Vertigo DVD

Advantages: One of Hitchcock's best
Disadvantages: Minor plot holes

Vertigo is a pretty famous Alfred Hitchcock film. It was released in 1958 and starred James Stewart and Kim Novak with support from Barbara Bel Geddes (who went on to famously play Miss Ellie Ewing in Dallas for a decade or so) and Tom Helmore. John Ferguson (Scottie) is a retired police officer who developed vertigo during a chase when a colleague fell to his death from a rooftop. He has severe vertigo and it causes some complications in his life ...
...mission and because of his vertigo Scottie is unable to save her and is consumed with guilt. Sometime later Scottie spots a woman called Judy who looks a lot like Madeline and starts to date her. He then starts to suspect that they are one and the same woman but how can this be? Madeline was elegant and refined whereas Judy is coarse and somewhat vulgar. What is the truth behind Scottie's confused thoughts? Can he trust his once sound judgment to ... Read review

Advantages: Unbearably suspenseful, great music
Disadvantages: Quite a big twist to take in

...film. The plot of Vertigo is quite simple in essence, even if it is a little strange and implausible, and everyone knows that the simpler premises are always the best. Vertigo only really has about four characters, and this means that it is virtually impossible to get lost in the sub-plots (there aren't any). However, it does require you to believe an extremely "everything-you've-just-seen-is-false" kind of twist. If you have no problems with this, ...
...mystery for a couple of hours, simply have to watch this. Vertigo is available to buy online for £5.99 from www.moviemail-online.co.uk. Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock Starring: James Stewart, Kim Novak, Barbara Bel Geddes, Tom Helmore, Henry Jones Running Time: 128 minutes Classification: PG ... Read review

Advantages: vintage Hitchcock, suspenseful, enigmatic
Disadvantages: some scenes seem dated, though I don't mind

Vertigo (1958) stars James Stewart as John Ferguson, known as Scottie to his acquaintances, a retired San Francisco detective. Scottie retired from the force after a rooftop scene in which a colleague of his died, the trauma and guilt leaving Scottie with a bad case of vertigo. A man of independent means, he spends his days doing next to nothing but chatting away the hours with his best mate and former date, Midge. Scottie is brought out of his ...
...complexity, mystery and suspense. Vertigo is one of Hitchcock's most suspenseful movies, and we are kept hooked by this throughout. Will Madeleine and Scottie be discovered? Will Scottie manage to keep Madeleine alive? At times it really is edge-of-the-seat stuff, while at other times we are immersed in trying to figure out for ourselves just what is going on in Madeleine's psyche. When watching any Hitchcock film, it is important to remember the ... Read review

Advantages: James Stewart as genteel middle aged obsessive, compulsive viewing
Disadvantages: Requires repeated viewings, may be slow and dated to some

...are ingeniously effective. The famous Vertigo camera shot is totally unlike anything you’ll see in movies of the period, whilst Scottie’s dream sequence will make your jaw drop with its graphic unsettlingness. The backdrops have a fantastic pulp comic look about them, the chase scene at the film’s start is set against the San Francisco skyline at night – high impact and attention grabbing. Casting wise the director coaxed a career defining moment ...
...stories with a twist so Vertigo seems extremely formulaic today. It seems slow and ponderous too – modern audiences have become accustomed to breakneck speed, plenty of thrills and spills. This film is far too subtle for that and may pass the individual with a short attention span by. Nonetheless is stands out for me as being thought provoking and ingeniously clever, unlike anything else of the time. Go watch it. ... Read review

Advantages: Collectors Edition it has some great extras
Disadvantages: They don't make films like it anymore

...**************************** * Obsessed With Vertigo Featurette * **************************** Here is a 29-minute featurette with behind the scenes footage and in-depth views from the people behind the whole restoration process, this is a superb feature that really makes you appreciate the films due to the fact that we nearly lost this classic piece. The feature includes interviews with Martin Scorsese, Pat Hitchcock (Alfred’s Daughter), ...
...has news on the post Vertigo years, it is a real interesting read and a brilliant gift for any film lover out there. *********** * Final Note * *********** This is to simple put it one of the finest films that has ever been made and not only will it be voted one of the greatest movies ever made today but it shall receive that accolade for many more years to come, I only wish that there where more films around of this calibre then maybe that way ... Read review

Advantages: Suspenseful, beautifully filmed
Disadvantages: None for me

...the period in which the film was made, is quite amazing and is certainly memorable. The story is compelling from beginning to end. There is the riddle of Madeleine and her strange behaviour, then there is the knowledge that somehow Scottie's vertigo is going to affect the story, as well as the unrequited love between Midge and Scottie, all of which are intriguing and draw the viewer in to the film. For me though, the ending is the best part, because there is a twist in the tale - well several actually - that manages to surprise me each time. There are some good extras that accompany this version of the DVD. There is a half hour documentary on the painstaking process of cleaning up the film, which I found fascinating - thank goodness there are people that see the worth in doing this. Other extras include a feature commentary, information... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: story, cast, classic Hitchcock
Disadvantages: somewaht dated, see review

...excellent. Let's not forget the perfromances in this wonderful Hitchcock film. James Stewaert is great as the dizzy ex-detective, Kim Novak was wonderful in paying dual roles. Tom Helmore was smooth as the husband. A special mention for Barbara Bel Geddes as Midge, the secretary who watches Scottie drift away. I do say this is a good film you would want to see. The film was redone in 1996 with the great colors and the eerie score by Bernard Herrmann. Go see Vertigo on video or DVD.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Fantastic quality live show.
Disadvantages: Could feature more insight.

.... The concert DVD contains footage from both the May 9th and 10th Chicago shows at the United Center directed by Hamish Hamilton, who previously worked with the band directing "Elevation 2001/Live From Boston" and "U2 Go Home - Live from Slane Castle." While the feel of "Vertigo 2005//U2 Live From Chicago" is very much in the same vein as the Elevation DVDs there are some notable differences. Having attended both of these shows in person I can attest that very little was has been dropped from the show itself, with the major exception of "Party Girl," a song that was performed both nights. In essence this is as close to actually being at a typical U2 show on the first leg of the Vertigo Tour as a fan can be without attending the show itself. The songs themselves get center stage in this concert DVD and while the audience's presence is all... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful