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Vertigo

1958 2h 8m
Mystery Romance Thriller
MOVIEVIBE Rating
8.1/10
6,487 reviews
Your Rating
Vertigo

A retired San Francisco detective suffering from acrophobia investigates the strange activities of an old friend's wife, all the while becoming dangerously obsessed with her.

"Alfred Hitchcock engulfs you in a whirlpool of terror and tension!"

Top Billed Cast

James Stewart
James Stewart
Det. John 'Scottie' Ferguson
Kim Novak
Kim Novak
Madeleine Elster / Judy Barton
Barbara Bel Geddes
Barbara Bel Geddes
Marjorie 'Midge' Wood
Tom Helmore
Tom Helmore
Gavin Elster
Henry Jones
Henry Jones
Coroner
Raymond Bailey
Raymond Bailey
Scottie's Doctor
Ellen Corby
Ellen Corby
Manager of McKittrick Hotel
Konstantin Shayne
Konstantin Shayne
Pop Leibel

Detailed Critic & Audience Reviews

E Eky Verified TMDB Critic
2012-06-16

All I know, this film wasn’t so successful at first and this probably because the audience didn’t expect a film so dark and claustrophobic. Vertigo was so strange already from the beginning because of its surreal and nightmarish atmosphere. I bow to Hitchcock in his creativity in visualizing Jimmy Stewart’s acrophobia by implementing one of the oldest cinematography techniques, using zoom lens as it zooms in while the object moves away, emphasizing his terrified feeling and insecurity whenever he’s at a particular height due to a chronic vertigo he suffers. As always, the film director...

T tmdb47633491 Verified TMDB Critic
2018-04-07

I will never understand the universal adoration for Vertigo. Blindly inherited wisdom is the only explanation. How anyone could prefer this to North by Northwest or Rear Window is beyond me. An exceptionally made, exceptionally boring movie...

B barrymost Verified TMDB Critic
2020-03-30

A tense, dizzying thriller from the Master.

Plot in a nutshell: A retired detective suffering from acrophobia takes the case of an old college chum's wife, who may be possessed by the spirit of her great-grandmother who committed suicide many years previous. But of course, a much darker, and more down-to-earth, secret lies beneath the surface.

Comments: James Stewart is the perfect anti-hero in this: clever and brave, but also disturbed, unhinged, and at times possessive. He does a stellar job with a difficult role.

In the supporting role of Stewart's faithful friend "Midge" is Ba...

J JPV852 Verified TMDB Critic
2020-09-05

Not one of my favorites from Hitchcock, and certainly dower, but still visually striking and two amazing performances from James Stewart and Kim Novak. This is only the second time seeing this, guessing the last time was maybe 10 years ago or so, not entirely sure when I'll revisit it. **3.75/5**...

J James Verified TMDB Critic
2023-10-14

Perhaps it’s due to my dislike for the overrated “North By Northwest”, but as of now this is my favourite Hitchcock....