Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2795 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-10-17
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Dubbed, PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English, French
• Subtitled in: English, German, French, Portuguese, Swedish, Danish, Polish, Dutch, Finnish, Czech
• Dubbed in: German, Italian, Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 124 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Dreamlike and nightmarishly surreal, Vertigo is Hitchcock's most personal film because it confronts many of the convoluted psychological issues that haunted and fascinated the director. The psychological complexity and the stark truthfulness of their rampant emotions keeps these strangely obsessive characters alive on screen, and Hitchcock understood better than most their barely repressed sexual compulsions, their fascination with death and their almost overwhelming desire for transcendent love. James Stewart finds profound and disturbing new depths in his psyche as Scotty, the tortured acrophobic detective on the trail of a suicidal woman apparently possessed by the ghost of someone long dead. Kim Novak is the classical Hitchcockian blonde whose icy exterior conceals a churning, volcanic emotional core. The agonised romance of Bernard Herrmann's score accompanies the two actors as a third and vitally important character, moving the film along to its culmination in an ecstasy of Wagnerian tragedy. Of course Hitch lavished especial care on every aspect of the production, from designer Edith Head's costumes (he, like Scotty, was most insistent on the grey dress), to the specific colour scheme of each location, to the famous reverse zoom "Vertigo" effect (much imitated, never bettered). The result is Hitch's greatest work and an undisputed landmark of cinema history.

On the DVD: This disc presents the superb restored print of this film in a wonderful widescreen (1.85:1) anamorphic transfer, with remastered Dolby digital soundtrack. There's a half-hour documentary made in 1996 about the painstaking two-year restoration process, plus an informative commentary from the restorers Robert Harris and James Katz, who are joined by original producer Herbert Coleman. There are also text features on the production, cast and crew, plus a trailer for the theatrical release of the restoration. This is an undeniably essential requirement for every DVD collection. --Mark Walker

Video Description
DVD Special Features:
"Obsessed with Vertigo" featurette (29 mins)
Feature Commentary
Theatrical Trailer
Production Notes
Cast and Filmmakers' Notes

1.85:1 anamorphic
Languages: Dolby Digital 5.1 English, 3.0 Surround German, Mono French, Italian and Spanish
Subtitles: English, French, German, Dutch, Portuguese, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, Danish, Polish, Czech

Synopsis
VERTIGO is Alfred Hitchcock's haunting tale of deception, madness, and death, a masterful exploration of fantasy and anxiety. The film ranks with REAR WINDOW as one of the director's most closely studied films for its psychological complexity, while the obsession of its protagonist--John "Scottie" Ferguson (James Stewart)--can also be seen to parallel that of Hitchcock's own fascination with the icy-blonde leading lady he recreated at the center of so many of his films. Scottie Ferguson is a retired detective, his career ended by the onset of a paralyzing fear of heights. An old friend, the wealthy Gavin Elster (Tom Helmore), hires Ferguson to follow his wife (Kim Novak), whom, he explains, has grown obsessed with an ancestor of hers. The assignment draws Ferguson out of his comfortable role as observer and into a complex web of intrigue, mingled with the detective's own fantasies and fears. Stewart gives an exceptional performance as the disintegrating detective, while Novak, who was left largely undirected by Hitchcock, conveys a subtle and powerful psychological journey. Another star of the film is its San Francisco setting. VERTIGO is considered one of Hitchcock's finest and most complex films.

Customer Reviews

Do not look below!
Vertigo is a well chosen word for the atmosphere of this film. San Francisco detective Scottie (James Stewart) chases a suspect on the rooftops of the buildings, he slips and barely holds on the rain gutter of one building. Another policeman comes to his rescue but he slips and gets killed after falling down. Scottie is deeply affected from this experience and he resigns from the force to open up his own detective agency. One friend of his hires him to guard his wife. What from? Evil spirits that engulf her! Funny enough Scottie does not believe in heresy but once he focuses on the case he is deeply moved with the situation. The wife of his friend spends hours at a certain museum staring at the same portrait of an aristocrat woman who died a century ago. She imitates her life, even her suicide. Scottie tries to solve the puzzle that he faces and he nearly goes insane.

The film stands out for its making and psychological thriller atmosphere. The double character of Madeleine Elster (Kim Novak) deserves credit. Also we are accustomed to James Stewart more than ever. The vertigo effect throughout the film is very well given. So much so that this film is taught in academies of cinema art. As to the gripping effect of the film the end deserves credit. But there is a notion that distresses me about the film, it is the missing links that are not told in the film. As in a simple mystery police novel the author solves the case with an evidence never mentioned before. As for the final scene I personally think it not appropriate, somewhat unnecessary.

A film that has to be watched but I am not sure I will watch it again.

One of Hitchcock's finest
I've seen this film several times and every time I find many new aspects to it. Of particular interest is the famous dream sequence with its highly surrealistic imagery as well as the repeated image of the painting featuring Carlotta's grandmother. These two sequences clearly foreshadow the protagonist's ultimate fate, even though this is not clearly apparent in the final shots.

Hitchcock's choice of Jimmy Stewart as the lead was a good move in my opinion. His performance has the right amount of vulnerability and courage. Kim Novak is also very good as the tormented "ice maiden". All in all, an amazing film!

A GREAT FILM
Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo is probably his most discussed film, and I believe that since it is so controversial- and yet living up to such hype by having a level of mystery, daring and true human interest that is open to interpretation- it gets better with every passing year. It deserves more credit than it gets (like most of Hitchcock's films) and though it is well credited with it's intrigue, I think that Psycho (not that it is a bad film) gets more credit than this film should get. There are at least a few reasons for this, arguably of course. One, the acting is spectacular including James Stewart in one of his very best turns as the weary, emotionally perplexed and obsessed cop with a slight fear of heights and a 'thing' for a certain 'dead' woman. Hitchcock's leading lady here Kim Novak, is equally interesting and ambiguous as the leading lady (or ladies).

Two, the atmosphere Hicthcock invokes in this film is just right for the psychological tailspin that Stewart gets into, with the usage of lighting, real San Fransisco locations, and particularly the color green all to perfect, eerie effect. And three, there's Bernard Herrmann's score, on par with the Psycho score though maybe even better as a straight piece of classical music in the guise of tense, haunting movie music. It's also the kind of picture that is a MUST if you've already seen it, or even if not, and it comes around town on the big screen as all the images and dark scenes come into great view. Not one of the more outright 'fun' Hitchcock films, with the few chuckles plain comic relief, and maybe his best serious work. A++