Vertigo is an expertly crafted romance / thriller from Alfred Hitchcock and it has one of the most interesting turn of events I've ever witnessed. The film is visually impressive and you already notice that aspect in the opening credits scene, which features a very hypnotic score and some mind bending images. There are several other occasions that are visual feasts, such as the ones where Hitchcock uses the dolly zoom technique as an artifice to demonstrate the main character's intense fear of heights and the mesmerizing dream sequence in the film, escorted by a powerful musical piece.

Hitchcock keeps the viewer constantly intrigued by the mysterious plot and the film works really well as a romance due to its…

Part of the Alfred Hitchcock Sound Era Films In Chronological Order project.

SOME MILD SPOILERS

Being named the critics' greatest film of all time in Sight And Sound magazine, and being praised to the heavens by the magazine at every opportunity, was probably one of the worst things that could have happened to Vertigo.

It put it on a pedestal to be shot at by all and sundry. Pah, this isn't the greatest film of all time! It's not even Hitchcock's greatest! Did they get bored of Citizen Kane or what?!

And these proclamations are just by me! Me being someone who thinks it IS a truly great film and well worthy of so much of the adoration and lavish…

Here I was born, and there I died. It was only a moment for you; you took no notice.
-Madeleine

Like Psycho, I think if you've never seen Vertigo and don't actually know what's it's about you need to realize what a gift that is and enjoy a first viewing going in cold. I first saw this film at a fairly young age, pre-teen or early-teen, I'm not sure. Because it feels like the ending and plot twists have been with me forever, I might be gauging this wrong, but I don't think they're as well known as Psycho so there's an actual chance that there are people who haven't seen the film and don't know how it ends.

The…

Hitchcock’s masterwork, better than any other, reminds us of two truisms of cinema: to look is to remember and to remember is to impose. The hypnotic spirals that haunt every facet of the visual design and even the trademark dolly zoom effect take us deeper into the image, to the point that it threatens to swallow us, much as the past threatens to engulf Scottie. Of course these geometrical chasms are metaphorically vaginal, making Vertigo the great masterpiece about sexual obsession as well. The intersections between scopophilia, sex, and death have never been more carefully sketched out than in this perfect fetish object for anyone who has ever loved the image a little too much. Appropriately, then, in this study…

UK-based film magazine Sight & Sound hold a worldwide critics poll every ten years, with the most recent collation of results taking place just last year. Somewhat surprisingly, Vertigo took the top place, and so I have been quite eager to experience this film and see just what all the fuss is about. I sat down with Cat and prepared myself for Hitchcock to weave his magic - and found myself a little disappointed. It's not that this is exactly a bad film, but both myself and Cat felt that it was simply rather average. The plot wasn't wholly engaging and I wasn't particularly convinced by Kim Novak (although James Stewart was rather excellent). I knew nothing of the story before…

I had just watched this movie completely cold a couple of days ago. I knew nothing about the plot, background, actors. Only that it's awesome. And that I should see it.

Up until the first twist of the movie, I had to try hard to focus my attention. I found the acting of Jimmy Stewart and Kim Novak to be weird, awkward (the kissing scenes? It looks like two pancakes being pressed together! No physical response from either person's lips), a bit cold, and jilted (hold on hold on, after I finished the movie and reflected on this, I thought that this played to the movie's advantage). I entertained myself by being interested in Hitchcock's attention to detail and how…

Vertigo is an expertly crafted romance / thriller from Alfred Hitchcock and it has one of the most interesting turn of events I've ever witnessed. The film is visually impressive and you already notice that aspect in the opening credits scene, which features a very hypnotic score and some mind bending images. There are several other occasions that are visual feasts, such as the ones where Hitchcock uses the dolly zoom technique as an artifice to demonstrate the main character's intense fear of heights and the mesmerizing dream sequence in the film, escorted by a powerful musical piece.

Hitchcock keeps the viewer constantly intrigued by the mysterious plot and the film works really well as a romance due to its…

Film #6 from my 'Classic Film Noir' list

Probably a victim of hype for me. I thoroughly enjoyed the first half. The character introductions were superb, the cinematography is gorgeous, Stewart is perfect, the humour, the noir, the thrills, the suspense. It is all there early. Up until 80 minutes I could see why this was as highly regarded as it is.

And then the film changes gear, changes focus. I think you all know where and what I'm talking about. A lot people seem to be able to push through, but once the twists start rolling in I stopped caring. It honestly felt like I was being betrayed for caring because Hitchcock was taking these wonderful characters to such…