Detective John ‘Scottie’ Ferguson (James Stewart) is forced to retire from the San Francisco police department when the ill timed discovery that he has a crippling fear of heights results in the death of a fellow officer. At a loose end he begrudgingly takes on a private investigation case from Gavin Elster (Tom Helmore) to follow his wife Madeleine (Kim Novak). Gavin is concerned that Madeleine is a danger to herself and wants Scottie to establish what it is she is doing with her time when she disappears during the day. Scottie becomes dangerously obsessed with Madeleine and the need to understand what troubles her. 

Vertigo is arguably Alfred Hitchcock’s greatest film and one of the greatest films of all time. I have seen it many times and this latest viewing was to refresh my memory to discuss on a podcast and I found myself endlessly fascinated again by its brilliance. 

It has an intricate plot that is so perfect that on every viewing you find yourself spotting a new facet and it feels completely satisfying when it plays out to fruition. Great detective stories on screen are always ones where you feel like everything was right in front of you from the start and just like the protagonist you are so close to understanding everything you just need that final piece of the puzzle. 

It is not just the brilliance of the underlying mystery that keep you coming back though. The characters are endlessly fascinating and impressive as well. James Stewart’s Scottie is a character study in obsession and Stewart gives an intense performance that to some extent is against type for him. It is also probably his greatest performance and role which is saying something for a man who was also in Rear Window and It’s A Wonderful Life. Kim Novak is equally brilliant as the mysterious Madeleine and plays a quintessential Hitchcock leading lady. There is also an unsung hero in Barbara Bel Geddes character Midge. She is Scottie’s friend whom she clearly has an unrequited love for and a somewhat similar obsession. She is the voice of reason who shows an equally unhealthy focus on Scottie as he does on Madeleine. 

The film also features Spirograph like opening credits and a truly distinctive dream sequence from the mind of Saul Bass. There are beautiful painted backdrops in some sequences in a film that looks sumptuous throughout. 

But perhaps the true MVP is Bernard Hermann’s musical score that delivers tension consistently throughout. 

I love Vertigo. I hope you get the time to treat yourself to its brilliance if you have not had the chance to yet.