Vertigo

Story: A suspense thriller about a retired San Francisco police detective who suffers from a fear of heights. An old friend hires him to to tail his wife to determine why her mood has suddenly changed.

Scenery: One scene was shot at Cypress Point in Pebble Beach. Several scenes, including the film's climax, were filmed nearby in San Juan Bautista, in and around the mission. The mission's tower, which plays an important role in the story, was painted in by matte artists at the studio. The mission does not have a tower. Two scenes feature Jimmy Stewart and Kim Novak driving on Highway 101 through the eucalyptus grove southwest of San Juan Bautista. Supposedly they are driving from San Francisco, but they are traveling in the wrong direction-from Monterey. Many scenes were filmed in San Francisco.

People:

  • Director: Alfred Hitchcock
  • Stars: James Stewart, Kim Novak, Barbara Bel Geddes, Tom Helmore, Henry Jones, Ellen Corby, Raymond Bailey, Lee Patrick.

Technical:

  • Year: 1958
  • Studio: Alfred J. Hitchcock Productions/Paramount Pictures
  • Film: Technicolor
  • Aspect ratio: 1.5:1 filming ratio intended for 1.85:1 presentation (VistaVision)
  • Sound: mono
  • Running time: 128 min.
  • Academy Awards: Nominated for art direction and sound.

Sources

Information compiled from:
The Monterey Herald,
the Monterey County Film Commission, Leonard Maltin's Movie and Video Guide,
the Internet Movie Database,
and other sources.

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