For 50 years, Citizen Kane was named as the greatest movie of all time by Sight and Sound (a list compiled by the British Film Institute). Until, that is, 2012 when 'Vertigo' toppled its spot on the top. Now to be honest, when I first heard this it baffled me. I had never understood the appeal of Vertigo. I mean, it's a good movie certainly, but the best? So I did research, and armed with this newfound knowledge, I re-watched Vertigo. And I was blown away. So here is why Vertigo belongs in its place as the greatest movie of all time.... The story features John Ferguson, a detective who retired after severe vertigo affected his ability to do his job. After retirement though, he is asked to do another job as a favor by an old friend. His friend, Gavin Elster, claims his wife acts possessed, and hires Ferguson to follow her to see what's happened to her. After a suicide attempt, Ferguson is forced to rescue her, and slowly begins falling in love with her. She tries to explain what's been happening, but finally runs to the top of a bell tower and hurls herself off. Ferguson tries to stop her, but his vertigo attacks once more and prevents him from following her up. Afterward, the audience learns the truth: Gavin Elster already killed his wife. The woman Ferguson has been following was a woman Elster had hired to impersonate the real Mrs. Elster (whom Ferguson had never met). When the imposter ran to the top of the tower, Elster was waiting there with his real (and dead) wife, whom he then tossed below. At this point, the movie effectively starts over. Ferguson meets the woman he had actually been following, but merely assumes she looks similar. He takes her under his wing, but starts dressing her like Mrs. Elster, gets her to dye her hair, act and talk like her. He brings his obsession to life, not caring the affect it has on the real woman. Thus endeth the plot summary. Now onto why this insane story belongs on the top of the Greatest Movie list. The movie not only is another instance of Hitchcock giving away the mystery (halfway through, we know everything) and leaving us to simply wonder, "What happens next?". But furthermore, it explores two different themes: Obsession and voyeurism. The film explores obsession in many ways, most obviously in what actions Ferguson takes in building his ideal woman, but also in the way the film keeps circling back to the same moments, again and again. As for voyeurism, the movie is about watching Ferguson watch the woman. Many shots mirror themselves, and people are framed in shots. Sometimes in literal frames, other times in window frames, or even between pillars. Circles and spirals can be found in nearly every scene, the color green is featured heavily (but only in scenes with Kim Novak)... there are dozens of tiny details you can spy throughout this brilliant movie that helps bring the story to life. Finally, there's the brilliant camera work designed to give you too the feeling of vertigo, especially in the "Dolly Zoom shot", shown most effectively when Ferguson looks down the church stairwell. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=je0NhvAQ6fM So that's all for this article! Any other movies that prove Hitchcock's brilliance that we've missed? Sound off in the comments below!
Armed with a laptop, a Pepsi, and a swivel chair, J.D. sets out to uncover the deepest secrets of the film world.
Or, ya know, just write random movie-related lists. Either way....
For 50 years, Citizen Kane was named as the greatest movie of all time by Sight and Sound (a list compiled by the British Film Institute). Until, that is, 2012 when 'Vertigo' toppled its spot on the top. Now to be honest, when I first heard this it baffled me. I had never understood the appeal of Vertigo. I mean, it's a good movie certainly, but the best? So I did research, and armed with this newfound knowledge, I re-watched Vertigo. And I was blown away. So here is why Vertigo belongs in its place as the greatest movie of all time.... The story features John Ferguson, a detective who retired after severe vertigo affected his ability to do his job. After retirement though, he is asked to do another job as a favor by an old friend. His friend, Gavin Elster, claims his wife acts possessed, and hires Ferguson to follow her to see what's happened to her. After a suicide attempt, Ferguson is forced to rescue her, and slowly begins falling in love with her. She tries to explain what's been happening, but finally runs to the top of a bell tower and hurls herself off. Ferguson tries to stop her, but his vertigo attacks once more and prevents him from following her up. Afterward, the audience learns the truth: Gavin Elster already killed his wife. The woman Ferguson has been following was a woman Elster had hired to impersonate the real Mrs. Elster (whom Ferguson had never met). When the imposter ran to the top of the tower, Elster was waiting there with his real (and dead) wife, whom he then tossed below. At this point, the movie effectively starts over. Ferguson meets the woman he had actually been following, but merely assumes she looks similar. He takes her under his wing, but starts dressing her like Mrs. Elster, gets her to dye her hair, act and talk like her. He brings his obsession to life, not caring the affect it has on the real woman. Thus endeth the plot summary. Now onto why this insane story belongs on the top of the Greatest Movie list. The movie not only is another instance of Hitchcock giving away the mystery (halfway through, we know everything) and leaving us to simply wonder, "What happens next?". But furthermore, it explores two different themes: Obsession and voyeurism. The film explores obsession in many ways, most obviously in what actions Ferguson takes in building his ideal woman, but also in the way the film keeps circling back to the same moments, again and again. As for voyeurism, the movie is about watching Ferguson watch the woman. Many shots mirror themselves, and people are framed in shots. Sometimes in literal frames, other times in window frames, or even between pillars. 