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I saw this with my Dad twenty-nine years ago. He thought it was Hitchcock’s greatest movie. I’d forgotten all about it until Catherine and I were trying to find something to watch and consulted the AFI’s 10 Top 10 list for the best mysteries (of course). I’ve read that people love rewatching it and I can totally see why. Some assorted notes and spoilers. I’ll watch this again in a year.

Boo #

Wouldn’t have any reservations calling this a ghost story. It’s at least a reverie (to the point I was wondering if Mr. Alfred would pull a “And then he woke up” towards the end) and I’m sure this was intentional. I am 51% sure that Scottie’s actually dead or in a coma in the second half.

Scottie The Alpha #

Scottie is pathetic, weak, creepy, overconfident, and domineering and would make millions on YouTube and/or the podcast circuit.

He pines after a mirage of a woman even when he has a chance to appreciate her in her literal colorful exuberance and cannot brook her as a partner¹ just as she is. He must ‘reset’ her and turn her into a bland object, this canvas he can project himself onto that absorbs all his insecurities and faults.

Now while Judy is pliant, Midge is a strong independent woman who need no man (almost) and has this vibrant and cool apartment full of art. She has several interests, tries different careers, is funny, and likes our boy and cares a lot for him. But nope: He needs her to be devoid of color and personality and ambition to return her affections.

Even my dog appreciated Hitchcock’s self-examination as the Man Who Must Control Women in the belltower scene. Maybe the scope was “as a director” 🤷‍♂️

Falling #

There’s a lot of ‘falling’ here (well duh): in love, off buildings, into graves, into darkness, into madness. I can’t remember a single scene of our hero driving uphill and don’t know what this means but wonder if this is why they picked hilly San Francisco. Speaking of, I love me a good then-and-now and wanted to see what Scottie’s apartment looks like today. That led me to this lovely website called Reels SF maintained by someone who’s been “movie location hunting” in San Francisco for over twenty years! Here’s the Vertigo page.

Disorientation #

Quite a few to pick from but this might be my favorite shot in the movie. I’m trying to learn perspective drawing and this one’s a fantastic exercise.