Vertigo (1958)
De Vrouw Die Tweemaal Leefde
Raiting: 
8,4 /10
Genre: Thriller
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Stars: James Stewart, Kim Novak and Barbara Bel Geddes
Country: United States
Release date: 28 May 1958
Length: 129 minutes
"Vertigo," directed by Alfred Hitchcock in 1958, is a psychological thriller that explores themes of obsession, identity, and fear. The film opens with John "Scottie" Ferguson, a former police detective, who retires after a rooftop chase leads to a near-fatal accident causing him to develop acrophobia—an extreme fear of heights—accompanied by vertigo. His condition is exacerbated when he is hanging from a high place and a police officer falls to his death trying to save him.
Scottie is hired by an old college acquaintance, Gavin Elster, to follow his wife, Madeleine, who is behaving strangely. Elster believes that Madeleine is possessed by the spirit of her great-grandmother, Carlotta Valdes, who committed suicide. Scottie is skeptical but agrees to the job. As he follows Madeleine, he observes her visiting Carlotta's grave and the portrait of Carlotta at a museum, and sees her staring at the Golden Gate Bridge, where Carlotta had drowned herself.
Scottie becomes increasingly fascinated with Madeleine, and as he follows her, he saves her from a suicidal jump into San Francisco Bay. Following the rescue, Scottie and Madeleine grow closer, and he becomes infatuated with her. However, his fear of heights prevents him from saving her when she seemingly leaps to her death from the bell tower of the San Juan Bautista mission.
Devastated by Madeleine's death and wracked with guilt, Scottie suffers a mental breakdown. After his recovery, he encounters a woman named Judy who bears a striking resemblance to Madeleine. Unbeknownst to Scottie, Judy is indeed the same woman he knew as Madeleine; she was part of a murder plot concocted by Elster to kill his real wife and use Scottie as an unwitting alibi. Judy falls in love with Scottie and agrees to transform back into Madeleine at his behest, as Scottie obsessively tries to recreate the woman he lost.
The climax of the film occurs as Scottie, having uncovered the truth about Elster's plot and Judy's involvement, confronts Judy in the mission's bell tower. Overcoming his acrophobia in a moment of revelation, Scottie forces Judy to admit her deception. However, their confrontation is cut short when Judy, startled by the appearance of a nun, steps backward and falls to her death, mirroring the fate of the real Madeleine.
"Vertigo" is a complex narrative that weaves together mystery and romance, creating a haunting tale of love and loss. Hitchcock uses innovative camera techniques, such as the dolly zoom effect, to visually represent Scottie's acrophobia and the sensation of vertigo. The film's use of vibrant color and Bernard Herrmann's memorable score further enhance the suspenseful atmosphere. Often regarded as one of Hitchcock's masterpieces, "Vertigo" is a film that continues to captivate and intrigue audiences with its psychological depth and cinematic artistry.
Top cast - Vertigo (1958)
Trailer - Vertigo (1958)
Alfred Hitchcock's 1958 masterpiece, "Vertigo," is a film that stands the test of time, mesmerizing audiences with its intricate plot, psychological depth, and stunning visuals. The movie stars James Stewart as John "Scottie" Ferguson, a former police detective suffering from acrophobia, and Kim Novak in dual roles as Madeleine Elster and Judy Barton, around whom the central mystery revolves.
The narrative is a complex web of obsession, identity, and deceit. Scottie is hired by an old acquaintance to follow his wife, Madeleine, who is believed to be possessed by the spirit of her ancestor. As Scottie tracks her movements across San Francisco, he becomes deeply infatuated with her, only to witness her tragic death. The plot takes a darker turn when Scottie encounters Judy, a woman who bears a striking resemblance to Madeleine, leading to a descent into obsession and madness that is as gripping as it is unsettling.
Hitchcock's direction is impeccable, using innovative camera techniques like the dolly zoom to simulate the dizzying sensation of vertigo. Bernard Herrmann's haunting score perfectly complements the mood, weaving a spellbinding aura that enhances the film's surreal and dreamlike quality. The use of color and lighting is also noteworthy, with the vivid palette adding layers of meaning to the characters' emotions and the film's underlying themes.
While "Vertigo" was met with mixed reviews upon its release, it has since been re-evaluated and is now regarded as one of Hitchcock's finest works and a seminal piece of cinema history. Its influence can be seen in countless films and its themes of obsession, love, and the fluidity of identity remain as relevant today as they were in the 1950s. "Vertigo" is not just a movie; it's a compelling experience that haunts the viewer long after the credits roll.