Hey Everyone! Just wanted to address something that I knew might come up in the Vertigo video and that I wanted to set straight. When I talked about past lives being “absurd” I meant that in the context of the film. Hitchcock hadn’t set it up to be a past lives/ghost story film. I didn’t want anyone to take that the wrong way and think that I was taking a position towards certain spiritual beliefs. I apologize if I offended anyone, as that was not my intention.

The ending cured him of his vertigo. He stood on the ledge looking down without feeling any dizziness. And yes, Hitchcock knew it was about very VERY dark themes and toxic relationships. This film was ahead of its time.

Midge’s reactions are priceless in this film. “ you know there’s only one person in the world for me Johnny O!” Filled with such regret of not seizing the moment. She loves him so much and hates that any other woman would surpass her! Excellent performance!!!

The movie left you reeling, your head spinning, knocked you off balance...perhaps you have Vertigo?

I remember the first time i watched and was under its spell and decided to rewatch on the same week again and boy it got even better. It's fascinating and it's better every single time i watch, the dreamy/nightmare-ish environment is brilliant. I think Kim Novak did great in this and James Stewart is fantastic. Hitchcock at (one of) his best.

I had to pop on here and compliment you on truly loving and appreciating the craft of motion pictures. We'll never meet but I would love to find a like spirit to which to catch movies together and enter fun discussions afterward. The visible proof of you enjoying cinema makes you one of the best reaction video channels on KZfaq. As always, I look forward to your future videos, Mia. Thank you.

I totally want younger people to see more tragedies. The art of tragedy in cinema is more rare (harder to make box office with tragic tales.) Figuring out the mystery is good for the first viewing -- after that -- it's all appreciation of the beauty, colors, historic San Francisco and the anguish of obsessive desire.

Vertigo is an intangible movie on first watch. You don’t really know what’s going on the entire time, and you’re not quite sure how you’re supposed to feel about what you can tell is going on. While both lead characters become far less innocent, more twisted than they initially appeared. The story evolution and convolution, the character ambiguity and the eventual demise of both lead characters is what makes this such a fascinating (and for some people frustrating) watch. There’s also the great score, editing, cinematography, camera work, acting and the fact that the entire movie manages to feel like a waking dream then a nightmare. It’s beautiful, disturbing, romantic, preposterous, alluring, shocking. There’s so much to it. It is pure "cinema", which is probably why it eventually became Hitchcock’s most acclaimed movie. There’s a few videos on KZfaq that do a decent job at breaking down the movie and it’s ending. I particularly suggest The Take’s video on it.

Hitchcock’s masterpiece. I have been to many of the scene locations in San Francisco. I’m giddy for this!!!!!

That scene she gets out of the bathroom finally with the full Madeline appearance glowing under that green light, looking like a ghost image of a dead(!) person, where I always have (and it seems also this time you had) goosebumps might be my favorite scene of all times in any movie.

Yes, Hitchcock appears on "Vertigo." About 10 minutes into the film, while we wait for Scottie to arrive at Elster’s shipyard, Hitchcock walks across from left to right carrying some sort of case.

Judy Barton's story is possibly one of the saddest in terms of cinematic women. She's used and discarded by Elster after the plan succeeds. Then, the man she's in love with won't accept any version of her that isn't the woman he fell for. The woman who never existed. When Judy asks him "couldn't you like me for me?" followed directly by his fixation on the color of her hair. Jeez. That was rough to take in. It's as if Judy Barton from Salina, Kansas was destined to be an unloved person while Madeline Elster, the visage, is the only way she could obtain that love. Her accepting to be Madeline again is tragic on its own even without the ending.

Midge remarks at the beginning of the movie that only another traumatic experience could potentially cure Scottie of his vertigo. It took me a few watches to understand this, but I believe the ending is supposed to indicate that, as Scottie looks down at Judy's body from the top of the tower, he realizes that he's cured. I wish that Hitchcock had figured out a better way to convey this through his cinematography, but that's a small complaint compared against everything else I love about this movie. I also think it's easier to process how you feel about the story when you consider that this is not a love story between Scottie and Judy, but a love triangle between Scottie, Judy, and Madeline. The person that Scottie fell in love with was an emulation of Gavin Elster's wife, whom Elster himself essentially molded and groomed Judy into being. Scottie only cared for Judy in so much as he was able to see Madeline in her, which is why he went to the lengths that he did to remake her back into this dead woman. It's not a love that I believe you're ever supposed to root for, but I think it serves as a character study on how far people will go - or how low they will sink - for romantic fulfillment. Thank you for reacting to my favorite film of all time.

The overlooked the fact that, in the final scene, James Stewart is standing on the ledge LOOKING DOWN. His fear of heights is finally GONE. His acrophobia was caused by a shock, and it was cured by another shock.

31:06 That score is Bernard Herrmann, one of my favourite film composers! He also did the score for Psycho and Taxi Driver and a bunch of other classics from the '50s/60s/70s. And that particular "distorted" effect is called a tremolo!

"Rear window" is another Hitchcock's gem.

Props to you, first for being so tuned in to the logic of the Madeleine portion of the movie (including the color, which you were alert to from the jump) and, second, for appreciating that the movie's full measure could not be taken in one sitting. As several comments have noted, a first viewing of Vertigo can only ever be preliminary. This is among the most complex movies ever made and in ways that aren't immediately obvious. It's not only that the film unexpectedly gains depth as you detach from the initial need to find your way through the mystery plot. Also, intricacies of the double story only begin to reveal themselves upon subsequent viewings. Even if it were a less rewarding film than it is, though, I'd urge you to see it again if only because your reading of where Scotty was emotionally slipped a bit in the Judy half. And I'd certainly urge you to see it again before looking at "explainer" videos or essays. But again, praise overall for being such a great viewer in this instance -- and for the Hitchcock in general. Looking forward to Rear Window!

Around 30 years ago Vertigo got a renovation done to restore the color and sound to it's original form. They released it in some theaters in a 70 MM print. There is nothing quite like seeing and hearing this on a large screen. Critics marveled at Hitchcock all over again and many kept saying besides Stewart's acting Stewart has the bluest eyes in Hollywood outdoing even Paul Newman's .

This is frustrating. I left a comment here yesterday, and it has disappeared. I didn't say anything remotely offensive, or that could be construed as spam. I'll try to remember what I said: One of the things I love about Vertigo is Kim Novak's acting. She plays two characters who are really the same character. Madeleine and Judy speak differently, move differently, and have different facial expressions. Her gradual transformation from Judy back into Madeleine is a masterpiece of acting. Thanks for this reaction! I'm looking forward to Vertigo. It's one of my favorites.

The innkeeper in actress Ellen Corby, who later played Grandma Walton on Tv in the 1970's show The Waltons. A well known great character actress with a decades long career.

Scotty chases his fantasy woman. Midge is reality. That's why she put her face on Carlotta he freaked because his fantasy can't survive with reality. He had to get away from it. The red and green was stop and go in basic form and you can extrapolate that into Fantasy/death, Reality/life. Judy was reality but she was chasing a fantasy relationship also so gave up her personality to become the fantasy that she played for Scotty, her 'dream' love. Judy was real but changed back for Scotty. His actions making her over had nothing to do with her, he was recreating his fantasy. It was a doomed pairing and Judy wearing the necklace broke his dream and revealed her betrayal. Just before Judy/Madelaine fell out of the window, they were seemingly convincing each other to try anyway. At that moment, she dies, the fantasy dies, any hope of building a real relationship dies and Scotty is left leaning off balance on the ledge caught between life and death, success and failure, fantasy and reality, an inescapable limbo. How I've come to understand the film. My opinion only, after many many viewings. You nailed it in advance up to the first death and no one i ever viewed this with ever even came close. Brilliant job, very impressive! You 'get' Hitchcock and it's a pleasure to see. PS so ahead of it's time in '58 because people really weren't ready for this bombshell psychological profile.

In 1958 the Hays Code was still in force, so since Judy was complicit in the murder of Madeleine she had to get some kind of comeuppance, the choices would be going to prison or dying. The novel ends significantly differently than the film. Let me also recommend the supernatural, romantic comedy "Bell, Book and Candle," It would be perfect for Halloween, were you doing a Halloween theme.

The scene in his friend Gavin's office where he lays out the job to follow his wife is everything. It starts out with Scottie in charge, standing over the friend, skeptical. It ends with the friend standing in the upraised portion of the room like it's a stage, with Scottie seated, now an enraptured audience to the story being presented him. It's so masterfully framed and choreographed. A true virtuoso director at work.

One of my favorite films of all time!

I love this quote about Vertigo... from Kim Novak. "The thing I loved about Alfred Hitchcock is that he left a lot of open ends there, a lot of clues that didn't really add up the way you think they would, and sometimes, not at all."

I LOVE Technicolor, it always makes a film look so rich. I know it required a lot of extra lighting because of the process but it was worth it.

One of the best scores in film history.

Back in the late 80's, early 90's, a group of filmmakers and archivist got together and decided to form a company that would restore classic films from the original film stock. Film makers such as Spielberg and Scorsese were a part of that process. After the success of their first project Lawrence Of Arabia, they all agreed they wanted to restore Vertigo for their next film as they felt very passionate about the film. The reason you can see all the color is because of the painstaking restoration they did, as all the colors had become muted in the reels used over the years.

Kim Novak is a very talented painter who used her art to relieve the pressures of working in Hollywood.

Carlotta's appearance in Scotty's dream still gives me shivers

And I agree, Scotty knew from the moment it happened that something didn't add up. He was quietly puzzling it over in his mind while pretending to be confused, waiting for her to make a mistake. She was an aid in the murder of Mrs. Elster. There was never going to be a happy end for them.

A great film. It would never get made today. An older man obsessed with a younger woman. Bernard Herman's score is perfect as always! And that ending!!! OMG! Too great! Classic Hitchcock. By the way I was lucky enough to see this and "Rear Window" on double bill at a Rerun theatre 30 years ago. Rear Window Is great. \

Great insight about San Francisco geography too - the rolling hills, the ups and downs, nothing feeling stable.

Guys... I suspect Mia Tiffany liked the colors in this... just a hunch.

Mia, as usual, GREAT job! Not only were you really are every person who has ever watched "Vertigo" for the first time, you were way sharper than most of us were, first time we saw it! (Although in my defense, I was, like, 8, lol) You knew something was fishy all along! You caught all kinds of things, loved watching you drawn into the movie's mystery, pointing out all the color themes that run through it, figuring stuff out, NOT figuring stuff out (lol), floating theories....LOVED it! Thoroughly enjoyed it! You actually boosted my affection for this film. Kim Novak is great in this.

The music accompanying the scene of Judy's final transformation when she steps out of the green light as Madeleine is Hermann's almost direct quote of Wagner's Liebestod from Tristan and Isolde. (Liebestod meaning roughly love/death). An inspired choice of music!

I met Kim Novak’s son at my local grocery store years ago. He helps disabled/ elderly people. We had a great convo waiting in line he was such a sweetheart.

Mia ... your comments amount to one of the most intelligent, sensitive analysis of the film I've ever seen. I thoroughly enjoyed them. I would suggest you consider that the moment Judy was trying on the necklace, Scotty recognized it and this truth made him realize how she and Elster treated him as a pawn in a murder plot ... reawakening his instincts as a police detective. At the end he realized her death broke his obsession. Notice that as he stands, looking down from the mission tower, he assumes a birdlike bodily position. He feels that he is "free as a bird" of it. By the way, in the summer of 1990 I toured the shooting sites in San Francisco and San Juan Bautista. It was eerie how little those places had changed in a third of a century. The only exception was that the McKittrick Hotel had been torn down. I was surprised that the mission has never had a bell tower. The tower seen in the movie was a matte painting placed in front of the camera with the church in the background. The stairway Scotty and Judy supposedly climbed up was a 75 foot tall prop built by studio workmen.

Scotty was obsessed but he really didn't know it was Madeline until the necklace. The creepiness is part of what this movie is about. Seriously Scotty is so driven he doesn't see the obvious. The ending is perfect because obsession leads to death, and that's what Scotty was suffering from, severely. Remember this isn't about romance so.much as it's about our obsession with romance.

“You are married Madeline!!” Bahahahahaha

I love the films you choose to react to and how insightful your observations are and how analytically you follow along. Really enjoying your channel! Keep up the good work! Subscribed!

My pick for greatest film ever made.

IMO the best commercial motion picture ever made. More than a film, it is a work of art.

The Building that she comes out of and gets into her car is a hotel that is located on Powell Street on the thousandth block. It looks exactly the same

Mulholland Dr. (2001) is another noir-ish mystery that has romantic aspects where you’re not quite sure what is going on the entire time, where you’re not quite sure how to feel about the characters and where you need multiple watches to fully digest it. I suggest watching that at some point. The movie is thematically Vertigo and Sunset Boulevard fused together, with a handful of shoutouts to both films. I know it’s not that old, but it is probably the most acclaimed movie of the 2000s. And the director (David Lynch) is deeply influenced by Hitchcock. It’s also funny how when you watch Vertigo for the first time, viewers almost end of feeling like Scottie: dazzled, confused, shocked and like you’ve been played.

Some of Edith Head's best costumes designs ever.

A few people here are saying the Hays Code is why Judy dies at the end. That’s not why she dies. By the time this was filmed many of those initial Hays Code rules had started to be widely ignored, including “if you commit an ‘evil’ driven action of murder you must get a comeuppance”. Many films throughout the 50s ignored that rule. Judy’s death was initially supposed to be more drawn-out, with Scottie strangling her. Then they landed on her being spooked and jumping to her death to mirror the theme of “falling”. There’s a scene after that was a quick wrap-up and showed Scottie going back to Midge, but Hitchcock cut it (you can still find it on KZfaq). Judy’s death and the ending is rather abrupt, which I’m sure is primarily why Mia was taken aback, not really by her actual death.

"Let's think of some rational explanations" Hitchcock: nope 😎😎

I'm SO happy I discovered you! I also LOVE watching classic films and educating myself on them! It's such a joy watching you go on a similar journey through old Hollywood. Keep it up! This film in particular was SO insane the first time I saw it; your reaction was almost identical to mine. The flashback reveal of Judy being Madeleine and Gavin having planned a murder of his real wife all along is by far one of the top 10 greatest twists in cinematic history!!

Always loved the dream like quality of this movie. Not only perhaps Hitchcock's finest, but Stewart's too.

I'm so happy to see your reaction to Vertigo. It does pull your deeper and deeper into the mystery. Had to clap when you caught the use of red-green. I miss my hometown so much!

This is one of the best reaction videos I've seen.

I had pretty much the same reaction as you when I first watched this movie. I didn't know how to feel or what to think. It was so... Weird. Even for Hitchcock. Lol. At first, I firmly believed that it was overrated and that I didn't really understand the praise it always gets. Then, I kept thinking about it. And kept thinking about it. Turning it over and over in my head, trying to figure out this puzzle of a movie and why it seemed to have gotten its hooks in me when I wasn't looking. So, I rewatched it. Multiple times. It's now my favorite Hitchcock film. I truly consider it to be his finest work. It really is a masterpiece. But it takes a lot of revisiting and analysis to fully unpack. It's an incredibly dense film that rewards repeated viewings. I now find the ending to be perfectly fitting. Something to take note of: the nun's habit at the end resembles Judy's square cut neckline on her dress, and the nun has "Madeline" 's voice. It's as if Judy is being haunted by the persona she created and the woman she helped kill all at once in her final moments. That's what frightens her off of the tower.

Vertigo's complex theme is the quintessential summation behind why Hitchcock is constantly searching for a blond leading lady to replace Hollywood's exiting Grace Kelly to marry the Prince of Monaco. Also, it begs not only a repeat rewatch but with multiple viewings one can marvel and appreciate the density and depth of this MASTERPIECE.

This is one of those movies that is unbearably heartbreaking when watching for a second time and you already know the ending.

I am riveted by your reaction to this film. The first time I saw it was in the mid-90s. The film had been restored using the original negative (which had some damage) and some other prints to use in place of the damaged sections of the negative. Like you, I was floored by the technical aspects of the film, but confused and frustrated, and probably haunted by the story and its ending. I've watched this film a dozen times since, and part of me thinks it's demonstrating how an ordinary man, if he falls into the wrong circumstances, can be pushed and driven to abandon his sense, his sanity, and finally his soul. I imagine that could be a description Hitch might give if asked what his film meant. But, it could be that "Vertigo" is actually about an obsessive guy who finally finds a target for the darkness he's been denying. Finally letting it out, he succumbs to his obsessive feelings and demands absolute control over the woman who has become the object to hang his desire on. But he pushes too hard and pays a heavy price in order to reach the depths of his need for answers, for some sense of control. Judy, though, pays the ultimate price. I doubt Hitch would ever claim that was the intent of the film. But maybe for him, making this film was as much confession as it was exploration.

Up there at the top of Jimmy Stewarts and Kim Novaks performances. Your reactions are spot on!

Laughed my head off throughout. Great reactions from you. Love Vertigo; thought I had seen it and processed it but your reactions added a lot more.

You are the only reactor who has a bit of compassion for Scotty, the only one who doesn't think he's just a creep, and understand why he acts the way he does!

Love all your reactions and all the research that goes into them. So glad I played catch up today! I'm familiar with Vertigo through Mel Brooks' High Anxiety, but only recently watched it...with you. Imagine my surprise seeing Barbara Belle Geddis as someone other than Miss Ellie Ewing. Midge deserves better than Johnny four names. The obsessive toxicity and Judy's willingness to change into someone else "for love" puts this at the bottom of Hitchcock's masterpieces for me. It wasn't bad, but once was enough.

I too was stunned and somewhat confused the first time I saw VERTIGO. The overwhelming impression I was left with was that this film could only have been made by someone with an intimate familiarity with mental illness...from the inside. I think that's why Hitchcock withdrew it from circulation for 20 years - it was too revealing

Mia, you should watch "Bell, Book and Candle" with Jimmy Stewart and Kim Novak, made the same year as "Vertigo." It's the romantic comedy antidote to "Vertigo"'s abrupt and devastating ending. "Bell, Book and Candle" is not a great film, but it's a highly enjoyable one and it allows "Vertigo" fans to imagine our doomed couple in happier circumstances (but still with some underlying strands of darkness).

I hope you see The Thirty Nine Steps eventually. Also an adventure. Rear Window is good, though much more straightforward than Vertigo.

you are so brilliant the first person who ever knew they were running game

I LOVE your analytical approach to reviewing films. I’m subscribing. Some reviewers couldn’t do a proper analysis to save their lives.

Mia, your reaction was priceless. I REALLY enjoy your reactions.

Have to say Mia, your expression at the very end there @ 35:00 is a familiar one with Vertigo. We've all had it! LOL! I thinking you liked Rear Window, as I'm sure you've already done it by now. I'm betting you DIDN'T miss Hitch in that one! He's pretty easy to spot in RW. ✌️😎

Sorry to comment 2 years late…but Kim Novak sets a bar. She’s ABSOLUTELY STUNNING!!

Even though I've seen this a couple of times, this is the first time I've realized that the opening for Mad Men must have been inspired by that dream sequence. And I never noticed the green everything in the movie before (and the red). Really good catch and analysis on your part. I can't believe that you figured out so early on that this was a scam. Even the second time I saw it (I'd forgotten the plot), I didn't catch on and was taken completely by surprise both times. I love James Stewart and Kim Novak together. My favorite film pairing them up (and one of my all time fave Christmas movies) is Bell Book and Candle with notable performances by Jack Lemmon, Ernie Kovaks, Elsa Lanchester and Hermione Gingold. I hope you include it in your Christmas reviews.

The use of color is absolutely striking in Vertigo. It's almost kind of a second 'Wizard of Oz' in that regard.

i just recently found your channel and am loving it because i'm an old-movie buff (as opposed to "old movie-buff" - LOL). but gurlfriend, you are gooooood! you nailed this one! i would love to watch old movies with you - i'll make the popcorn & you choose the movie! some i recommend are: alice adams (1935) the heiress (1949) my cousin rachel (1952) and especially - sybil (1976)

I learned about vertigo (the condition) from the cartoon Code Lyoko because they made a whole episode about one of the characters having it, then when I was looking up the so-called 'vertigo zoom' after watching "Jaws", I learned of this movie

this movie is an 11/10. It doesn't get better. As with the novel, it's about obsession; the Freudian repetition-compulsion/aura of the thing you desire being at a distance, then lost, is the reason why it ends the way it does. It's also the best use of soundtrack in a movie.

This movie is special, it's so personal, it's out of what is expected of Hitchcock. He usually does suspense movies, and this story is. But in the book what matters is the twist, not discovering it until the end. In the movie Hitch changes it, makes Judy tell us the twist, shows us that information because what interests him in the story is not the suspense plot, Hitch is interested in Scottie, he identifies with him!, wants to see how he will react to that discovery. That is why I say that it is his most personal film, it shows his most hidden obsessions, his desires, lusts and frustrations. He is not the Hitchcock of suspense, he is the romantic Hitchcock, that of blondes!

*goosebumps courtesy of Bernard Herman, writer of the music score and soundtrack

Two notes about the ending. 1. Judy was an accomplice in the murder of the real Madeline. For her to live happily ever after would be immoral, despite Hitchcock making the audience fall in love with her as much as Scotty fell in love with her. Love does not "conquer all." This was Hitchcock's intent. 2. You will notice that as Scotty looks down at Judy from the Bell Tower, he is no longer suffering Vertigo. Judy's death is the "second shock" that cures him. Also, Hitchcock is a pedestrian as Scotty walks up to Elster's business office at the shipyard. "Vertigo" is sometimes called "The Green Movie" because of Hitchcock's use of green throughout the film. Madeline's stole. The Jaguar automobile. Judy's dress and skirt. The eerie (even creepy) green light in Judy's apartment. Hitchcock was a master at creeping out the audience. In case you haven't heard already, "Vertigo" has been rated by many as the "greatest movie ever." I agree with that rating. It is Hitchcock's masterpiece. It is about obsession. From start to finish, the driving force of the action is obsession.

This film was my intro to classic Hollywood. My 8th grade English teacher showed us the movie, to learn about peaks and valleys in writing, how to build suspense and interest. I still love to watch it. ❤️❤️❤️

I saw "Vertigo" for the first time in August of 1958, when it first came out, when I was ten years old. I was completely haunted by it. It was my introduction to the idea of "possession" of a living person by a dead one, and then finding out that Elster had masterminded a giant con on Scotty in order to carry out the perfect murder. I saw it again a short time later, so entranced was I. Then, I watched it again years later in the 1970's at a repertory film house, because I was curious how I'd feel about it as an adult. I found it so disturbing, I wondered what my ten year old self had ever loved about "Vertigo." The final time I watched it was the restored version in the 1990's at the Castro in San Francisco. My friend really, really wanted to see it, so I went along. I watched today because I love seeing Mia's reactions to classic cinema. I still love the first part of the film, where "Madeline" is running around in her "possessed" state and Scotty is being drawn in. One loose end still bothers me, though. The landlady at the old Victorian rooming house where we see Madeline go in, we see her upstairs, and yet the landlady denies she has been there that day. What gives with that? Also, Scotty is violating professional ethics by discussing his case with Midge, even though Elster is a murderer, as we later learn.

I'm leaving this comment for my mom, who is loving your channel! Jimmy Stewart and Kim Novac reunite once more in a quirky romance called *Bell, Book & Candle.* It also features Jack Lemmon & Elsa Lancaster in very unique comedic roles! It's one we cherish in my family & grew up watching a lot. Since you loved Jimmy & Kim's chemistry, we thought you might give it a go!!! Hope to see it on the channel! My mom wants me to let you know she thinks you're doing a great job. And it's wonderful to see someone younger keeping the appreciation for "old movies" alive and well! ❤ 🎬 📽

Why did it end like that? Because he couldn't leave it alone, he couldn't stop and just accept her love, so he had to be destroyed all over again.

Great Reaction! As you are trying to analyze as you go it will detract from the experience. When I first was aware of it I thought it was slow though the twist at the end is tragic & shocking. In the end it just grows on you over the years until you also become obsessed.

Mia, I'm glad you noticed the color--very few people do. An insight into the color. I remember as a small kid in the 60s--even at that time, a lot of television was still black and white. It didn't get to where it was almost all color until the late 60s/early 70s, and even then shows in syndication were black and white--"I Love Lucy". In the 40s still, movies were still mostly B&W. So color in film, even in the 50s, was still fairly fresh and new--and skilled innovative directors like Hitchcock (one of the greatest), were eager to experiment and do things in color that are no longer done today, because color has become mundane, and taken for granted. The greatest COLOR movies are not in the present or near-present, but when color was still fairly novel in film--late 40s through the 50s. There are indeed more recent great films, but not necessarily from the color aspect. If you want to do a clip on another great movie where the color is gorgeous, vivid, and part of the story in subtle ways, please do a reaction video to Black Narcissus (1947) with Deborah Kerr. It too, is a film with psychological suspense. If you like Hitchcock, you will probably like Black Narcissus, and it has similar themes of a build-up of stress and madness. As for Vertigo, I've been a film buff for a long time, and in the 70s, Vertigo didn't even crack the top ten on lists of greatest films by actors and film critics. I'm seeing it in the top 3 now. It has been a sleeper of a great film--not receiving that much attention when it came out, then growing and growing in critical esteem. I think it's a great movie, but I like both Rear Window and North by Northwest more. And I agree with you that the ending seems a bit abrupt in this one. Hitchcock often did fairly quick endings without a climb-down, but it doesn't seem to work as well here as some of his others--particularly North by Northwest.

This played for about 4 weeks in town and I was so perturbed by it (much like your "I can't rate it") comment and went back to see it the next night, and the next. I think I saw it 8 or 9 times in those four weeks. After that, once every few years, or every 5 or 10 years.

A coda to the film was shot that showed Midge at her apartment, listening to a radio report describing the pursuit of Gavin Elster across Europe. Midge switches the radio off when Scottie enters the room. They then share a drink and look out of the window in silence. This tag ending had originally been demanded by Geoffrey Shurlock of the U.S. Production Code Administration, who had noted: "It will, of course, be most important that the indication that Elster will be brought back for trial is sufficiently emphasized." Hitchcock finally succeeded in fending off most of Shurlock's demands and had the alternative ending dropped. The footage was discovered in Los Angeles in May 1993, and was added as an alternative ending on the LaserDisc release, and later on DVD and Blu-ray releases. This ending is what I'm most familiar with.

Mia, I had to watch this a 2nd time before I got it. 1st time I saw it, I was so mesmerized by Judy transforming to "Madeline" and coming out of that green light - it was a sensory overload for me (Kim Novak, big kiss, soaring score). Btw, Hitchcock's cameo is just before Jimmy Stewart visits Gavin's office - he walks by carrying a doctor's satchel just before Scotty goes into the office.

Hitchcock’s sense of place was superb, the city of San Francisco is a major character in the movie.

Her falling out the window was movie justice.

I first saw this movie when I lived in Northern California. Many of the locations are still there, especially in San Juan Bautista. I got to visit most of them.

The Ending is simple... He's cured of his vertigo.

My interpretation of the color scheme is that Jimmy Stewart’s character is often surrounded by red because it’s the color of love, but when he sees the girl, she is surrounded by green which signifies envy as he is lusting after his friend’s wife.

Great reaction - I first saw this in the cinema as an adolescent, during its re-release, and afterwards I could hardly walk straight - I'd say it's first of all a tragedy - and it's also a horror movie - the reference to vertigo shows how far romantic swooning can blend into horror - the perfect companion piece is La Jetee, a sort of "sequel"

Surprise! You just got "Hitchcocked". His movies always guaranteed that there was lively conversation at the after movie dinners. I went to see this with my parents when I was 8. The dinner at my folks favorite upscale restaurant was a lively one. My mom had three old fashions. I remember because I always got the cherry from them. A simpler time.

You had great reactions to this movie. Although I love Hitchcock movies and James Stewart, I was not into this movie. Maybe cause it was too confusing, I don't know. Just never could get into it. Believe me, I have tried several times. But that's ok, not everyone likes the same thing. I must say though, I am very excited for the next movie of Rear Window. That one is my absolute favorite of Hitchcock movies. Another must see is Dial M For Murder.

Early color films were shot on three black and white negatives which were later combined in printing to produce color. This one was shot on a single color negative. Kodak's early color negative film deteriorated quickly. As other commentators have noted, this one underwent a major restoration which was only partially successful, hence the hazy look that you noticed.

There was a Hitchcock retrospective a few years ago in Santa Monica California and Vertigo was one of the films shown. It was the first time that I’ve ever seen a Hitchcock film on the big screen. As many times as I’ve seen Vertigo prior to that, seeing it on the big screen made me notice things that I had not noticed before. It made me appreciate the film a lot more.

Mia, of course Hitchcock totally played with and manipulated the audience. He sets up a romance that draws us in like catnip then sends us falling to ruin like Judy from the tower. The entire situation and all the relationships are utterly twisted. No happy ending was possible in this film. By the way, Hitchcock's cameo came at 6:30 in your video. I love watching your reviews because I know all the films very well and love your shocked reactions to the plot twists. The look on your face when Judy falls to her death was just priceless!!!

Maybe for Halloween you could watch the movie Bell, Book and Candle - Kim Novak and James Stewart team up again! It's not Hitchcock, but it's perfect for Halloween... or Christmas.

Your reaction to the end of this is HILARIOUS and INCREDIBLE! I literally belly-laughed just seeing your jaw dropped open, which is, I think, exactly the reaction Hitchcock was going after, a total WTF moment. You're the best, Mia. I really enjoy your reaction videos. You're so much fun to watch. I hope you get millions of subscribers; you really deserve it!

You effortlessly provide acute cinematic analysis combined with real emotional identification with the narrative and characters. I hope we get to see the zoomer take on "Marnie" sometime soon! (Tippi Hedren, I mean, not anime Marnie!)

Vera Miles did end up in Psycho for Hitchcock. Hitchcock is walking down the street in a great suit carrying a trumpet case.