Added: Dec 5, 2008
From: foxter65
Duration: 1:30
Dismissed when first released, later heralded as one of director Alfred Hitchcock's finest films (and, according to Hitchcock, his most personal one), this adaptation of the French novel D'entre les morts weaves an intricate web of obsession and deceit. It opens as Scottie Ferguson (James Stewart) realizes he has vertigo, a condition resulting in a fear of heights, when a police officer is killed trying to rescue him from falling off a building. Scottie then retires from his position as a private investigator, only to be lured into another case by his old college friend, Gavin Elster (Tom Helmore). Elster's wife, Madeleine (Kim Novak), has been possessed by a spirit, and Elster wants Scottie to follow her. He hesitantly agrees, and thus begins the film's wordless montage as Scottie follows the beautiful yet enigmatic Madeleine through 1950s San Francisco (accompanied by Bernard Herrmann's hypnotic score). After saving her from suicide, Scottie begins to fall in love with her, and she appears to feel the same way. Here tragedy strikes, and each twist in the movie's second half changes our preconceptions about the characters and events. In 1996 a new print of Vertigo was released, restoring the original grandeur of the colors and the San Francisco backdrop, as well as digitally enhancing the soundtrack.James Stewart - John "Scottie" FergusonKim Novak - Madeleine Elster/Judy BartonBarbara Bel Geddes - Marjorie "Midge" WoodTom Helmore - Gavin ElsterHenry Jones - CoronerRaymond Bailey - DoctorEllen Corby - ManagerKonstantin Shayne - Pop LeibelLee Patrick - Older Mistaken IdentityJohn Benson - Salesman (uncredited)Margaret Brayton - Ransohoff's Saleslady (uncredited)Paul Bryar - Capt. HansenRoxann Delman - ModelMollie Dodd - Beauty OperatorDon Giovanni - SalesmanRoland Got - Maitre d'Fred Graham - Death Fall Officer (uncredited)Buck Harrington - GatemanJune Jocelyn - Miss WoodsWilliam Remick - Jury ForemanJack Richardson - Escort (uncredited)Nina Shipman - Young Mistaken IdentityDori Simmons - Middle-Aged Mistaken IdentityEd Stevlingson - AttorneySara Taft - Nun
Channel: Film
Tags: - 1958 re-released restored trailer vertigo
Rating: ( ratings) Views: 74 Comments: 0
