Vertigo (1958) First Time Watching! Full Movie Reaction!!

I would defend the film as one who has loved it for so long and been fortunate to see it twice on the big screen in the last 12 years or so. I think the final shot of the film, with Scottie waking out the window and standing on the ledge, looking down, just having had the emotional shock that Midge talks about in the first scene with dialogue in the film, fully cured of his vertigo, is the perfect ending for the film.

Mike LL

I really really love this movie. It is a masterpiece. And I get frustrated by modern movie fans who say this movie is too slow. I believe that the slow paced first half of the film is done on purpose, that the scenes with no dialogue and the slow paced stealthy trailing of Madeline by Scottie is meant to actually hypnotize the audience (I mean this literally) and put them under Hitchcock's spell, so he can weave his mystery and do with them what he will (as an obsessive man would).

Mike LL

Agreed, Robert! Yeah the ending needed to be redone. It felt rushed and half-chewed, which is sad. I think redoing it would make it almost perfect. But the rest of the movie isn't harmed by this final chapter, in my opinion. The whole mystery and adventure getting both back to the mission was completely worth it.

PIG

Same here, I found Vertigo to be a great film in its visuals and music but the story just never added up for me. And for it to end the way it did left me with a "wait, WHAT?!" feeling after it was over.

I loved Rear Window the first time I saw it. Hadn't really seen a film like it. Every time I've watched it since then, however, I've found it just a bit too slow and uneventful. You're just waiting for the final 15-20 minutes or however long it is before something actually happens. I feel a bit the same about It's A Wonderful Life, I'm just waiting for Clarence to show up.

Shehab Dawoud

Scotty and Midge could have reconnected after the end scene, now he's cured of vertigo and suddenly single...

Odd Thomas

I have mixed feelings about Vertigo. Visually, it’s brilliant. Notice Hitchcock’s use of the color green? In that red-dominated dining room, Kim Novak emerges in a stunning emerald green dress. Also the beautiful green car she drives… and Jimmy Stewart is a-washed in green lighting frequently. Hitch also uses green in To Catch a Thief. Yet I’m not as inclined to rewatch Vertigo as much as I rewatch Rear Window and North by Northwest. They seem tighter, more focused and contain some humorous elements. Maybe I find Vertigo too relentless in its portrayal of obsession and guilt so it’s not as easy to watch. Nevertheless, it’s a masterpiece and I enjoyed your reactions and discussion. I hope you continue down the Hitchcock rabbit hole. He has a wealth of great films to discover. “Notorious”, “Rebecca”, “To Catch a Thief”, “Rope”, and so many more.

Catherine LW

Also, James Stewart and Kim Novak starred together in Bell, Book And Candle, which was released about six months after Vertigo. It was a bigger hit, and it is more of a romantic comedy. It’s also a great movie and was the basis for the classic TV show Bewitched. I definitely recommend you guys watch that one as well.

Robert Boyd

This is, hands down, my favorite reaction from you guys thus far. Vertigo is a masterpiece. Just the beauty of the images itself makes it quite extraordinary. This movie made me interested in really studying film because there is just so much going on throughout the picture. Technicolor was a thing of beauty. It was also shot in Vista Vision, which Paramount developed. With that process the film was wider, I think 70 mm, so filmmakers had to use a special camera that ran the film through horizontally rather than vertically. Vera Miles, who starred as the sister in Psycho, was originally cast as Madeline/Judy but filming was delayed and she got pregnant so the part was recast. This infuriated Hitchcock, who had signed Ms. Miles under an exclusive contract to work for him. He was a bit obsessed with her just as Scotty is with Madeline. He wound up casting Kim Novak, and it has been said that he was never quite happy with her performance, but I think she was phenomenal in the role. Ironically, to finish out Vera Miles’ contract he gave the sister role in Psycho to her, which became his most famous and highest grossing movie. If you want to read more on Vertigo, please read The Art of Alfred Hitchcock by Donald Spoto. It has a wealth of information. Vertigo was not much of a hit when it was released in 1958 and many critics panned it, which disappointed Hitch. But he would get his revenge with his next two pictures: North By Northwest and Psycho. They were both monster hits and earned him millions. Vertigo is now considered a masterpiece by almost every critic and film director. Its influence is legendary. I would definitely suggest rewatching it again, and if you get a chance, see it on the big screen with a 70 mm print, which they sometimes show in the LA area.

Robert Boyd

Next Hitchcock: The Rope?

PIG

The nun looked like Death coming up but I think it also represented her continual guilt of the crime. She played along with everything because she not only tricked a guy, she also helped a woman get killed. Her guilt led her to that last step. An incredible movie. Still moves me all these years later. Lynch and Scorsese were heavily influenced by this movie. The music haunts me. The first time I saw a clip of this film was "12 Monkeys", another great mystery movie.

PIG

Hitchcock was a cinematic genius AND a very sick man. For him, love is the same thing as obsession, and obviously obsession can easily shift to madness!

Lamar Savage

Jimmy Stewart and Kim Novak teamed up again in the movie following this one, "Bell, Book and Candle", where Novak plays a witch who is attracted to her neighbor Stewart. Lighthearted pure entertainment.

David Martin

Love Vertigo !! Great Reaction Guys !! I recommend "The Men Who Knew too Much" from 1956 and "Rope" from 1948 !! Both Films are from Hitchchock and James Stewart!!

Florian Meier

Well.. great movie, and a great reaction. Maybe the best so far on this channel. It certainly is, in my opinion, probably Hitchcock's best. He is an absolute master at setting a mood, particularly haunting, and taking his time to do it (something movies just don't do anymore). The cinematography is brilliant, as are the vibrant colors, as noted (I think the print on Amazon Prime was a restoration. Technically, I don't think it was Technicolor). And of course, Bernard Herman's beautiful haunting score. He did the score for other Hitchcock films (including Psycho), and for Citizen Kane (BTW, when are you guys gonna view that ?!?), and for Taxi Driver. For other Hitchcock, well of course there's The Birds. I would also recommend Strangers On A Train, Frenzy , Notorious, Suspicion and the Man Who Knew Too Much (also with Jimmy Stewart). I would also recommend Body Double , directed by Brian De Palma- inspired by this movie and Rear Window. Now I know I'm probably gonna get flak- saying it's a pale imitation of Hitchcock. Well, yeah- nothing can equal Hitchcock- he's the master of suspense. But Body Double has its own interesting take on the stories, with a different sensibility and sense of style. And yeah, De Palma does borrow from Hitchcock quite a bit, but it's still a very good suspenseful movie in my opinion. De Palma also has a very Hitchcockian film Blow Out.

Samolina Pilchard

Poor Midge, deserved better. Wasn't any resolve for her character.

nick B.

Thanks for doing another Hitchcock. He will always be my favorite director. My personal favorite of his is “Notorious”. I’d be willing to bet it would be Sam’s favorite if you ever get to it. I also love “Rope” “Torn Curtain” and “Suspicion”

Chet Overholt

Hitchcock is my favourite director of all time and I love all your reactions to his films. There are so many of his films I’d recommend - The Birds, Strangers on a Train, Dial M for Murder, Rope, Notorious, Spellbound and his (only) Best Picture film Rebecca. I should stop now or I will be listing his entire filmography!

Michael SCH

😂😂

TBR Schmitt

I fucking love this movie. I remember seeing a chunk of it when I was a kid on a local TV station, but not knowing what it was--but the colors and the visuals stood out to me. And then again the first time I watched 'Twelve Monkeys'--the movie is playing in the movie theater when Madeleine Stowe and Bruce Willis are hiding out and putting on disguises, and I remembered some piece of it. When I finally watched it, I became a little obsessed with it--high auteur art, and my general pretentious nature. But what I love about this movie now is that it's a weird kind of love letter to obsession itself. The plot is a little wonky, and Jimmy Stewart's a fucking creep. But Alfred Hitchcock set out to capture a feeling, the visual representation of obsession, and I think he nailed it. Hitchcock himself was said to be a bit of an obsessive creep; and I think this was an attempt to be honest through art--through the magic of Hollywood lies and make believe. Anyway, as always, love the honesty of your reviews. Good shit.

Steve Mercier

I read an interesting theory that Scotty never leaves the asylum and everything in the film after Midge's sad walk down that hall is the ravings of Scotty's catatonic mind.

Marcus Cato

I watched that many years ago based on his recommendation. It really is amazing!

Marcus Cato

Definitely.

Marcus Cato

Rope is very often overlooked but deserves a watch.

Korny

This is my second favorite Hitchcock movie behind Psycho (1960). I love Vertigo! It's so cool and so Hitchcock! I look forward to "Dial M for Murder" eventually too.

Scott Kerr

You’re exactly right about the fantastic use of color, whether subtle or rich. I don’t think this one used the actual Technicolor process, but it’s definitely a product of that era. They took the use of color, and production design in general, very seriously. Even the flowers in the early scene in the cemetery/garden didn’t just happen to be there. The precise colors and placement were by design. So far as Hitchcock, I hope you’ll feature ‘The Birds’ at some point.

David Wilkins

If you're thirsty for more Technicolor I recommend The Red Shoes. 1940's film about a dancer. I saw it recently and it totally blew me away. Just stunningly beautiful. I think it's Scorsese's favourite film.

Odd Thomas

Oh man. This is it. The greatest film of all time (for me). 40 years on Sight and Sounds Top 10 list of 'Greatest films ever'. From 2012-2022, it was #1 until being dethroned by 'Jeanne Dielman' last year. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sight_and_Sound Hell of a run. The #2 film on the '1,000 greatest films of all time' list by They Shoot Pictures Don't They? https://theyshootpictures.com/gf1000_all1000films_table.php (Which is an aggregate of all critics scores for every movie ever made: includes Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic, Sight and Sound, PBS, etc) https://theyshootpictures.com/gf1000.htm You guys have done 4 Hitchcock films, and all of them winners. (Though it's hard to find a Hitchcock dud!) Cheers, and thanks for everyone who voted for this. Really makes me wanna race home after work lol.

Look out, Arbogast!

Thanks for the reaction, love it. I prefer Rear Window but it’s close.

Korny

I feel like a lot of people are torn between this and Rear Window and I really don't get why. And I say that as someone who is split between the two because I really do not understand the hype around Rear Window but I think Vertigo is a masterpiece. I've watched Rear Window a few times and it feels like such a chore to get through. And yet I've seen plenty of people say the opposite as well, they can't stand Vertigo but love Rear Window. I suppose we should all just be grateful that both movies exist.

kbobravo

Marnie's great! I've always been a fan of Frenzy too.

Jason McQuirns

Yay!!!

Jason McQuirns

One of Hitch's best. I think Hitchcock's last great film was Marnie. Very underrated. Sean Connery and Tippi Hedren.

Odd Thomas

I had to watch this movie a couple times to really get it lol didn't want all three of us to be confused on our first time watch 😂🤦

dieselbeast