Vertigo parents guide

Vertigo Parent Guide

A fear of heights doesn't keep Scottie safe from falling in love.

Overall B

John "Scottie" Ferguson (James Stewart), a former police officer who agrees to work as a private detective for a friend (Tom Helmore), finds himself loosing his professional perspective when he begins to fall in love with his client's wife (Kim Novak).

Release date January 1, 1958

Violence C+
Sexual Content B-
Profanity A
Substance Use C+

Why is Vertigo rated Not Rated? The MPAA rated Vertigo Not Rated

Run Time: 128 minutes

Parent Movie Review

Time has been kind to Alfred Hitchcock’s movie Vertigo. When it released in 1958, the film garnered only lukewarm reviews. But in the decades that followed, the psychological thriller has been named the best mystery movie by the American Film Institute and is considered by many to be one of Hitchcock’s defining films.

At the time he played detective John “Scottie” Ferguson, James Stewart was twice the age of his co-star Kim Novak. (He was 50; she was 25.) Barbara Bel Gedddes played John’s gal pal Midge Wood who nurses him back to health after he is injured in a job related accident that results in a severe case of acrophobia (fear of heights).

Unable to return to his position on the San Francisco police force, John accepts an offer from an old college friend, Gavin Elster (Tom Helmore). The shipping magnate fears for the safety of his wife Madeleine (Novak) who believes she is possessed by the spirit of a dead ancestor that committed suicide. Gavin worries it is only a matter of time before she attempts the same.

Though skeptical, John begins shadowing the beautiful blonde and is there to rescue her when she throws herself into San Francisco Bay. After taking her home to recover at his apartment (where he undresses the unconscious woman off screen and puts her into his bed), John goes from discretely following Madeleine to openly accompanying her about town. Unfortunately he fails to maintain his professional distance and is soon amorously involved with his client’s wife. As his feelings deepen, Scottie becomes more determined to protect the woman he loves from taking her life.

Compared to the high action films of today, Vertigo moves at a plodding pace, relying predominantly on the musical score by Bernard Herrmann to build the tension as John follows Madeleine from art museum, to graveyard, to shabby hotel and back home again. However, Hitchcock proves himself to be the master of suspense as the audience begins to suspect John’s obsession is lulling him down a path he’ll be unable to retreat from.

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Starring James Stewart, Kim Novak, Barbara Bel Geddes. Running time: 128 minutes. Theatrical release January 1, 1958. Updated

Vertigo
Rating & Content Info

Why is Vertigo rated Not Rated? Vertigo is rated Not Rated by the MPAA

Violence: A man accidently falls from a rooftop to his death below while another man hangs from a gutter. Another character later falls from another rooftop and dies. A woman attempts suicide by drowning. Characters discuss suicide and a murder plot. A man and woman struggle with one another.

Sexual Content: A man comments on a woman’s bra. A man undresses an unconscious woman (off screen) after she nearly drowns and puts her into his bed. Her bare shoulders are seen when she awakens. A married woman passionately kisses another man. Some sexual tension develops between several characters. A couple kisses.

Language: None noted.

Alcohol / Drug Use: Characters smoke on several occasion and drink in social settings. Some characters also drink to relieve stress.

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Vertigo Parents' Guide

How does John’s obsession with Madeleine affect his judgment on the job? What are the dangers of losing one’s professional distance?

Rather than using a lot of dialogue, Hitchcock often builds tension through music. How can a score influence the audience? In what other ways does the director build suspense between the characters?

Home Video

The most recent home video release of Vertigo movie is May 6, 2014. Here are some details…

Home Video Notes: Vertigo (Blu-ray + Digital HD with UltraViolet)

Release Date: May 6, 2014 (Amazon) 3 June 2014 (Alternate release date)

(There are convicting reports as to which date this title will be released on. We will keep you posted as more information becomes available.)

Vertigo releases to home video (Blu-ray + Digital HD with UltraViolet) with the following extras:

- Digital Copy of Vertigo (Subject to expiration.)

- UltraViolet Copy of Vertigo (Subject to expiration.)

- Obsessed with Vertigo: New Life for Hitchcock’s Masterpiece

- Partners in Crime: Hitchcock’s Collaborators

- Hitchcock / Truffaut

- Foreign Censorship Ending

- The Vertigo Archives

- Restoration Theatrical Trailer

- Feature Commentary with Film Director William Friedkin

- Theatrical Trailer

- 100 Years of Universal: The Lew Wasserman Era

- My Scenes

- pocket BLU App

- BD-Live

Vertigo releases to DVD in a Collector’s Edition on May 5, 2009. The disc includes:

- Obsessed with Vertigo: New Life for ‘Alfred Hitchcock’ ‘s Masterpiece (An original American Movie Classic documentary, narrated by Roddy McDowall and featuring new interviews with Kim Novak and Barbara Bel Geddes, Alfred Hitchcock’s daughter Patricia Hitchcock, producer Herbert Coleman, restoration team Robert A. Harris and James C. Katz, and others involved in the movie’s production.)

- Foreign censorship ending

- Storyboards

- Production drawings and photographs.

- Advertising materials

Related home video titles:

Other characters deal with acrophobia (the fear of heights) in Antz and The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. James Stewart starred in another Alfred Hitchcock movie, Rear Window.