Vertigo (1958)

The plot was quite intriguing, but the main character's vertigo seemed to be a very inconsequential part of the story! In that regard, it sort of threw me off. I was waiting for it to be a major factor, and it never was.

James Stewart plays John "Scotty" Ferguson, a police officer who's had to retire because a traumatic event has triggered a severe fear of heights in him. An old friend of his, Gavin, wants his wife, Madeline, investigated. She's been acting odd lately. Shes goes places, and can't remember where she's been; or she drifts off in the middle of conversations. Scotty reluctantly agrees, and he begins to follow her. She goes to a museum, and sits and stares at a painting of a woman. Then she goes to a grave and stares at the headstone of that woman. Then she goes to a hotel room and sits. After some investigating, Scotty discovers that the woman in the painting, the woman who's grave Madeline visits, has also lived in the hotel room to which she goes. Finally, Gavin tells Scotty that unbeknownst to Madeline, the woman in the painting is actually Madeline's great grandmother, who went "mad" and committed suicide at 26. Madeline is now 26 years old. Oh, and there's another complication: Scotty and Madeline met and have fallen in love.

I read that Hitchcock blamed James Stewart for the commercial failure of this movie. He felt that Stewart looked "too old to attract audiences". But I felt the complete opposite. I thought James Stewart was very appealing. I've only seen him in this film, and in Rear Window. He has a good chemistry with his leading ladies, and he's also charming and charismatic!

This is a story of doomed love. There are twists and turns in the story, but alas, they would just be spoilers. Vertigo was good - there were even a few times that I gasped aloud while watching it! I'd recommend it if you like the classic Alfred Hitchcock thriller!