The creative role of Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock is the creation of unusual, often shocking and annoying impressionable viewers, films. Bright personality, extraordinary thinking and the ability to work out the details allowed the director to become a recognized master in the genre of psychological cinema. His paintings "Psycho", "Birds", "Rope", "In case of murder, dial" M "," Window to the courtyard "are excellent examples of thriller and suspense. In Hitchcock's cinematic legacy, critics highlight Vertigo.
In early 2012, the British Film Institute's ranking of the best films of the decade was published. 846 critics and directors from around the world have chosen the 50 most valuable film masterpieces out of 2000 tapes that claimed this title. At the top of the list is Alfred Hitchcock with his Vertigo, displacing former leader Orson Welles' Citizen Kane.
The world premiere of Vertigo took place on May 9, 1958. Hitchcock directed and produced the film. The film stars talented Hollywood actors: Kim Novak, James Stewart, Tom Helmore and others. The film is based on the story of the novel "From the World of the Dead", written by the French creative tandem - Pierre Boileau and Tom Narsejac.
The central character of the picture is the former police officer Scotty Ferguson. He is lonely, not too lucky, besides, he is terrified of heights. One day he meets his longtime friend Gelvin Elster. Elster turns to Scotty with a delicate proposal - to follow his wife Madeline. The woman is obsessed with suicide plans. Fergusson hesitates and agrees.
Communication with Madeline draws Scotty into a "whirlpool" of unexpected and frightening events. His efforts to help a sick woman were unsuccessful: Madeline dies, thrown from the roof. Fergusson falls into depression and cannot forget what happened for a long time. In every woman passing by, he sees Madeleine's features. And one day, indeed, he sees her on the street. A new meeting becomes the beginning of love between Madeleine's double and Scotty. However, Fergusson soon learns some of the details of his beloved's life and unwittingly uncovers the crime in which he was involved.
Contemporaries perceived "Vertigo" without enthusiasm. The film was not a widespread success with audiences and received a number of negative reviews from film critics. However, this tape influenced the work of many directors working in the thriller genre. Without Hitchcock's Vertigo, such world masterpieces as The Mississippi Siren by François Truffaut and Last Year in Marienbad by Alain René would not have taken place.
This picture can be called "reference" for the work of Hitchcock. It has all the elements necessary for a full-fledged thriller: a detective story, a romantic relationship, a psychological riddle. The intrigue persists until the very end, skillfully disguised behind the interweaving of plot lines.
The undoubted artistic value of the film lies in Hitchcock's bold use of many camera novelties. So, Scotty's dizziness is transmitted by changing the focus of the camera. Critics also noted the excellent editing of the tape, confusing and intimidating the viewer. For his work as a decorator and sound engineer, the film was nominated for an Oscar, and the performer of the central role, James Stewart, received the prize of the San Sebastian Film Festival as Best Actor.
