A Pack of Vertigo LiesA Pack of

Vertigo Lies

A preview primer for the complex characters in Alfred Hitchcock’s cinematic masterpiece

by Vincent F. DeMiero

A preview primer for the complex characters in Alfred Hitchcock’s cinematic masterpiece

by Vincent F. DeMiero

Cast & InfoCast & InfoRelease Date: 1958Producer/Director: Alfred HitchcockScreenplay: Alec Coppel & Samuel TaylorJohn “Scottie” Ferguson: Jimmy StewartMadeleine Elster/Judy Barton: Kim NovakMidge: Barbara Bel GeddesGavin Elster: Tom Helmore

Release Date: 1958Producer/Director: Alfred HitchcockScreenplay: Alec Coppel & Samuel TaylorJohn “Scottie” Ferguson: Jimmy StewartMadeleine Elster/Judy Barton: Kim NovakMidge: Barbara Bel GeddesGavin Elster: Tom Helmore

VeraMilesVeraMiles

KimNovakKim

Novak

Madeleine

Elster

Madeleine

Elster

Novak’sMadeleine

Novak’sMadeleine

“real”Madeleine

“real”Madeleine

Johnny’sMadeleineJohnny’s

MadeleineGavin’s

MadeleineGavin’s

MadeleineGavin’sCarlottaGavin’sCarlotta

Complex CharactersComplex CharactersA

meri

can

Id

eal

Am

eri

can

Id

eal

Hit

ch

cock’s

Pers

on

al

Vis

ion

Hit

ch

cock’s

Pers

on

al

Vis

ion

Hit

ch

cock’s

Dir

ecto

r’s

Vis

ion

Hit

ch

cock’s

Dir

ecto

r’s

Vis

ion

VeraMilesVeraMiles

KimNovakKim

NovakJudy

BartonJudy

BartonNovak’s

JudyNovak’s

Judy“real”Judy

“real”Judy

Johnny’sJudy

Johnny’sJudy

Gavin’sJudy

Gavin’sJudy

“real”Carlotta“real”

Carlotta

KnownStar

KnownStar

UnknownStar

UnknownStar

FemaleStereotypes

FemaleStereotypes

Hollywood

Starlet

Hollywood

Starlet

Hollywood

Characters

Hollywood

Characters

AudienceIdeal

AudienceIdeal

Manipulated

Ideal

Manipulated

IdealFantasyFantasy

Another look…Another look…

Vera MilesVera Miles…was groomed by Hitchcockto play the

lead in “Vertigo”

…was groomed by Hitchcockto play the

lead in “Vertigo”

…but she got pregnant so Kim Novak was hired

…but she got pregnant so Kim Novak was hired

…Hitchcock molded Novak to play Miles

…Hitchcock molded Novak to play Miles

…so we have Novak

playing Miles playing

Madeleine

…so we have Novak

playing Miles playing

Madeleine

…playing Gavin’s

Madeleine

…playing Gavin’s

Madeleine

…who is also

Gavin’s Judy

…who is also

Gavin’s Judy

…who is also Johnny’s

Madeleine

…who is also Johnny’s

Madeleine

…and Johnny’s

Judy

…and Johnny’s

Judy

…all based on a

legendary Carlotta

…all based on a

legendary Carlotta