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Vertigo [DVD] [1958] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

James Stewart (Actor), Kim Novak (Actor), Alfred Hitchcock (Director), Harrison Engle (Director) | Format: DVD
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (70 customer reviews)

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Region 1 encoding (requires a North American or multi-region DVD player and NTSC compatible TV. More about DVD formats.)

Note: you may purchase only one copy of this product. New Region 1 DVDs are dispatched from the USA or Canada and you may be required to pay import duties and taxes on them (click here for details). Please expect a delivery time of 5-7 days.


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Product details

  • Actors: James Stewart, Kim Novak, Barbara Bel Geddes, Tom Helmore, Henry Jones
  • Directors: Alfred Hitchcock, Harrison Engle
  • Writers: Alec Coppel, Maxwell Anderson, Pierre Boileau, Samuel A. Taylor, Thomas Narcejac
  • Producers: Alfred Hitchcock
  • Format: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Collector's Edition, Colour, Dolby, DVD-Video, Letterboxed, Special Edition, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
  • Language: English
  • Subtitles: English, Spanish, French
  • Region: Region 1 (US and Canada DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9 - 1.85:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Classification: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) (US MPAA rating. See details.)
  • Studio: Universal Studios
  • DVD Release Date: 31 Mar 1998
  • Run Time: 128 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (70 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: 0783226055
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 149,559 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)

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Reviews

From Amazon.co.uk

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

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.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars upstairs upstairs 14 Sep 2012
By Mario
Format:DVD
Some Spoilers?

The Sight and Sound debate aside which is all a bit of fun, it is very interesting why this film has grown and grown in stature. Some cultural critic will tell us why that is the case. There will be theories. Watching with 7 young students it was clear, like many of the 'greatest films of all time' it was a challenge for them not to fall asleep. However the slowness of the build up is, when you think about it, necessary to establish 'obsession'. Preminger's 'Laura' for instance, is too quick to do this successfully. What Hitchcock does differently are the special moments such as the dream sequence, yes, the 'ghostly appearance', of 'new''Madeleine', the composition of place, the camera tricks in the tower, and numerous others. It is definitely 'slow' but in the last third it is definitely 'disturbing' too where the sadness is all about male 'desire' which isn't love whatever Scottie says. It IS a fascinating film, no not the 'best' or really very 'tense' and the critics have their collective knickers in a twist in proclaiming it the best of all time. Yet, it lingers in the mind like a difficult poem or a Shakespeare 'problem play'. Difficult to love but everyone comes out of it creditably. Cinematography great. Acting, very good. Music seriously effective. And the 'hero' utterly compromised. He undressed her! But she was only a gal from Kansas!
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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Classic Hitchcock Suspense 9 Dec 2005
By L. Davidson VINE™ VOICE
Format:DVD
"Vertigo" is a superior example of the suspense genre of film at its best. Intriguing and absorbing, it tells the story of an acrophobic detective (James Stewart) ,hired by an acquaintance to observe and to follow his disturbed wife (Kim Novak) ,who he suspects might be planning to kill herself. The film reveals itself to be part romance, part mystery and part ghost-story as it's strange tale of obsession and deception unfolds. The acting and characterisation are excellent, the plot complex and intelligent and the film locations memorable ; the Golden Gate Bridge and Bell Tower scenes in particular. Rightly regarded as a cinematic classic.
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12 of 14 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars The best film ever - really... 5 Aug 2005
By Bazlurgan
Format:DVD
This is a film that can regularly be seen in the list of critic's favourite films of all time and rightly so. I saw this film around fifteen years ago and to date it is the best film I have ever seen (and trust me I've seen a fair few). This film is at it's heart about obsession and anyone who has every felt obsessive love in their life will likely make a connection to this film. It has meant different things to me at different stages of my life, and trust me, I've watched this a fair few times.

First of all, if you like action films, comedy's or any of the mind-numbingly bad "blockbuster" films that have been released in recent years, you will likely not like this film. However, if you prefer character an plot driven movies and also enjoy classic movies, then I would recommend that you definitely watch this.

The film itself is split into two very distinct parts. The first half of the film is a mystery / romance that is really just a setup for the second half of the movie where the real meat of the story lies. It is in the second half of the movie where the real drama is and it is handled superbly by Hitchcock, James Stewart and Kim Novak. You will notice that I'm not giving any details of the actually story itself, this is for good reason, you really need to see it yourself.

There are several things which makes this film really special for me, mainly the emotional turmoil between both James Stewarts and Kim Novak I the last half of the movie. However, there is one aspect of the film which I have always though was quite ingenious. The twist in the story is not revealed at the end of the story, but actually about 2/3rds into the film. Now rather than spoiling the movie early, this just heightens the emotional anguish when you know the secret that Kim Novak is hiding and makes the tension and drama more powerful.

I could list a hundred different reasons why this is film so great, but this would turn into a 20 page essay if I tried. I will simply say that this film should be watched by anyone who truly loves films.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars First class!
Brilliant movie by Hitchcock: James Stewart is always worth watching. I'm now looking forward to getting ' Rear Window ', their other collaboration. Read more
Published 5 days ago by gallmica18
5.0 out of 5 stars Vertigo
Looks in very good condition have not watched it yet but are going to watch it with a neighbour next week
Published 12 days ago by Ron
4.0 out of 5 stars One of Hitchcock's best.
I think that this film must have been a bit before it's time, although some of the scenes are a bit dated, and some seem a bit out of style with the rest of the film. Read more
Published 1 month ago by wordeater
3.0 out of 5 stars Vertigo DVD
The DVD was in good condition but the box advertised more features than were actually on the DVD; in the wrong box?
Published 1 month ago by MS SYDNEY J BAYLEY
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant Film!
To my mind this is the Master's best film. Mysterious, very quirky, superbly acted and of course directed. Worth seeing over and over again.
Published 2 months ago by Nv Cooley
5.0 out of 5 stars Hitchcock Masterpiece.
Marvellous films from arguable the greatest film director. A truly haunting and intriguing story that will keep you interest to the end. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mark Moore
5.0 out of 5 stars Great film
To my opinion and despite its age, this is one of the best films of all time. Mandatory in any personal library.
Published 3 months ago by Antonio Oliveira
5.0 out of 5 stars This is a special one
An execellt film so well acted. Saw this film 50 years ago. What a joy it is to view again.
Published 3 months ago by Deryck W. Dobbs
5.0 out of 5 stars Considered by some Hitchcock's best film
Ordered this because was good value. It arrived promptly and the DVD was in good condition as promised. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Cathy I'Anson
5.0 out of 5 stars Very good
I was looking for this film for a long time. Very good purchase. Matched perfectly my expectations. Arrived on time
Published 4 months ago by Maria Cristina Alves da Silveira Ribeiro
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