Review of Vertigo (1958) by Eduardo S — 18 Mar 2012

Perfect. Just perfect in every aspect for most part of the movie. To have this much space and time for character building in presence of so many twists and turns is possible only by geniuses. This taps a deep chord on so many emotions and in many levels too, be it romance or heartbreak, suspense or obsession. It's >120 min runtime felt like, what! movie got over already? Thanks to exhilarating yet sensible screenplay.

John Ferguson (James Stewart) resigns as a detective when his fear of heights leads to a death of his colleague. Then a college mate calls him on a personal favor to watch over his wife Madeleine Elster (Kim Novak) as he suspects she is possessed with her grandmother's spirit invoking suicidal tendencies. During his surveillance John is convinced there is a greater power acting upon her when he saves her from drowning after which she doesn't recall how it happened. He falls in love with her and she reciprocates. When all seem to be going well, Madeleine commits suicide in front of him by jumping off a church building and he could not save her in time due to his condition. After a few years of depression, he finds a women who looks exactly like her and becomes obsessed. The more closer he tries to get to this women, darker the secrets that come out of the closet.

The plot may sound preposterous for those who are not used to Hitchcock movies, but it is definitely one of his better ones. Kim Novak definitely has the looks to make us feel plausible that one can get obsessed with her. The background score for both the romance and suspense episodes of the movie is incredible and complements very well with the terrific screenplay which builds the suspense revealing and adding the pieces strategically. The lead characters are so well written it is hard not to feel for them. It does have it's limitations too - though the idea of the main twist to the tale is smart - it is executed so unconvincingly as there are quite a few plot holes here. Hitchcock was never good with concluding movies, always end hastily and undercooked.

An exceptional storyteller delivers his best work of what I have seen in this slow building romantic-thriller.