One of the many things that made Hitchcock such a great director is that he did not just stick to the same formula time after time; all of his best movies have their own unique feel and characteristics. "Vertigo" is particularly distinctive, both as a complex story filled with suspense, and as a fascinating study in psychological tension. While it lacks the humor of some of Hitchcock's other masterpieces, and sometimes moves rather slowly, it is unforgettable, and a great achievement by the director and his cast.
There are also some great acting performances. Jimmy Stewart is outstanding in a role far different from his usual screen persona. He enables the viewer to sympathize completely with him, even as we cringe at many of his character's actions and decisions. Kim Novak is completely convincing in a difficult dual role, and the movie would not have been as compelling without her fine performance. The rest of the cast all have much smaller roles, but are all quite good too.
When police detective Scottie Ferguson (James Stewart) resigns after having a traumatic experience (due to his vertigo - fear of heights) in which he lost a colleague after chasing a suspect on a rooftop, an old friend hires him as a private detective to trail his beautiful but suicidal wife Madeleine (Kim Novak). During this followings he slowly falls in love with her and after she dies he becomes obsessed, seeing her everywhere. In the interview with Truffaut Hitchcock explained: "I was intrigued by the hero's attempts to re-create the image of a dead woman through another one who's alive". Vertigo is Hithcock's bleakest and most enigmatic picture (numerous books have been published concerning the various contexts, themes and subjects treated in the movie) with an excellent cast (Novak is sublime in a double role).
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intw de Francois Truffaut propos de Alfred Hitchcock
