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Many consider "Vertigo" to be one of the finest films by one of the greatest directors in motion picture history. "Vertigo" has endured the test of time, actually becoming more liked; has a small but top notch cast, excellent scenery of San Francisco and surrounding rural areas like the Sequoias National Forest and San Juan Batiste mission; and a story that keeps you interested even when you know what's coming. Scotty (James Stewart) is a retired police detective suffering a fear of heights from an incident in which another officer fell to his death. This condition plays an important role later in the film. An old acquaintance hires Scotty to shadow his much younger wife Madeleine (Kim Novak), who he says may be following in the footsteps of her great grandmother, who committed suicide at 26. During the surveillance the two fall in love. But as often is the case with Hitchcock, all is not what it seems. She dies anyway. A year later Scotty spots Judy Barton (Novak again), who reminds him of Madeleine and he becomes obsessed with making Judy look just like her. Either you already know the outcome, or you're watching for the first time and don't want to be spoiled. So enough of the story. Some of the things I love about "Vertigo": Hitchcock's use of strong colors, especially reds, greens, and gray, to convey moods. The title and "nightmare" sequences rival the titling in James Bond movies ten years later. There is a great romantic scene by the shore with an intense kiss and waves in the background. Despite the building suspense, the surroundings are, perhaps intentionally, low stress--even when Scotty follows Madeleine's car with his Desoto--no squealing tires or crashes. Scotty's ignoring of former fiancee and perennial friend Midge (Barbara Bel Geddes) illustrates just how obsessed he is with Madeleine. And the musical score by Bernard Hermann adds a haunting dimension. Several DVD's have been struck from "Vertigo", but the best is this newly restored collector's edition (UPC ...18329). Previous editions were taken from prints that had deteriorated over time. Fortunately the original was shot in Technicolor and in the high definition (8 perfs per frame) Vista-Vision format which enabled film preservationists Robert Harris and James Katz to work miracles in a painstaking $1 million restoration at Universal Studios, starting at camera negatives and working right through to the soundtrack. You'll get complete details on the restoration as well as the making of the original movie in the bonus attraction "Obsessed With Vertigo", which is just as enjoyable as the feature. The extras include interviews with Kim Novak, Barbara Bel Geddes, associate producer Herbert Coleman, and many other creative personnel who brought "Vertigo" to fruition. This is a movie you can watch over and over and enjoy every time.Read full review
Not much I can say.. this was Hitchcock at his best.. the main characters costumes colors and different scenery locations were outstanding.. the plot of the movie is is well scripted.. James Stewart and Kim Novak at their best...
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
This is a great suspense story set in San Francisco and stars James Stewart and Kim Novak. It has all the elements (dynamic characters, engaging setting, and suspenseful plot) that merge into making this a top-notch movie. Many Hitchcock enthusiasts consider this film to be Hitchcock's masterpiece, and I strongly agree.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
This is the film which was recovered and re-made from deteriorated masters after over a year of work and a million plus dollars. The story of the restoration is included as is a number of other interesting things in the "Bonus Materials" section. This is a great buy and one of the top movies of all time.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
The 1958 classic Alfred Hitchcock movie. Filmed in San Fransisco and Los Angeles, California. It was only nominated for the 1959 Oscar for Best Art Direction and Best Sound. Plot summary: San Francisco police detective Scottie Fergusson develops a fear of heights and is forced to retire when a colleague falls to his death during a chase. An old college friend (Gavin Elster) hires Scottie to watch his wife Madeleine who has reportedly become possessed by her ancestor's spirit named Carlotta. Scottie follows her around San Francisco and is drawn to Madeleine and her obsession with death. He unwittingly becomes a figure in a complex plot, and is determined to discover the truth behind it all.
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