Vertigo (1958): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Vertigo is a 1958 mystery thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock, starring James Stewart, Barbara Bel Geddes and Tom Helmore. It is partly based on Vertigo by Pierre Boileau and Thomas Narcejac. It runs 2 hours 8 minutes and earned $8 million worldwide. Critics gave it 100 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 8m (128 min)
- Director
- Alfred Hitchcock
- Original language
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Korean - After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Vertigo About?
The premise of Vertigo without spoilers, adapted from Vertigo by Pierre Boileau and Thomas Narcejac. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A former police detective with a fear of heights is drawn into a complex case involving a mysterious woman who seems to be staging her own death. As he becomes increasingly obsessed with her, he uncovers a tangled web of secrets, manipulation, and a dangerous plot that challenges his perception of reality and pushes him to the edge of madness. The investigation leads to a shocking climax that explores themes of obsession, identity, and the power of illusion.
Vertigo Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- romantic obsession
- san francisco bay
- vertigo
- acrophobia
- mental breakdown
- 1950s
- plot twist
- nervous breakdown
- fear of heights
- death
- police detective
- falling from height
+38 more Show fewer
- cemetery
- deception
- look alike
- flashback
- confession
- mysterious woman
- reliving the past
- church
- dolly zoom
- golden gate bridge
- mistaken identity
- murder
- obsession
- actress playing multiple roles
- mirror
- impersonation
- bookstore
- melancholy
- following someone in a car
- nightmare
- jumping into water
- giant sequoia
- falling to death
- murder disguised as a suicide
- murder of wife
- private eye
- betrayal
- dream sequence
- makeover
- nun
- surprise ending
- private detective
- haunted by the past
- san francisco california
- lost love
- forest
- bell tower
- trance
Vertigo Cast
James Stewart leads the cast, with Barbara Bel Geddes and Tom Helmore. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock; 20 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Alfred Hitchcock
Also Starring in Vertigo
· 16 moreMore from Alfred Hitchcock
More films directed by Alfred Hitchcock, best-rated first: Rear Window, North by Northwest, The Lady Vanishes and Psycho.
Vertigo Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Vertigo 100 on Metacritic.
-
Metacritic 100 Metascore
User score 8.6
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 82% User score
See on TMDB
Vertigo Plot Summary
What happens in Vertigo from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
A woman’s visage transitions into a vibrant medley of credits, heralding the opening of Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo, accompanied by Bernard Hermann’s hauntingly beautiful score. The scene unfolds on a shadowy night in San Francisco, where a criminal hastily ascends the ladder to a rooftop, pursued fervently by John “Scottie” Ferguson, portrayed by James Stewart, and a police officer. Their adrenaline-fueled chase takes them across rooftops, culminating in a precarious jump between two buildings. The police officer successfully clears the gap, but Scottie falters, slipping perilously from his precarious hold. As fear grips him—his acrophobia taking its toll—he clings helplessly to the gutter. Meanwhile, the officer extends a hand for assistance but tragically slips, plummeting to his death right before Scottie’s horrified eyes.
Full summary
The whole story of Vertigo, scene by scene
Vertigo Box Office
Vertigo grossed $8 million worldwide. $7.9 million came from the US and Canada and $96,011 (1%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$8M
- US & Canada
- $7.9M
- International
- $96K
Vertigo Trailers & Videos
17 videos: 3 trailers, 1 teaser, 4 clips and 9 featurettes.
- Trailer Vertigo (1958) Restored Trailer - Alfred Hitchcock Movie
- Trailer Official 60th Anniversary Trailer
- Teaser TCM 60th Anniversary Spot
- Clip Vertigo 60th Anniversary (1958): "If You Love Me" Clip
How Well Do You Know Vertigo?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the name of the protagonist in *Vertigo*?
Cars in Vertigo
95 cars on screen, including the 1956 De Soto Firedome Sportsman and the 1957 Jaguar Mk.VIII.
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1956 De Soto Firedome Sportsman Main role -
1957 Jaguar Mk.VIII Main role -
1958 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Coupé Typ 14 Minor role -
1955 Buick Century Background role
Vertigo Also Known As
51 alternative titles, including “Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo” and “Vertigo (de entre los muertos)”.
- Also known as
-
- Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo
- Vertigo (de entre los muertos)
- Zij die tweemal leefde
- De entre los muertos
- Röd tår
- Vertigo – punainen kyynel
- Desmotis tou iliggou
- Memai
- De vrouw die tweemaal leefde
- Darkling I Listen
- Fear and Trembling
- From Among the Dead
+39 more Show fewer
- Illicit Darkening
- Наваждение
- De entre los muertos (Vertigo)
- ปมพิศวาส
- Závrať
- Запамопочення
- Sueurs froides (Vertigo)
- دوار
- Studie i brott
- Վերտիգո
- Vertigo - Aus dem Reich der Toten
- La donna che visse due volte
- Sueurs froides
- A Mulher Que Viveu Duas Vezes
- Vértigo
- Головокружение
- Запаморочення
- 迷魂记
- Vrtoglavica
- Szédülés
- Δεσμώτης του Ιλίγγου
- En kvinde skygges
- Шемет
- Zawrót głowy
- ורטיגו
- 현기증
- Amețeala
- めまい
- Ölüm Korkusu
- Um Corpo Que Cai
- Svaigulys
- Вртоглавица
- 迷魂記
- Vertigo - Punainen kyynel
- พิศวาสหลอน
- سرگیجه
- Chóng Mặt
- Vertigen (D’entre els morts)
- Peapööritus
Seen Vertigo?
Movies Like Vertigo
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Vertigo, Spellbound and Terrified.
Vertigo FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and post-credit scenes of Vertigo, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Vertigo?
Vertigo runs 2 hours 8 minutes (128 minutes).
When was Vertigo released?
Vertigo was released on May 28, 1958.
Who directed Vertigo?
Vertigo was directed by Alfred Hitchcock.
More films by Alfred Hitchcock Who is in the cast of Vertigo?
Vertigo stars James Stewart, Barbara Bel Geddes and Tom Helmore, among 20 credited actors.
How much did Vertigo make at the box office?
Vertigo grossed $8 million worldwide ($7.9 million domestic, $96,011 international).
How is Vertigo rated?
Vertigo has 100 on Metacritic and 82% on TMDB.
Is Vertigo based on a book?
Yes. Vertigo is partly adapted from Vertigo by Pierre Boileau, Thomas Narcejac and Geoffrey Sainsbury.
Does Vertigo have a post-credit scene?
No. Vertigo has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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