Vertigo (Universal Legacy Series)
starring James Stewart, Kim Novak,
John Benson, Margaret Brayton, Paul
Bryar
Beautiful, Haunting, Brilliant
Although it wasnt a box-office success when originally released in 1958,
Vertigo has since taken its deserved place as Alfred Hitchcocks greatest,
most spellbinding, most deeply personal achievement. In fact, it
consistently ranks among the top 10 movies ever made in the once-a-
decade Sight & Sound international critics poll, placing at number 4 in the
most recent survey. (Universal Pictures spectacularly gorgeous 1996
restoration and rerelease of this 1958 Paramount production was a
tremendous success with the public, too.) James Stewart plays a retired
police detective who is hired by an old friend to follow his wife (a superb
Kim Novak, in what becomes a double role), whom he suspects of being
possessed by the spirit of a dead madwoman. The detective and the
disturbed woman fall (fall is indeed the operative word) in love and...well,
to give away any more of the story would be criminal. Shot around San
Francisco (the Golden Gate Bridge and the Palace of the Legion of Honor
are significant locations) and elsewhere in Northern California (the
redwoods, Mission San Juan Batista) in rapturous Technicolor, Vertigo is
as lovely as it is haunting. --Jim Emerson
Im sure many, if not all of you, have seen this movie (it is a widely loved
classic) but for the sake of those who have not, I will keep this review as
brief and as vague as I can.
`Vertigo is a masterpiece.
Okay, so Ill say more than that. The thing is, `Vertigo is one of those
movies that the less said about the better. I personally knew nothing of
this movie when I saw it. I merely knew that it was supposed to be the
best film Alfred Hitchcock ever made. While I am partial to `Psycho I must
admit that `Vertigo is a much grander achievement and seriously is one of
the best films ever made, by anyone. With every twist and turn and
shocking revelation, `Vertigo remains suspenseful throughout, and the end
result is beyond satisfying. Its those twists and turns that make it so hard
to review or even talk about without giving something vital away.
So, Ill attempt this.
John Ferguson is a former police detective suffering from acrophobia (fear
of heights) who is hired by an old friend, Gavin Elster, to follow his wife
Madeleine. Gavin feels that Madeleine is possessed by the spirit of a
madwoman, and after John watches her closely for a time he begins to
think the same way.
Then the unthinkable happens.
I dont want to say anything more, for the second half of the film is just
brilliant. All you think you know vanishes before your eyes and when the
truth is revealed it will leave you breathless. Its less the actual revelation
and more the way in which Hitchcock does the revealing. He is a master
of suspense (as we are all already aware) and here he builds the tension
masterfully, so when the final scene is upon us we are clenching our seats
in anticipation.
A lot has been said about the lack of talent possessed by Kim Novak, but I
personally find her performance here to be iconic. Maybe it is solely the
character (that twofer she has going here is a whirlwind) but I like to think
that she brings a lot of the films mystery with her connection to the role.
The role may have only required her to be desirable, but she captures that
desire with a hint of ambiguity that really intrigues us. James Stewart is
also very, very good here as John. He manages to look and act confused
without crossing over into recklessness. He is in complete control all the
time. Personally, Barbara Bel Geddes steals the show for me with her
small yet powerful portrayal of Midge, Johns friend and confidant. She has
so much spunk and fresh vitality that one cannot take their eyes off of her.
She is a revelation.
The film is lauded as cinematic perfection, and for once I actually agree
with the critics of the world. This truly is an iconic film; a masterpiece. Im
sure youve already seen and possibly own this film, but if you havent I
urge you to see it immediately.
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