Grade: B+
Synopsis: A San Francisco detective (James Stewart) with a fear of heights falls for the mysterious woman (Kim Novak) he’s been hired to trail.
Though Vertigo flopped commercially and critically during its initial release, it’s now viewed by many as director Alfred Hitchcock’s greatest film. While it’s certainly well done, it’s not without flaws.
The movie looks great. The San Francisco locales, Technicolor photography, costumes, production; all are top notch. James Stewart is his usual charming, aw-shucks self, and Kim Novak is suitably mysterious opposite him. But, there’s an age gap that doesn’t quite work.
Stewart was almost twice the age of both leading ladies during filming, and it makes things somewhat implausible. Granted, Hitchcock’s next picture, North by Northwest (1959), featured an even wider age gap between Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint, but that’s the difference between Cary Grant and James Stewart. James Stewart is the man everyone relates to, it’s the secret of his success, and why he’s so believable as a former detective haunted by his fear of heights, but unbelievable as a romancer of women half his age.
Further, there’s the somewhat abrupt ending that, while symmetrical, feels a little anticlimactic after the two-hour plus running time.
Still, all of this isn’t to say that Vertigo is bad. In fact, it’s very good; just not perfect and certainly not Hitchcock’s finest.
Bottom Line: While not his greatest film, Vertigo is still one of director Alfred Hitchcock’s finer efforts. Recommended.
One Response on “Vertigo (1958)”:
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daily dwayne said:
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i agree that it’s not his best work, although i’m hard pressed to pick the BEST. and sitting here thinking about it (haven’t watched vertigo in about 6 years) it’s tough to have a hitchcock’s best conversation without giving it serious consideration. i’ll have to rewatch it to asses the age gap being a distractor, i don’t recall it bothering me that much though. definitely agree with the NxNW comparison though, definitely had NO reservations about that age gap. all in all, vertigo is in my top 50 of all time (maybe 25) and an excellent film that really is still watchable in 2008. you’ve inspired me to give it another look…although i own it on VHS and have no VHS player…hmmpf
