similarities in accent and inflexion.

[@billolsen4360]

Queens accent

[@johncall7532]

@@billolsen4360 Thanks

[@classiclife7204]

Although we disagree about the movie as a whole, Friedkin gets to the point of it at 6:41 - "Hitchcock's not interested in the story". That's right, and that's the problem with Vertigo. There's SO much plotting in the movie, almost all of it based on what the villains assume Stewart will do. Seems to me Hitch should've cared more about what story there was. If he had, he might have taken into account that Stewart might just drop off Novak at the hospital after diving in the Bay, would NOT follow Novak up the stairs at the mission, and, most egregiously, have the real killer turn Judy loose after a small payoff ... so that she could blab about the whole affair to the cops later? Hitchcock was better than this. "Mood" means nothing if the story is ridiculous.

[@stephencarter7266]

My God, you're mad...completely, utterly mad.

[@stephencarter7266]

Cinema isn't a deduction argument for a mathematical statement. Cinema is a dance between the creatives and the viewer. Good cinema doesn't need to be spelled out. In any form of art, to eliminate the illogical and irrational is to injure it's beauty.

[@lynnturman8157]

HItchcock movies are filled with plot holes. Logic & plausibility are beside the point. Like Friedkin said, his movies aren't based on the real world, but rather a kind of dream state.

[@Fanfanbalibar]

OMG Yessssss !@@stephencarter7266

[@Fanfanbalibar]

Well said !@@stephencarter7266

[@d3nza482]

I always found Friedkin to be full of shit, but BOY the crap he pulls out of his ass here. Most of the shit he attributes to Hitchcock's "psychology" IS LITERALLY FROM THE BOOK. But hey, it's nothing compared to Truffaut just making up a story that the authors of the book wrote it in order to sell it to Hitchcock. It's amazing how self-deluding and ignorant film people can be.

[@hippiecheezburger5457]

Hitchcock truly took from the novel what he imagined in his head to great detail and a precise vision and camera work

[@ianlowden6168]

I pity you for your ignorance

[@Fanfanbalibar]

AND IT'S AMAZING HOW VULGAR YOU ARE, STUPID,ETC....... SHIT, ASS, ARTETHE MAIN WORDS FROM YOUR POOR VOCABULARY YOU REPEAT HERE, WHERE WERE YOU BORN ? IN WHAT SUBURB. IN A ALCOHOLIC FAMILY, THE WHOLE L OT OF DEROGATORY PERSON !